paddles
The first "Shit Creek" paddles are nearing completion at Fermon Canoes. I just wanted to carve some small paddles for my little grandsons, maybe one for myself, all modelled after an old otter-tail my dad owned. My dad was a small man, 5' 8", but, boy , he could move a lot of water with that over-sized blade. He was a forest ranger, a river-rat, a bush-whacker. His paddle now belongs to my son. The only thing dad specifically willed when he passed. He knew his grandson best exemplified his own love of finding the wild places. That old paddle is in good hands.
"Shit Creek" is a little-known subsidiary of Fermon Canoes. So little-known, in fact, that I'm not sure if Fermon himself knows. I figured, if I was going to make paddles, I might as well add to the fun, do a send-up of the old saying. You know the one. I struggled with the idea of putting that name on my grandsons' paddles. Then I thought, "might be a good way to let the boys know that, long ago when the world was young, before grampa got grumpy and old, he actually had a sense of humour". Of course, Fermon knows what I'm up to. When I told him what I wanted to do, he just laughed, with his customary good grace, and told me to go ahead. Matter of fact, when I mentioned I was going to commission a friend to make my decals, he asked me to design a decal for him and have some made. Fermon makes beautiful paddles. Much better than mine. I can't get a shaft perfectly round to save my soul, even with the advantage of routers, belt sanders, small electric planers. When I began the project, I only wanted to use a spoke-shave and/or a draw-knife, just like the grandfathers. The difficulties were nearly beyond me. Fermon suggested I use his modern tools. "My grandfathers didn't use such things," I protested. "I want to do it like they did!" Fermon, ever patient with me and my foibles, suggested that, if the grandfathers had owned such tools, they surely would have used them. "Trust me," he said. "There'll be enough hand-finishing to satisfy your grandfathers." Dangit. How come such a young man is right so often? I remember my grandfathers, work-piece between their knees, nothing but a spoke-shave in their gnarly old hands, turning out oar and paddle shafts that looked like they came off a lathe. Fermon is to the manner born. I am not, but I get by with a little help from my friend.
I truly hope I have not offended anyone with the "Shit Creek" thing. It's all in fun. Tongue-in-cheek sort of stuff. My intention is, of course, to describe another delightful experience at Fermon's shop and in his company. The paddles I have made are carved from solid planks of cherry or ash. That rascal Fermon is working on a few laminated paddles. They look really nice. Ash and cherry. I'm interested. Maybe add a bit of walnut for contrast. I'm a contrast freak, and I wonder if my chums who own boats might like a laminated "Shit Creek" paddle. I have eight decals left.
