I can't remeber the exact date but it was about 15 years ago. Josh and Jesse were just little and Mike decided to come on the annual canoe trip. We were to paddle the Indian River (east of Peterborough) that year. His canoe companion was Derek.

It seemed to be a good match as the pair of them, with the two small boys, were able to paddle quite well and kept up with everyone.

We stopped for lunch under the bridge a Highway 7 as it had started to drizzle and then rain. We no sooner got rafted-up under he bridge when the heavens opened up and it pour like we should be getting on the ark. Thunder and lightning boomed and lit up the sky for the better part of an hour but it finally stopped and we were on our way.

Mike and Derek were the first to leave as they were the last to raft-up. Unfortuneatly they were facing upstream rather than down. So they floated down-stream for about one canoe length and as they turned to head in the right direction the canoe flipped over throwing everybody and everything into the river. The rest of us then went to their rescue and though thoroughly soaked, no real harm was done.

Again their skills, or lack thereof, came out and we carried on down river.

The next stop was Lang Pioneer Village. Here we had to portage and Mike and Derek just grabbed everything and made the portage around the dam in one trip. Having two big, husky guys sure came in handy.

But disater stuck again when they were getting back in the canoe. Mike was in the stern, the boys were seated and the gear was stowed away. Derek climbed in and over the canoe went again.

Luckily the water was shallow and they were able to save themselves but they all looked like drowned rats.

It's funny how he never came canoing with us again.

We have the memories though.