A few days ago I rode along with friend Dan (@ongreenbay) to pick up his new canoe, a beautiful H20 Canoe Company Prospector. He ordered it from Umingmaq Paddle Touring Center, located a few miles west of Westfield, in Central Wisconsin. I had heard about Umingmaq but I hadn’t been there yet so I welcomed the opportunity to tag along for the afternoon and evening. Owner Matt Magolan greeted us in his wooded yard next to a small lake. While Dan and Matt chatted, I inspected the high-end sea kayaks in stock, including Tiderace and Valley, and coming soon: Turning Point. I’ve been following Turning Point’s social media for awhile and so far I’ve been able to resist the temptation to pull the trigger on a new sea kayak. My Valley Aquanaut is showing its age but still serves me well. We’ll see what next year brings. If you’re interested in top-of-the line composite sea kayaks and canoes, check out Matt’s website. He’s a friendly, low-pressure shop owner who knows paddling.
Funny story: On the way home, Dan and I looked for a place to stop for dinner. We pulled up to Schoolhouse Tavern, a rustic-looking bar and grill with a neon “OPEN” sign in the window. The crowded parking lot on that cold and dark February evening signaled that it must be an okay place to eat, or at least to drink. As we walked up the steps, an elderly woman standing outside the front door took a drag on her cigarette and greeted us with, “WTF are you doing with a canoe?” (She didn’t actually use the abbreviation.) I explained that Dan had just purchased it. “Well, I guess that’s a good enough reason,” she replied. We hurried inside to avoid further questioning.
