I would like to extend a warm (we hope ) welcome to everyone and the month of May. Most folks have been paddling for a while now and soon our season will open in Yellowknife.

May is an interesting month as I will spend the first week "pumping like madmen, all the way" as Stan Rodgers would say and that will keep the local swamp in check. My backyard is the lowest place around, so I get all the ground water for the neighbourhood in behind the shack. I build a sump system a couple of years ago and it makes a huge difference in keeping the area dry and bug free come summer.

The snowbanks covering the kayaks and canoes are just about gone and they all made it through the winter in fine shape. I have a nice area in the willows where I store the boats, I block them up on edge and tarp them in and they are snug for the winter. Each spring I go over them all and clean and lubericate cables and touch up what ever needs to be done. I do this in the fall so spring cleaning really goes quick and takes very little effort.

This is the busy season for the Paddlers for Parts and we are all ready planning the spring "Sociable Affair" for the month of July sometime. We have the City Spring clean up fund raiser to do some time between the 11th and 17th of May, and then the Old Stope Hill Clean up in July.

My big concern at the moment is selling enough raffle tickets to make sure there are none left before the draw. We have until June 22nd/08 before the draw but I'll rest easier when the tickets are gone.This is our biggest fund raising attempt yet and so I will rest easier when we have sold the tickets and all the expenses are covered. Worry wart but it is a lot of loot to be responsible for.

Now that summer is approaching it is a good time to get out those throwbags and get back into practice. Being accurate is the most inportant part and speed runs a close second. No sense in throwing a bag really fast to the wrong spot. As the old blacksmith used to say, "First get good, then get fast." Get the whole family involved practicing in the Park or backyard. I like to roll hula hoops for targets or tie two hoops to a pole and walk with it over your shoulder at certain distances, one in front, one to the rear and see if they can put the bag through the hoop. Vary your speed as they improve getting them to anticipate your next move. River currents will fool you so try and trick them.

Throw bags are your first line of defence when common sense has failed and your in over your skill level or you mave missed your line. You want to be sure that you and your friends are up to the challange as it is a must have river skill. Cheers Greg