Birch voyageur paddles

[Douglas Ingram]

Some of you may have been following that I recently made a bunch of Birch Voyageur paddles for a cross Canada Voyageur trip currently under way. I thought that you might like to see a couple of photos.

 

[dboles]

Doug we sure like to see pictures,and wondering how many paddles constitute a bunch?

 

[Douglas Ingram]

I had some problems uploading the photos. I tried a few times, but each attempt failed. I'm trying again now. I significantly reduced the file size, I hope that this helps.

A bunch is 24 millieux (middle men) and 3 Governail (sternsman) The Governail paddles are 72" long overall. Enough for a whole crew with replacements for possible breakage enroute.

 

[Giiwedin]

Was birch chosen for historical reasons? How much did your milieux paddles weigh?

 

[dboles]

And how about avant paddles?

 

[Douglas Ingram]

Robert,

Yes, Birch was chosen for historical reasons. Adney had documented as being one of the woods of choice. I'll weigh on of the paddles that I kept for myself next workday. I hadn't used it before, and have been very impressed with it. It makes a very nice paddle, and seems to stay the way that you shape it. A particular blessing when carving a single piece paddle.

The Avant was going to use one of the governail paddles, I believe.

 

[Louis Michaud]

Doug's paddles

Watched episode 2 of "Destination Nor'Ouest" yesterday. The "voyageurs" are having a hard time, Mud portage and the Talon portage, and it shows... Physical exhaustion and mental stress don't mixe well. In the previous episode, two men almost came to blows because they disagreed about hassling a porcupine.
The birchbark canoe is taking a beating: leaks like hell and birch hull covering split in two when they were pulling it across a beaver dam.
The paddles don't seem stressed or bruised at all, I think they're handling the situation very well, better than the crew or the canoe...
Haven't seen or heard anybody complain about Doug's paddles...

Interesting show.

Louis

 

[Douglas Ingram]

Thanks for the update Louis!

I'm looking forward to seeing the show. I'm glad to hear that the paddles are holding up well.

I kept one for myself. I quite like having it around.

 

[crosscuts]

Destination Nor'Ouest

I have not heard of any showing of this journey on US television. Does anyone know whether it has been released to PBS or other US channel? What is the full name of the program, who produced it and how does one get in touch with a distributor?

I would very much like to see the documentary. Thanks for any help locating it.

R.C.Cross

 

[Martin Dumas]

R.C. :

See

http://tva.canoe.com/emissions/destinationnorouest/

(sorry, it's in French)

The program name is Destination Nord-Ouest. You can find info on producers, etc... by clicking on 'EQUIPE'. And contact info under 'NOUS JOINDRE'.

Hope this helps,

Martin

 

[crosscuts]

Destination Nor'Ouest

Thanks for the reference Martin. I am afraid my high school French does not help much but I will figure it out.

R.C.