Monthly Winner- December 2007

This photo was sent to us from Aaron Myers along with this nice letter:

Dear Wenonah,

I would like to thank you for building such an outstanding canoe. We have owned our 18ft Sundowner now for 14 years and it still performs as if it rolled off the factory floor yesterday. Originally my father purchased this canoe for our family to enjoy local rivers of Central Pennsylvania, he has since passed the canoe on to me.

My fondest memories of childhood and my father were spent paddling in the bow of our canoe. Little did I know that one day I would be making a living teaching paddle sports to others. Thanks again for building not only such a great product, but a super vessel that has taken my life to great heights.

Attached are a couple of photos of my 18ft Sundowner with my dog Buzz soaking up the sun on the New River just outside of Blackburg, VA.

-Aaron Myers

Thanks for the great comments and photos Aaron!

John McFarland submitted these two photos along with this great expedition story:

In 2005 I purchased my Wenonah Encounter for a solo expedition that took me from the headwaters of the Missouri River to a takeout in Vicksburg, MS. My journey was 3,305 miles in length and took 114 paddling days. Almost an equal number of days were spent on shore waiting out heavy weather but my Encounter was a fantastic boat and I was able to paddle in all but the most extreme conditions. In 20 mph headwinds on Lake Oahe (South Dakota), with waves nearing 5ft high, the Encounter held to the course and remained stable. The boat was fast, reliable and held all the gear I needed for a 7 month long expedition. This boat was well designed for big rivers and very large lakes and more than exceeded my expectations.

I would like to submit two photos today. The first is a picture of me in the Encounter taken on Canyon Ferry Lake in Montana. This was my 3rd day into the Journey, on the 4th of May, 2005. Note that winter was slow to leave Montana.

The second photo might be titled "Introducing canoeing to a new generation". The little fellow in my boat is the son of a great man who treated me for an emergency dental problem in Helena, MT. Not only did he take care of my dental problem free of charge, but he fixed me a mean breakfast at his lakeside home on Lake Holter when I paddled past a few days later.

Todd Brunermer getting a little practice time in his new Solo Plus. Todd says, "I really like the boat a lot. I can have my daughters in it with me or take it solo. Plus, my wife likes paddling it tandem with one of our girls in front."

Tish Hennigan spent this beautiful fall day paddling her new Wee Lassie and enjoying the changing colors on the Mississippi River near Lacrosse, WI.

Tammy Depup was greeted by a small tree frog before a morning paddle. Tammy says "I think the frog loves my Wenonah as much as I do".