In the Maine Woods: Historic Poling Pics

Can't seem to get enough of the online editions of In the Maine Woods. The 1917 Edition has some great photos of some canoe poling. Here's one from Page 70. Check out the crazy bend on the pole as the Guide works the canoe upstream on the Moose River...

Another nice shot in a really tight stream from the earlier 1904 Edition...

A crazy action shot ascending rapids well beyond my abilities found in the 1910 Edition...

And one more showing some work around the shoreline shallows on the Penobscot (1908 Edition). You can just make out the wanigan in one of the canoes...

Push Paddle

Youtuber North61 recently posted a short video about his hand-made paddle made specifically for use with a freighter canoe. After some work with a froe, drawknife and crooked knife, he ended up with a 7 foot 6 inch push paddle for the grand total of $5.00. Here's a shot video of his work...

A thread on the CCR forums has some more details as well. Poster HOOP pointed out that these large paddles were used with freighter canoes in Fort Severn, Ontario. Here's a historic pic

Douglas Kakekaspan of Fort Severn hewing a new paddle on the Black Duck River
Date July, 1953
Place BLACK DUCK RIVER (ONT.)

Archives of Ontario

Item Reference Code: C 330-14-0-0-165

Some readers of the blog might recall that paddling friend Mike O organized a canoe restoration project in Fort Severn last summer. One of the builders on the project, Doug Ingram of Red River Canoe documented modern day freighter canoe paddles still used in this region today. Here is that post with more pics for anyone interested in these paddle designs.

Vintage Poling Pics - Nova Scotia Guides

Here are some vintage pics of some guides doing some poling. They're from the wonderfully illustrated article, "In White Water" by Edward Breck from the Outing Magazine (Vol 36, February 1914) online at archive.org.

July 27th Update: Thanks to reader Nick Bell for  identifying these amazing canoemen as Nova Scotian guides (see comment posted below).

Graham Robinson's Modern Canoe Tripping Art

While searching the web for pics on wanigans, I came across the artwork of fellow Toronto resident Graham Robinson. His "Coureur Des Bois" series showcases a seasoned paddler (who looks a whole lot like a paddling friend Rob S from the WCHA) using a mix of traditional and modern canoe gear.  Hope you find Graham's artwork as inspiring and appealing as I do!

"Breakfast"

18x24" acrylic on canvas

"Coureur Des Bois: Wanigan"

20x24" Acrylic on canvas

"Coureur Des Bois: Centre Flip"
 20x24" Acrylic on canvas

"Follow What i Say...Not What I've Done"
24X18"  Acrylic on canvas

Artist  Graham Robinson

Here's the bio from his  website:

Robinson takes his artistic inspiration from classic scenes of Canadiana. An avid adventurer, his paintings and illustrations are inspired by his travels across Northern Canada. Robinson works with a skewed and somewhat surreal approach to memories past where wanigans, barrels, canoes, and paddles all appear in familiar yet fictitious stages. His work often contains fable like narratives which reflect on the solidarity of the human psyche and consider the fragile state of our natural environment.

Graham Robinson was born in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada in 1987. He is currently enrolled at the Ontario College of Art and Design and has exhibited his work in galleries across North America since the age of 17. 

Looking forward to more cool canoe related art. In the meantime, anyone wishing to contact Graham can find his email address on his blogspot profile page HERE.

CCM's top 10 Must Read Blogs

Most long time readers of this blog will note my affinity for the Canadian Canoe Museum. It was the CCM's paddle making workshop that started my intense interest in this hobby and taught me the basic skills to experiment with carving. For a blast from the past...check out my very first post here from December 2007 featuring some pics about the workshop.

Mentioning all this because I was very honoured recently when this site was selected as one of the Top 10 Must Read blogs by the Museum.

Looks like the the CCM's website is undergoing some updates and getting a bit of a makeover. So some of the older links to there from this site might not be working. Either way, be sure to visit the museum either virtually or better yet, in person!