Something Different About the Annual Canoe Races

There will be something missing at this year’s Annual Gunflint Trail Canoe Races on Gunflint Lake. That something is the Prom Family. We’ll be paddling canoes but we won’t be racing because we’ll be in the Boundary Waters.

 

The youth group at our church in town decided to plan a canoe trip. Working around camps, sporting events and family commitments we determined Sunday through Thursday to be the best time for the most people.  Little did we know we planned the trip over the fundraiser for the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department.

 

The kids are a little bit disappointed and I am too. I think we’ve been to pretty much all of them for the past 20 years.  I know one year Mike had to leave early because there was an emergency somewhere but I think we’ve gone every year. 

 

The good news is the races will go on without us.  Events are set to begin on Wednesday, July 17th and it’s sure to be a great time. The homeowners do a fabulous job cooking up sloppy joe sandwiches and all kinds of delicious food.  Volunteers have collected lots of nice items for the raffle tickets and Wenonah once again has donated a canoe for the grand prize.

 

We can’t forget the actual races which Voyageur will hopefully do well participating in.  Mixed paddlers, adult and child combinations, broken paddles, gunwale pumping and more will finish off the evening.

 

Even though we’ll be missing this year’s event we’re grateful for the hard work of all who help put it on and those who support it by attending the event and purchasing raffle tickets. We’re proud to be part of the Gunflint Trail Volunteer Fire Department who benefits from this terrific community event.  Somewhere in the BWCA Wednesday night I’ll be thinking about the Voyageur Crew gunwale pumping their way to a victory and into the sunset on Gunflint Lake..