The hubby was back to work this week. I am back on my own for the last week of my stateside visit. The last week is always filled with cleaning out the storage unit, preparing the car to put back into storage, and last minute purchases. Always a ton of things to think about, last minute visits to friends, and how to fit those purchases I made into my suitcase for the trip back to Europe.
My Pungo and Outback back into storage waiting for my next Minnesota Adventure.
Yesterday, I made time to meet a kayak/canoe friend and ACA instructor Jeff Pilgrim at Lake Nokomis in Minneapolis for the Midwest Mountaineering annual kayak/canoe demo.
Demo days are a great way to try to various kayaks and canoes for free. This is also a great time to network with other paddlers or inspiring paddlers.
Canoes, kayaks, and paddlers all having a great time at the Lake Nokomis Demo Day
I was interested in trying out a couple of kevlar solo canoes from Northstar canoe company. Made in Minnesota by Ted Bell and his team, these lightweight canoes are perfect for someone who would like a light weight easy to portage canoe.
The selection of Northstar canoes that were available to demo.
I tried several of these wonderful canoes and would love to own one at some point in the future. The Northstar staff were easy to talk to about the canoes. I felt comfortable and safe paddling these lightweight canoes.
The Demo Day was only part one of the Midwest Mountaineering Outdoor Adventure Expo with activities running all weekend at their store located in Minneapolis. I would recommend stopping by and checking out this event. Talk with any of their professional, down to earth sales staff as they are all outdoors people and knowledgeable about the products they sell.
Canoes on Lake Nokomis on Demo Day
Enjoy your weekend outdoors!
Copyright The Cedar Journal, 2019, all rights reserved.
The Cedar Journal 
I would like try one of these light weight canoes. The one we have is great, but it has an enormous weight, which at my age have trouble with. Thanks for sharing your experiences at the demo days!
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You are very welcome. Yes, weight is a consideration when you are in the 50+ age or have back issues (like I have). These are incredibly light. Between 20-45 lbs depending on size.
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I am trying to find a dealer in Canada. Thanks for the reply!
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Cool. If you can’t connect with them through their site. They might be able to offer you some other options. I was talking with them about getting one in Europe.
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I love the look of the white kayak, I’ve always thought they look so smart and stand out in any weather.
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That one belongs to my kayak instructor friend Jeff Pilgrim. He loves it. I think he told me it was custom made. It has a cool mermaid on the front.
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Tell him it’s been admired from Australia
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I will mention it.😊
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It’s a Current Designs Sirocco, an older polyethylene by Derek Hutchinson. I have 3 as I like it for instruction and I can teach more advanced techniques like carving turns. Bought them all used, and I like the white color best too. Used to work with guys in Adelaide, Ram Mobile. Happy paddling!
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It seems like you’ve had a great visit back to Minnesota.
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Yes, we had a great time. Maybe I did more than the hubby who worked most of stay. I returned home this morning to be greeted by a garden full of blooming tulips.😊
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A lightweight canoe sounds perfect for me. Nate, Alex, and I haven’t been out on the Puget Sound yet in canoes or kayaks since we moved here. That activity is still on our bucket list. I’m hoping to see an orca by chance, but I’ll probably freak out if I do. Beautiful pictures in this post by the way! So peaceful:)
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I can see a great story in your encounter with an Orca. 😂
Thanks as always for your comments.
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Did you take the snow back with you? We missed it, but Ron was dumped on up north over the weekend now we are preparing to get flooded out over the next couple of days.Glad to hear the tulips were there to greet you upon your return.
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No snow here.😊 Green grass, green trees, flowers everywhere. This traveling back and forth between seasons is like time travel we see the best and the worst but can’t change a darn thing.😊
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Looks like a fun time! Too bad I was in Milwaukee that weekend (getting snowed on on Saturday) or I would have come out to Nokomis to say hello!
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That would have been fun. I heard they got the snow that had been predicted for the cities. I am glad that it didn’t affect our flight out, I was ready to sleep in my own bed after 6weeks.
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Yes 6 weeks is a long time to not be in your own space!
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