Knotty is the "flagship' of Dugout Canoe Love!
This beautiful cottonwood found me in 2011, in Littleton, Colorado. She was part of my recovery from a bad wreck in 2009 that left me legally blind, while breaking my back and jaw (and knocking a tooth out). I could barely see her, but felt my way with my sweet adze.
I paddled her across Nebraska on the Platte River, that year. After the journey, I whittled another three or four hundred pounds off of her, bringing her to (roughly) 250lbs. I sent her to Livingston, Montana, where she waited for me in the Yellowstone Gateway Museum.
I got a late start in 2014, but paddled from Twin Bridges, Montana, into North Dakota. Due mostly to my disability, but partly for my sanity, I don't paddle as hard as many others do. Due to a commitment in Washington State, I had to carve a canoe in Tonasket, that Fall. In 2015, I returned to my friend's place in North Dakota, and put Knotty back in (where I left-off), and paddled to St. Louis, Missouri. My Missouri River journey was about 2500 miles, this time!
Several trees have found me since I got choppin' on Knotty. Ive carved in California, Washington, Colorado, and Missouri, so far.
My goal is to work with as many children as I can, opening their minds, and teaching them to follow their dreams!
Love is here.
Canoe! Canoe
