Reports from Trips

Canoe Paddle Denied Access

So there I was.....at the PTCC Winter Bash.  I hadn't made it there in many years and boy, was I glad I did!  What a fun evening!!  Not only did I have a great time connecting with paddlers, I picked up some good canoe tripping trips ideas, ate (too much) delicious food, AND I won the Raffle!  So exciting.  The Grand Prize:  a Werner Canoe Paddle.  Shiny.  Yellow blade.  And it was particularly exciting because all I own is a closet of kayak paddles and a few bent shafts.  Now, I feel like a real whitewater Canoer!

A few weeks go by and good news arrives:  Washington Governor Jay Inslee is going to sign our bridge access bill into law! The bill (SB 6363) requires that the Department of Transportation assess the feasibility of providing public river access when a bridge is built or re-constructed. For all the details, seehttp://www.americanwhitewater.org/content/Article/view/articleid/32492/

I had testified in the House on this last year working with American Whitewater and representing local paddlers. It's always great to see your work have a successful ending.  Now Bill signing is, as you would expect, mainly a photo opportunity. So - we need props.  And what would be better than my brand, new, shiny Canoe Paddle!?  I ripped off the plastic bag it came in, attached an AW sticker to the blade and rushed down I-5 to the Legislative Building at our State's Capitol.

So there I was......they wouldn't let me in the building with a canoe paddle!  They said it could be a weapon.  Sadly, I returned my new paddle back to the car.  Yet, about 30 minutes later, in walks a few more of our supporters carrying sea kayak paddles!  How did they get in??  I'll never know.

Story conclusions (with photographic proof):  1.  The Governor signed the bill with paddles in the background.  2.  My new canoe paddle was sadly not featured with the Governor.  3. My new paddle can't wait to get out on the water with all of you!