Voyageurs

[Uncle Russ]

A very short animated film on voyageurs....I was not surprised to hear of all the hardships, but hearing how much those canoes could carry was a real eye-opener.


[size=85](You will need the sound turned on) [/size]

Uncle Russ...

[sse]

Thanks, Uncle Russ...I love this stuff...

Back in my camping days...I remember once we stayed at a park in northern Ontario, and there was a voyageur presentation.  We were treated to a ride in a full length voyageur canoe, composite-built hull, i.e. not birch bark.  We had nearly twenty paddlers in it, as I recall.  The presenter lead us in singing a few french folk songs, one being alouette, singing being a regular practice among the hard working voyageurs.  What a great time that was...

I also remember that with not all that much effort, we could get that thing moving pretty fast...much faster than our regular size canoes.

[Riley/MN]

Found another Canadienne video:

[sse]

That was good Riley...were you paddling in the bow or stern...?  

[Riley/MN]

Found this picture of a large canoe (or a mini voyageur   )

[attachment=0:2grr4hgp][/attachment]mini voyageur.JPG[/attachment:2grr4hgp]

[Uncle Russ]

WOW! Is that your canoe?
How big is that thing, looks mighty big in the picture ?

Uncle Russ...

[Riley/MN]

I wish! That was in the new interpretive center at Grand Portage MN when it first opened up - maybe 3 years ago....

I believe this is the 25' "North Canoe" as opposed to the 40' "Montreal Canoe"

[Uncle Russ]

Have ya ever been in a 40' canoe?

Twelve or fifteen years ago I knew a fella in Olympia that owned one, he always promised that we would take that big canoe out into Puget Sound some day, but we never did make that happen.
My son-in-law did go out with him a time or two and he said that big thing was a piece of cake to handle, even with 2' swells.

I've always been fascinated with the large canoes....the small ones are too slick on the bottom, if you get my drift.  

Uncle Russ...

[Riley/MN]

No 40 footers... I've been in 24-25 foot canoes as a kid. Trout lake bible camp had a pair - called 'em "War Canoes". We used to race 'em - Lots of fun!

[sse]

Lark, nice Alouette Lark I will pluck you Alouette,
nice Alouette Lark
I will pluck you
I will pluck you the head
I will pluck you the head
And the head, and the head Alouette,
Alouette O-o-o-o-oh Alouette,
nice Alouette Lark I will pluck you Lark,
nice Alouette Lark I will pluck you Alouette,
nice Alouette Lark I will pluck you
I will pluck you the nose
I will pluck you the nose
And the nose, and the nose Alouette,
Alouette O-o-o-o-oh Alouette,
nice Alouette Lark I will pluck you Lark,
nice Alouette Lark I will pluck you Alouette,
nice Alouette Lark I will pluck you
I will pluck you the eyes
I will pluck you the eyes
And the eyes, and the eyes Alouette,
Alouette O-o-o-o-oh Alouette,
nice Alouette Lark I will pluck you Lark,
nice Alouette Lark I will pluck you Alouette,
nice Alouette Lark I will pluck you
I will pluck you the neck
I will pluck you the neck
And the neck, and the neck Alouette,
Alouette O-o-o-o-oh Alouette,
nice Alouette Lark I will pluck you Lark,
nice Alouette Lark I will pluck you Alouette,
nice Alouette Lark I will pluck you
I will pluck you the wings
I will pluck you the wings
And the wings, and the wings Alouette,
Alouette O-o-o-o-oh Alouette,
nice Alouette Lark I will pluck you Lark,
nice Alouette Lark I will pluck you
Alouette, nice Alouette Lark
I will pluck you
I will pluck you the back
I will pluck you the back
And the back, and the back Alouette,
Alouette O-o-o-o-oh Alouette,
nice Alouette Lark
I will pluck you Lark,
nice Alouette Lark
I will pluck you Alouette,
nice Alouette Lark
I will pluck you
I will pluck you the legs
I will pluck you the legs
And the legs, and the legs Alouette,
Alouette O-o-o-o-oh Alouette,
nice Alouette Lark
I will pluck you Lark,
nice Alouette Lark
I will pluck you Alouette,
nice Alouette Lark I will pluck you
I will pluck you the tail
I will pluck you the tail
And the tail, and the tail Alouette,
Alouette O-o-o-o-oh Alouette,
nice Alouette Lark I will pluck you

[Riley/MN]

You get a bunch o' Voyageurs singing Alouette, and I guar-an-tee there will be more verses (body parts) added!