The Whazoo's First Canoe Trip

Or should I say the Whazoo's new canoe for two. After seeing paddling pictures from other trips I was more excited than usual to try our new canoe. The first issue was that the canoe was exactly as long as the camper top and arched way up over the ac and fan vents. Coming up with a mounting system took some imagination, and ideas from others. I ended up using 4 sets of Yakima crossbars with 2 sets of gunwale brackets and some 12 in. tall mini-cell foam blocks. It worked well and even held up upon re-entry into Earth's atmosphere. Oops, different trip report. The real bummer was trying to get this all set up during summer...in Phoenix. Good way to loose weight, water anyway, and get a heat rash on your back. Here's a picture of "the system."

We were headed for the vicinity of Boulder Mountain in Utah where my Dad fishes. It has in excess of 50 "lakes", some being basically pond size but with many fish. To get there we drove through some small Utah towns that we normally enjoy driving thru. This time however, I got pulled over.

I asked the officer what the problem was, as usual, and he told me that he could tell by the way I exposed myself as I drove thru town with my canoe, that I was an paddlephile AND an expeditionist. I didn't get it either. But I was thinking this was just the ticket (?) when he noticed that I was driving a GMC/Outfitter combo, and he mentioned that my Outfitter was the expedition camper of choice, and my truck couldn't be beat either. I knew right then,this guy was no dummy...

With a warning that we were "to cool for school" he let us head on out of town, and had us promise to give a fish report on the way back. When we arrived in Escalante we were told by the Park Service that extremely heavy rains had basically shut down the whole mountain. Having driven thru the driving rain we believed them. And hating mud like I do I didn't feel like trying my luck in the muck. So back towards Bryce Canyon we went and then headed north to Pine Lake, a gem of a lake and just right for a first canoe ride.

Looking for a camp spot, but not in the campground, (oh no) we were driving in some welcome shades of green.

This little lake was a beaut, with one end full of reeds and flowers. Some random pictures..

Mrs. Whazoo looked a bit trepidatious on first entry, the very first person to set foot in the "USS MINNOW."

While I felt quite at home, naturally, having read Hiawatha many times over as a kid. Was I practicing my Indian sign language, or Spock greeting I'm not sure which. I'm left handed what can I say, and don't have a clue what the right hand is doing. 

And as we paddled along, I was still trying to figure...how to take a nap in this canoe while Mrs. Whazoo paddles about.

Well it may not be the Godzilla size fish that some troll for, it's possibly the largest lake trout you'll ever see...honest!! I wouldn't lie about that. No, no I wouldn't...

Having found the only camp spot basically on the lake & not in the campground, Mrs. Whazoo had the nerve to paddle solo to where we'll beach the canoe, while I drove the truck to where we'll meet up.

Meanwhile, back at Camp Gitche Gumee...

Sunset was great, and a micro-brew after paddling around was just the best. Well, actually 1 was good, 2 were much better and 3 was definitely the best.

We left after two full days of paddling around Pine Lake.

Pine Lake made us want to see some Arizona Mountain Lakes from someplace besides the shore, where we have always been. So driving back to Arizona we stopped at Marble Canyon. What happened to all the truck campers? We seem to be the only ones. Where ARE all you tc folks?? Definitely not shooting marbles here at the canyon.

Arriving back in Arizona we experienced a total downpour around Blue Ridge Reservoir. So, with all forest roads basically quagmires we decided to stop at Rock Crossing Campground and were pleasantly surprised at the quality of the camps. Gravel, and no mud! This picture was at sunup the next morning. It rained every afternoon everywhere we went. It was actually great, as every forest in the west needs rain. And afternoon naps in the camper with rain on the roof were heavenly...and 2 hours long! 

The next morning we paddled close to ten miles of Blue Ridge Reservoir, 5 in and 5 out, a long but narrow lake. What a totally relaxful and peaceful way to see a lake. No sound but the canoe gliding along, and the occasional sound of air under pressure coming from the rear, of the canoe. That would be the stern. Darn canoe, gotta fix that air leak. Some random canoe pictures...

After 7 days of canoeing in 5 different lakes, the first canoe trip was coming to an end. I threw my fishing line in one more time for luck...and caught the size of fish normally associated with the Whazoo. That's why we bring other food. 

Yet as we glide along I can't help but feel that just under the canoe, in the shadow where I can't see them, there is something larger for me to catch...

Thanks for reading,

Dave Rogers 

Originally posted on rv.net on 8/28/08