Spring, at last
The lake is filling with snow melt and rain, and plans for the paddling season are underway. We’ll put our dragon boat into the lake May 6, in anticipation of our first paddle, May 7!! Meanwhile, we serve our community, pitching in to help clean up the marina, our way of thanking the marina for mooring the dragon boat. Thanks also to the dragons on the work crew.
Launched and paddling season inaugurated
Proof that Dark Water Dragons are dedicated came in the form of May showers on launch day, and the large, undeterred crowd that showed up to help. With so many willing workers, the boat was quickly in the lake. Thanks to everyone who turned out. Many hands made the work light.
With the boat in the marina on May 6, the first paddle was possible on May 7. At the start time, 8:00 AM, the May showers came down as cold rain, and (drum roll) twenty Dragons went out anyway. Dedicated indeed. Chilled, soaked, very happy, we looked forward to a warm bath and a hot drink. And next Sunday’s paddle.
May 6, 2023, launch photos credit to Irene and Phil, and Kay.
May Days and the dragons go for gold
After a very successful entry to the 2022 May Days parade, the dragons have a plan for May 21, 2023. Last year, the dragons were the only walking group, which is fitting for an unmotorized team — or so we thought until we were left blocks behind the motorized parade. This year, we don’t want to run the parade route (so undignified).
Enter Al Gustafson to the rescue. Not only does he offer the dragons a flat bed, a truck to pull it, a yard to work in, the tools, and a storage garage, but he shares construction secrets.
Look for a beautiful float with paddling dragons at the May 21 parade. Here’s a sneak preview.
An almost full dragon boat
It’s been a while since we had only one empty seat for an early morning paddle. That happened on May 14, thanks to an enthusiastic team of experienced and new dragons. Thanks to Keith Dewey, who took the photo of happy paddlers heading back to the marina after another glorious outing on our beautiful lake.
Happy May Days
With our parade float in Al’s covered truck port, we watched the sky as thunderstorms rolled in. Mixed emotions since the Slocan Valley is desperate for rain, but it’s one hour to parade muster time and our fake boat float is cardboard.
Wow. The rain stopped as the parade started. This year, on a flatbed rather than on foot, we were happy to travel the route at 15kph. We waved to the crowds, paddled air, chanted and whooped. And then, we won. Team Dark Water Dragons was deemed the best entry in the parade.
Photo credits to Phil, Marilyn, Deborah, and Judy. Thanks to everyone who helped, watched, supports the team, organized the event, voted for us, and created our team entry. It takes a community …
the parade starts
Sunday morning, Dark Water Dragons style
Sure, we could stay in bed, or linger over coffee and a book, but this is so much better. Thanks to Elke who came out early to take pictures of the team fun. Light sky, dark water, and us.
Fun in fundraising, 9 June, 2023
All our events are volunteer, team efforts. Thanks to organizational skills of the dragon’s intrepid Board of Directors and others, our second fundraiser, a garage sale without the garage, was also successful.
Thanks to everyone who donated items, who set up, who bought treasures, who oversaw the tables, and then, who took down anything that remained unsold five hours later.
Happy Canada Day, 2023
We enjoyed parading our float on May Days so much, we did it again on July 1, in our neighbouring community, Silverton. It’s just as much fun the second time. Thanks again to Al, who makes it easy for us to participate.
Sunday paddle, July 16.
We were a happy dragon boat full of paddlers on Sunday.
Thanks to Ben, who stood in the hot sun to watch and video us leaving the marina under Hermann’s careful steering, and then drove to stand by the side of the narrow road to Silverton to watch Gerry coach us to paddle in pods.
Ready for our close up
Thanks to Sylvain Hebert in his scull, we have a lakeside view of our Sunday paddle, July 30. It’s a record of Kathy’s first time steering.
A different look
August 13, and we tried a new coaching approach. Our two coaches are seated in the second to last row, just ahead of the second steersperson, and the coach’s throne at the bow is empty. Any paddle, any configuration on our beautiful lake is good.
Garlic Fest 2023
After a Covid 19 imposed hiatus, The Hills Garlic Fest returned to New Denver on Sept. 10. The Dark Water Dragons celebrated with a late morning paddle in perfect weather.
Thanks to Hildegard Gerlach for the lake shots and videos, and to Niekitah Donnet for running to capture our return to the marina.
That ends paddling season, 2023
It was another great paddle season. We had an almost full boat every Sunday with only one cancellation for smoke and one for weather. Considering the weather and fire threats all around us, we were blessed with safety. Not only was our beautiful lake a source of cooling off from the heat and recreational pleasure, it provided fire-fighting water. Triple blessings.
In the yearly cycle, summer had to end, and the boat taken to its winter mooring. Today, Sunday, September 24, the wonderful volunteers put it to bed. Thanks to all for a great team experience.
Photo credits to Irene Whitfield, Marilyn Anderson and Linda Norman.
See you at the upcoming AGM.
AGM closes 2023
The paddling season pattern is the boat launch in spring, dry docking the boat in autumn, and the Annual General Meeting early winter. In between, we paddle and play at events.
The AGM is our chance to be together, thank the board of directors and coaches and steerpersons, celebrate our team, and plan any changes based on what we learned this year.
The AGM was held at the beautiful New Denver Lodge, for which we thank Taisa. And that’s how we wrap up 2023.
