The Annual North Bay to Mattawa Canoe Race is where it all began

I first completed this grueling course in 1981 and again in 1982. My buddy Norm and I completed all 64kms in just over 9 hours using a 17' aluminum canoe (Had to weigh 75lbs) and powered by a couple of wooden paddles we purchased at Canadian Tire for six bucks. Those were the days.
Never gave it a second thought until this past summer or some 27 years later when my son Mike approached me to see if I would be interested in taking up the sport once again. He was hooked immediately after completing the 2009 North Bay to Mattawa race with his cousin Mike. They registered in the Rec B class and finished in third place. Amazing considering their time was just over the ten hour mark. A 20km headwind dogged them almost the whole way and never let up until they passed the Campion Rapids and then they encountered torrential rains mixed in with lightning to make it interesting.
Mike was already hooked before he reached the Campion Rapids and both he and I were more than willing to take it to the next level.