General Clinton Canoe Regatta

I had heard of the General Clinton Canoe Regatta before. I knew it involved hundreds of canoes racing 70 miles on the Susquehanna. I even knew it was held every Memorial Day weekend. What I failed to realize was that the weekend I had planned to paddle the Susquehanna was, in fact, Memorial Day weekend. This became obvious to me when I first entered the Cooperstown area and saw canoe after canoe on cars everywhere.

After asking around I learned that the actual race was on Monday (it was Saturday at this time). To be honest, I thought about entering the race, but could not figure out how to swing another day away from home while leaving my wife to tak care of our daughter, the house, and set up for the party we were throwing for Memorial Day. But, even though I could not race on the actual day, I could paddle with some of the participants as they pre-paddled some sections of the course in preparation for the actual race.

I was thoroughly impressed with every racer I met (and saw). They all had amazingly beautiful boats that seemed to exude speed and grace through every pore of their carbon-fiber skins and they all paddled with strength and determination, in seamless unison with their partners. And, they all were kind, friendly, and generous with advice and suggestions. I wish I could have stayed an extra day to see them all race. It must have been an awesome sight to see!