This fall we decided to increase our fleet of boats. We have 16+ sea kayaks (mostly singles and some doubles), as well as a couple of stand up paddleboards, a couple of sit-on-top kayaks, and nine SOAR inflatable canoes.
Backing into the gate.
We’ve decided to add some regular canoes for our Rivers course, and after looking around — without luck — for a local supplier, we contacted Mad River Canoe. They got right back to us and we worked out a great deal, including setting up the shipping from South Carolina all the way to Chiang Mai. (The specific canoe is the Explorer 16 TT.)
The container full of canoes.
The canoes got here on Saturday, and just as we got them unloaded from the container, the new students showed up and helped carry them to the office.
Nong Miriam, Ajaan Mark, and Paw Chuck starting to unload.
The container was on a 18 wheeler truck, who made an amazing U-turn in front of the office across 2+ lanes of traffic on the Superhighway before backing into our compound’s gate.
Miriam lifting and moving the canoes out of the container.
We then hopped up into the container, pulled the canoes out, and the students helped carry them back to the office.
Canoes in the front of the office.
We’re going to build a rack this week.
The Mad River Rabbit in Chiang Mai...
From the Mad River website:
The story of Mad River Canoe begins in a patch of ferns, oh so long ago, with friend Rabbit. Native American legend has it that Rabbit was a great hunter and a bit of a trickster, but most of all Rabbit was confident in his abilities. So confident in fact, that even as Lynx circles the fern, planning his attack, Rabbit is free to enjoy his pipe, secure in his abilities to avoid this mortal enemy.
Within every legend, there is truth. And the truth in the legend of Rabbit is that confidence is a powerful asset when backed up by ability.
“Confidence backed up by ability” fits well with our approach to leadership and experiential education — so we’re glad to have the rabbit in Chiang Mai!
Thanks to Patrick FitzGerald and Preston Lowery and all the other folks at Mad River and Confluence Watersports for making this happen!
