: Hi Robert,
: I'm definitely interested. I probably couldn't manage better than a day away
: at that time though. However, If you don't mind a potential slow-poke
: tagging along for a day (the day you start would probably seem the most
: likely) I'll see if I can swing it. If all else fails, I'll get my friend
: Mike who lives along the N. Sask. R. to bring a Guinness down to the river
: for you or maybe hide it in the grass! (Actually, I should bring you a
: bottle of my home-brew beer, much nicer than that Guinness stuff .)

Hmm...better you say! *suddenly Ireland goes quiet...all Irish ears are burning for some strange reason which they cannot understand*. Sounds like something I have to try. I don't mind slow-pokeyness...I am not in a race to finish the trip, just taking it easy this year. I rushed through the initial leg of the trip because I wasn't sure I could finish it. That rushed feeling had everything to do with my run over the rapids.

: I thought you were starting at Borden this year?

I changed my plans recently. The last leg started at North Battleford but because of horribly nasty weather which feew others would have challenged, I saw very little of the river except submerged sandbars that I got stuck on and horizontal rain, powerful white caps and billions of droplets washing across the lenses of my eye glasses. I really didn't see much of the river from North Battleford to Borden so I decided to redo that portion of the trek.

: Feel free to give me shout off-forum any time. I should e-mail you my phone
: number so at the least I can help you out if you forget something or you
: need help.

I'll do that, man!

: p.s. A local Indian Band wants to build a dam on the Saskatchewan River just
: downriver of the Forks. There are two on the Saskatchewan River already
: not far away.

Yeah, I know about it. I posted a response to the new article a couple of years back. I can understand the need to dam the river but the entire Saskatchewan watershed is under a lot of stress these days. Not sure if it is a good idea. Then again, the Saskatchewan glacier that is a major source of water for this water shed is disappearing. The dam would probably help retain enough water to keep Saskatchewan in water for some time. Complicated issues for sure, not even consiering the power geeneration capacity that they are probably looking for. As a naturalist, I'd rather they didn't build another dam. I'll know more once I have paddled through that region.

Robert N Pruden