It is now youth group lore that sponsors on the canoe trip
should have current shot records as well as good medical
coverage.
The last group canoe trip opened a cut on Mike Faust's
forehead that required a trip to nearby Tahlequah's emergency
center.
This trip didn't disappoint. Tanya Dressier managed to
overturn her canoe, although Chris Steiner fought valiantly to
keep her vessel aright. The current, and Tanya were too much
for the noble efforts of Mr. Steiner. Tanya tumbled and gashed
opened her right palm trying to stop the fall. A trip to
Neosho, Missouri, along with 6 stitches and a fresh tetanus
shot were required before Tanya re- turned to the group in
Noel, Missouri.
It's all quite a story, but one high- light is that Sheryl
Dickerson man- aged to float the remained of the trip alone in
a canoe. (4 miles)
Tanya's absence created a shift in
the balance of paddle power:
Tanya moved into Mark's canoe, (Kenny moved to the middle),
Chris took over Brian's kayak. JR took over Tanya's canoe,
Brian moved out of his kayak and moved in with JR Sarah moved
to Cady's canoe, leaving Sheryl alone in her own canoe. By the
way, Cynthia and Breann, Tessa and Jessica, and David and
Julie all traveled the distance with their original partners.
Brent D. managed all eight mites in his own kayak. (He
has the burns to prove it!)
On our trip home, we stopped to eat in Neosho. While there,
we
happened upon the youth ministers wife from the focal
church of Christ. She was picking up lunch for their entire
youth group as they were involved in a "work camp". She was
glad to see our group and invited us to visit their group as
they painted the home of a local citizen. We ate lunch, and
tried to find the work camp participants, but couldn't track
them down.
It was a great trip and we will more than likely return to
canoe next summer, rather than visiting 6 flags.
