CANOE WEEKEND!!

This year marked the 5th year that Jason and I have been traveling to Grayling, MI for the Au Sable Canoe Race. Each year we've stayed with our gracious hosts Bob and Wendy Reycraft. Bob and Wendy are Jason Farrior's in laws and Leigh Ann Farrior's parents. Jason Farrior and my Jason went to Wabash together. So...now that that's all clear! We absolutely Jason and Leigh Ann to death and wish we got to see them more often, so Canoe Weekend is something that we really look forward to each year. Bob and Wendy are wonderful. They treat us like family and have allowed us to stay the night in their spare bedroom since having Jack. This year with two boys though, we decided to stay the night in a hotel down the street, which worked out pretty well since Leigh Ann's cousin Lance come this year with his two boys.

Jason and Jason

Leigh Ann and Mandee

So just what is the Au Sable Canoe Race? It's the longest, non stop, canoe-only race in North America. The race is always held the last full weekend in July during the annual Au Sable River Festival. The race starts at 9pm in Grayling in a LeMans-style start where the competitors carry their canoes in a footrace four blocks through town to the Au Sable River entry point. Upon reaching the Au Sable River, they begin paddling non-stop throughout the night. In addition to paddling for 14-19 hours straight, competitors must also make portages over six dams along the river race route.

Mandee and Bob

The starting line is just a bit up the river from Bob and Wendy's house which is located right on the river. So we get to see the racers near the beginning of their journey. I'd say they pass by Bob and Wendy's around 9:10...usually just before it gets dark. Bob has cleared out a sweet little spot down by the river bank for everyone to stand and cheer on the racers. This was the first year Jack was allowed to stay up "late" and see the race. After all the canoe-ers pass by we head back up to the house for the best Canoe Party in Grayling.

Our little family (Graham 8 weeks)

sitting by the river waiting for the race to start

Tuckered out boy

As I said earlier, Leigh Ann's cousin came this year with his two boys Blake and Dylan who are just a little older than Jack. The boys all had a super time playing with one another. One of the big traditions when ever you get together with the Farrior/Reycraft clan is the non stop shots of Jager. For each shot everyone holds up their glass and yells "Jaaaager BOOOMB" This year even the little guys stayed up late enough to do some shots of their own. (With apple juice of course!)

The first shot's always the hardest Jack!

Cheers

Canoe weekend is one of the big summer highlights we look forward to each year. It's changed and evolved over the years and I know it puts a lot of pressure on Bob and Wendy to host this amazing event. It really seems like the whole town shows up at their place throughout the course of the evening and they welcome everyone with a warm fire, a cold beer and good times to be had by all.