Boat Building: The final countdown

The day is finally here! We're wrapping up the boat building chapter of our adventure and beginning the 740 mile journey on the Northern Forest Canoe Trail. Today we'll pack and organize our belongings and hit the road to Old Forge, NY. We'll be on the water until we finish, likely around six weeks.

We have many things to look forward to...loons calling on the lake, moose sightings, afternoon swims in crystal clear lakes, our Canadian sojourn, whitewater adrenaline, and so much more we can't yet imagine. We're a mixture of nervous and excited about testing our craft in pebbly streams and long portages, but we're ready!

There are a handful of people without whom this adventure would be impossible. Many thanks and lots of love to Keith and Leslie Quarrier for mentoring us through the boat building process, preparing the basswood strips before we got back from California, and for helping us every single day. Thanks to Seth Quarrier and the Miller family for their amazing contributions to our boat - without them we'd have no seats or gunwales! Also to Gil Gilpatrick, who published the design for our 18.5' E.M. White guide canoe in his book, Building a Strip Canoe. (Maybe we'll see you on the Allagash, Gil!)

Check out the photos of our finished canoe! Stay tuned for pictures and updates from the Adirondacks.

Routing the mermaid inlay

A satisfied artist

Using the spokeshave to round the pole

Varnishing the inside

Drying outside

Varnishing paddles

Close up of the griffin inlay

Seats are in, paddles are done!

Testing the waters

She tracks beautifully and is so fast!

Sigh. We're in love

With a little padding and some practice, it'll feel great!

Lookin' good!