Yesterday, we were up early enough to get all the teams and canoes up to Stanley for a great breakfast by that community. The night of july 11, Rodney Brown again entertained us with his ballads at the Stanley Inn where we had our breakfast the morniong of the 12th. At 10 AM, we were all on the water and now, with 15 canoes in the Brigade, we rafted up for a bit of a float together. Rodnew Brown was in one canoe and he stood up and sang one of his songs with us all joining in on the chorus. The raft broke up just as we saw some rapids coming up. There was then to be a number of rapids and rocks to bump over on the two hour paddle to the Fort. We made our Grand Entrance on time at 2 PM. A great entrance is was with cannons firing , guns firing and lots of flag waving. We pulled ashore and into the fort with the canoes, speeches were made and hand shaking all around. There were about 1000 people in attendance with lots of our friends from Flin Flon and other places having come down to see us.
There was a great feast in the Grand hall, just like in old times. people in costumes playing their part and we Voyageurs doing our thing.
This morning, we were up and got everything packed to hit the road. A brunch was scheduled for 10 AM in the restaurant of the fort and we all gathered there for our last speeches, receiving of medals and hand shakes and hugs.
The event was over. We had paddled 3300 KM (2000 miles) from Rocky Mountain House to Old Fort William at Thunder Bay. 9 teams went the whole distance with other teams joining for a day or a province. In all, 18 teams took part in all or parts of the Brigade. Ages ranged from 4 years to over 80 with the average being 51. 308 paddlers and ground support folks got the 18 canoes to their destinations safely. Half of the participants came from Alberta, 7 Canadian provinces, one territory and they were joined by 4 Americans, 2 Scots an Aussie and a Kiwi.
Gib, Stew, Bob, Dick and i drove our bus and Suburban with trailers and canoes back to Vernon.
Would we do it again? Gib and i had been a part of the 1967 winning Manitoba team in the 104 day 6000 KM (3600 mile) Centennial Canoe Pageant. Being part of the 2008 David Thompson Brigade brought back many memories. It was great to take some of our friends along with us so they could understand and appreciate Canada, our waterways and the adventure we had in 1967.
We would do it again!!!
The 2008 David Thompson Brigade
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