Paddle for Almonte Hospital
PADDLE FOR ALMONTE HOSPITAL
Saturday, August 10, 2019
Almonte Fairgrounds & Almonte Beach
Buccaneer or Pirate?
One imagines a buccaneer to be dressed like “The Highwayman” of the Alfred Noyes poem.
“He’d a French cocked-hat on his forehead, a bunch of lace at his chin, A coat of claret velvet and breeches of brown doe-skin. They fitted with never a wrinkle: his boots were up to the thigh! And he rode with a jewelled twinkle, His pistol butts a-twinkle, His rapier hilt a-twinkle, under a jewelled sky.” (Apologies to poetry purists).
After all, what is a highwayman, but a landlubbing pirate? Queen Elizabeth I licensed buccaneers to attack Spanish galleons laden with gold and silver plundered from the Americas. Apparently, government-sanctioned looting got you a knighthood in those times as the buccaneer Frances Drake became Sir Francis Drake.
The pirate, on the other hand, appeared to be more hands on. The eye patch and wooden leg suggest that, unlike Sir Francis, he was battle-hardened and had come in contact with the business end of a twinkling Spanish rapier. The beard was probably more of a hand towel than a fashion statement.
So me hearties, what will you be – pirate or buccaneer?
It’s time to get your crew of salty dogs together to plan your vessel for the great annual raft race, Saturday, August 10 on the Mississippi River in support of the Almonte General Hospital.
Hope to see you on the high seas!
For information about this fundraising event, please email raftraceagh@gmail.com. To register your raft, please complete the online form below.
The Great Raft Race for the AGH
Registration fee is $100 per raft.
Registration can be completed online or by email to raftraceagh@gmail.com
Participants will assemble a crew of 4 people, plan and gather their materials for their raft ahead of race day. On race day, the crew will assemble their rafts at the fairgrounds and race their completed raft across the Mississippi River leaving and returning from the beach.
Learn to Paddle
Have you ever wanted to learn to paddle?
Take advantage of an opportunity to test out a Stand-Up Paddle Board (SUP). A SUP will be available free of charge to the public.
Canoe & Kayak Races
New for 2019 – Canoe and Kayak Races! 340m race
Registration fee is $20 per canoe or kayak.
Registration can be completed online or by email to paddleagh@gmail.com
The Community Paddle
The community will be invited launch their canoes, kayaks and stand up paddle boards from the beach at the Fairgrounds. Led by John Edwards, the group will paddle up the river in the direction of Appleton and return to the boat launch (5km round trip).
Helping Us Along The Way
