{"id":881,"date":"2016-05-15T15:53:51","date_gmt":"2016-05-15T20:53:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.naturallysuperior.com\/blog\/?p=881"},"modified":"2016-05-15T15:53:51","modified_gmt":"2016-05-15T20:53:51","slug":"the-song-of-the-paddle","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rockislandlodge.ca\/the-song-of-the-paddle\/","title":{"rendered":"The Song of the Paddle"},"content":{"rendered":"

Two hundred years ago, when dozens of 36-foot birchbark canoes plied the water of Lake Superior, the paddler with the best set of lungs and a musical ear held a place of honour. Leading the crew in French Canadian folk classics like \u201cEn roulant ma boule\u201d and \u201cA la claire fontaine\u201d, le chanteur<\/em>\u2014the singer\u2014was responsible for setting the paddlers\u2019 steady pace that carried the voyageur brigade to the trading post at Fort William, stroke by stroke. By dint of his musical ear, this canoeman often earned a higher wage.<\/p>\n

\"VC02\"<\/a>
The voyageur canoe is designed for safe, efficient travel on Lake Superior.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u00a0<\/em>As paddlers, hikers and highway drivers, we all know the benefit of song in making hours of repetitive activity pass by. For days, I\u2019ve timed my sea kayak stroke to the tempo of Dire Straits and Bachman-Turner Overdrive, the lyrics of \u201cWalk on by\u201d and \u201cTaking care of business\u201d looping endlessly through my mind. Author and canoe historian James Raffan notes that most of the voyageurs\u2019 chansons<\/em> are set in six-eight time\u2014a fast tempo that mirrored the paddlers\u2019 60 strokes per minute pace.<\/p>\n

You need not maintain such a blistering stroke rate to join a voyageur canoe trip with Naturally Superior Adventures<\/a>. In fact, our replica 36-foot canot du ma\u00eetre <\/em>is suitable for all ages and experience levels. Fast and seaworthy, the voyageur canoe cruises effortlessly even with a crew of novices (and an experienced guide).<\/p>\n