C-Forum

Thank you all for another GREAT armada! It was nice to see many familiar faces, and meet many more new ones from this board.

For me highlights were the PS composites visit as well as touring Jim Snyder's shop...and going paddling with him! It was nice to have the Maven drop a bit, but obviously we've got a looong way to go when it comes to mystery moves compared to a master like Jim S.

The boat swapping, and seeing so many folks hop in the Sith and Pagan was also nice (not to mention talking with designers / builders Martin and Gwyn!)...hopefully word will continue spreading how great these boats are compared to what else is out there.

Then there is always Fox's pizza....

I would like to publicly thank Mike W. for donating proceeds from the sale of the 'Team Old Guy' stickers at the armada to CBoats.net, as well as his generous contribution, and support through the CBoats.net store. There was another anonymous contribution as well..thank you to that person, too.

I'll let other's fill in the tales of swims, new boats tried out (or purchased!).

Thank you again to the 30+ that attended!

We need one of those "this thread is useless without pictures" emoticons! Wish I could have been there...

Here are a few photos. Sorry there aren't more - I was too busy playing most of the time to remember to get the camera out.

http://omalley.smugmug.com/keyword/armada+2007

Ditto to what Adam said. It was great meeting all the new faces. Highlights for me include paddling the Lower Yough-plus at 5 feet, paddling the Cheat Narrows with the Indiana open boaters (Doug and Dave(?)), and hangin' with Jim Snyder at a mystery spot on the Cheat (though he DID irritate me with his telling me how to squirt my Viper--it wasn't MY fault I couldn't nail the stern squirt, the eddy line just was not right! ) and paddling my re-outfitted Viper (which resulted in me taking the boat off the for-sale market).

Awards go to:

• Surprise Attendance: Jay-not Elvis
  Surprise non-Attendance: The slalom crew, especially Dave M. and Scott W.
  Missed Attendee: Scott B. (he was back in South Carolina doing a very worthy cause)
  Best c-2 Performance: Jay-not Elvis and sister-in-law Christina (at the put-in hole )
  Best Boat Performance: Gwyn, Martin, and Martin (the Great Gonzo!)
  Biggest Smile: Mike W. (when he finally realized that he WAS taking home Adam's Maven )
  Best Mystery Moment: Huge (at Railroad)
  Most Irritating Boat to Rescue: Huge's Acrobat (just after Railroad )
  Best Diplomat: Paul Cline (smoothing ruffled feathers at Fox's Pizza)
  Most Entertaining Stories (R-rated): Jim Gross and Christina (tie), ask about finding sporting goods online
  Fastest Shuttle Vehicle: Adam (and his little Audi TT)
  Holebait Award: SDBrassfield (well deserved, Scott, congratulations)

and more awards can be added by other attendees.

It was great putting new faces to names I've seen here on this board.

KNeal

Yes i enjoyed meeting and boating with all my new and a few old Cboat friends. Checking out all the boat designs i,ve never seen before was great as well. Also i truely forgot how great paddleing that Acrobat is , like being able to put it any where you want to easily. I do wish i could have attended the squirting , but Kitzmueller is too good to mis. Sorry you guys weren,t there. And last but not least i will gratiouysly accept the R rated award and wear it proudly. If people didn,t like R rated humor they should never have asked me to land on this planet. HAHAHAHAH. Thanks again for all the effort it takes to co ordinate an event like this. JIM >>> new # 703 434 9009

The dates selected didn't work out for most of us.

Wish I could of made it. Maybe next year.

Natalie

Wish't I coulda participated. Sounds like a great time.
A lifestyle change has occurred with the adoption Saturday of a 110 lb St Bernard named Duke. One more year of growth and we'll have a truly big dog who is a sloppy love magnet.
SYOTR!

The armada was great for this first timer. Thanks to everyone that helps coordinate this great event, and thanks to Adam for taking and fulfilling my care package request from upstate.

The paddling was great but it is really about the people, getting everyone together to do what they like best, playing the river and having a good time on and off the water...

My highlight was the thrashing I took on the Yough. I did not realize that Cucumbers ate people (I always thought it was the other way around!!). C'mon guys, I wanted an award too...Neal, how about the "holebait" award...I will proudly accept it.

I want to extend a big "I'm Sorry" to everyone for not making it this year.

I had a previous engagement and could not make it.

I will defintely make sure there is a contingent of slalom boats for next years armada.

I'm glad this thing has a life of it's own now...it warms the heart.

Take Care and hope to see all of you guys soon.

Dave Miller

Yep, apologies from another slalom boater. Was at the Stoney the weekend before and had church & kid duties Armada weekend.

Many thanks to kNeal, PAC and the rest of the Yough boat rescue team (Sorry I didn't catch everyones name). I would have been very sad driving home without a boat.
Here are some off river pics from a great weekend!

[img]http://lh5.google.com/image/hugh.iodesi ... G_0895.JPG[/img]

http://picasaweb.google.com/hugh.iodesign/NBArmada2007

huge

Lost and Found - Found a piece of mens jewelry in our campsite before pulling out Sunday. PM me and describe and I will send back to you...

The Armada was again a great experience! A great time to meet old friends again and to make new one's!
It'a always great to see more single bladers than kayakers on a river !
I will try to persuade even more Canadians to attend next year.
Thanks to Adam for organizing this event!
Special thanks goes to PAC for his hospitality, and to organize the shop visits at PS Composites and Jimmy Snyders shop on Friday and to Keith Backlund's shop on Sunday. It was absolutely amazing to watch those great craftsmen (or better artists, because that's what they are in my eyes) at work.
It was amazing (and humiliating at the same time) to see how effortlessly Jim was able to sink his boat at a spot on the Cheat where I could barely get my bow down a bit.

As far as awards go, I would suggest Scott C for the Rodeo Award, as he was the only one to ride the hole in Robin's nest .

Count me already in for next years Armada!

martin a.k.a. the great gonzo!

YES i lost my winkie ring. Discription of the piece. It was shiney, not so much any more . It was big and fit snugly, not so much any more ( which also meens it was hard to get on < not so much any more ). It was slightly worn down , but doesn,t see as much use any more. If you still have it , i would appreciate it,s return as it has been handed down through the generations in my family. The last to pass it on to me was my descesed mother . (no you silly guys she never wore it) So please if you could send it .. OOH yeah there is an inscription barely legible inside the ring " LOVE MOM" .... Thanks JIM

Well, this was the first Armada that either of us had been to. It will definitely not be the last! We both had a great weekend, and it was the people that really made it.

Thanks for your hospitality everyone, especially Paul. Also many thanks for the loan of the various squirt boats that we got in. Maybe when my skill level increases a bit I will be able to get more out of the Maven!

Anyway, must go - boats to build and all that!

Gwyn and Martin
www.shaggydesigns.com