Running the Gunwales with Coyote George We met at a bar in the dying Mississippi river town of Oquawka, Illinois. I had been on the river for nearly two months by then and was in desperate need of some companionship if I was going to make it all the way to New Orleans. The kitten acted like he was looking for an adventure, … Read entire article »

Canoes + Canines… an equation that can work for you… I recently received an e-mail from a woman with a lab puppy who wanted to know how to deal with dogs in canoes. That’s like asking, “how do you raise prizewinning tomatoes?” There are as many ways to deal with dogs in boats as there are dogs. Dogs’ temperaments are different, the canoes they’re in are different, and the paddling skills of their humans are at different levels. That said, there are a few things I’ve learned from having Gracie (Black Lab, 2 1/2) and Winnie (Shorthair Pointer, 9) in a sixteen-footer with a fair amount of wind. Your dog needs to be comfortable, and there are three main areas I like to address. First, dogs appreciate sure footing. They don’t like … Read entire article »