[Ambridger]

The 2019 season had some ups and downs for Jodi and I:

We started the season by participating in the "Ice Breaker" paddle on the Shenango. We were each out there in our cold water gear and solo kayaks.

In April, Jodi drove her Explorer down south to see her new granddaughter, leaving me to decide on how to get to Oil Creek. We had helped Mike scout this one in March, and we had ridden the bike trail in the park in years past, so I knew I wanted to do this one. Well, I threw the kayak in the back of a rented U-Haul van and away I went. Oil Creek was indeed a really nice paddle with one nice rapid, and a lunch spot with restroom access. As Charlie Sheen would say, "Winning!"

Our next outing wasn't until the Carson's Landing trip. We took the 17.5 foot Tripper canoe out for this adventure. We hadn't had much time in this boat, and were seeing how well we would do with it. As I recall, the weather was great and we did OK maneuvering the Tripper.

The club pic-nic took us to Canoe City with our solo yaks. We enjoyed good weather again, some good food, and great company.

At the end of July, we attended the paddle clinic trip to Beaver Creek. I had worked a midnight shift the night before, so I was pushing my limits. Jodi was my designated driver. I got the opportunity to practice tipping my Wilderness Aspire, which thankfully I had not done before. I wanted to see how well I could wet-exit. Well, I did fine falling right out of that thing, and a dip in the crick was just what I needed to wake me up.

The Foxburg trip was a special trip for me. Since we started kayaking years ago, my mother had always said she would like to give it a try. And for years, one thing or another got in the way. Back on the 4th of July, I told her of this trip, and of my intent to finally get her on the water. She was on-board! Well, just weeks prior to the trip, mom learned of having breast cancer. The doctors seemed very positive, and we were hopeful. Mom and I paddled my tandem kayak, and she enjoyed the Foxburg trip as much as anybody could, and she was welcomed by all of you. For this I thank you all. We got some very special pictures that day.

Next, Jodi and I attended the pic-nic at Sue's for the "Moonlight Run". We didn't bring our boats, just our folding chairs and some goodies to share.

The day of the Pymatuning Creek trip, my cousin was having a bridal shower. Jodi and my mother attended the shower, and I was going to drive up to join the paddle. Jodi "politely suggested" that I should wait at home for her return and that we would find some other adventure together .... "even hiking". Well, I waited at home and planned our hike. When my mother learned of our plans to hike, she asked to join-in, and how could we even possibly say no ... Well, mom was one who always enjoyed the outdoors, and she had a great time in the woods. And she out-hiked Jodi and I! And again, we got some pictures out on the trail that day, that unknowingly would be some of the last I would ever take with mom. At the time, I was sorry to have missed the Pymatuning trip, but I suppose there is a reason for everything.

In September, I lead the club on the three rivers in Pittsburgh. It was great weather, and the Steeler home-game that day brought folks out on the rivers and the atmosphere on the "north shore" around the stadium was as festive as it gets. The club got to see Pittsburgh really shine. I would be remiss if I didn't mention a great after-paddle meal at Big Jim's - made famous on "Diners, Drive-Ins, and Dives".

We made a guest appearance at Buckaloons one night to sit around the camp fire and kibitz, but we were unable to camp or paddle as this was the first week of mom getting chemo, and we felt we should be nearby if she or dad needed something.

In September Jodi and I took the Tripper out to Pete's trip on the Tusca. This was the first time we had any of our canoes out on moving water. Despite some low readings on the gauges, this trip proved to be very enjoyable, and we did good navigating the Tripper.

In October, we paddled our kayaks on the Shenango for the "Fall Color" paddle. The weather was a lil cool, and as some found out, the water was a bit chilly too. All-in-all, this too, was another great trip.

November brought tears to our family, as my father spent weeks in the hospital, and my mom passed away unexpectedly while dad was hospitalized. Dad has still not fully recovered from surgery, and has not fully regained his pre-surgery level of cognition, and still is not aware of mom's passing. So many of you expressed your condolences and some even traveled to Ambridge to call at her funeral. All of you folks are so special, in supporting us, and being so cordial and welcoming to mom at Foxburg. She had a great time that day, and I am so grateful for that.

Thank you all, and we hope to see you at the party next week.