By Megan Melton
When David Shaver sat down at a monthly card club gathering, he had no idea that it would lead to a partnership with a neighbor he didn’t know all that well to canoe the nearly 500 miles of the Wabash River.
Shaver, 72, who didn’t even own a canoe, said an adventure of this scale has been at the top of his bucket list for a while.
Ohio but primarily stretches through Indiana before flowing into the Ohio River.
(Submitted image from IDNR)
“There’s a lot of things that you can’t do at my age,” Shaver said. “So I thought that this would be a good challenge and a lot of fun.”
Shaver and Mike Robinson completed their journey Aug. 27. The Zionsville residents set aside one week each year for three years to meet their goal, canoeing as much as 25 miles a day and spending the night at campsites or hotels.
For two people who were amateurs at canoeing, they had to “get their sea legs quick,” Robertson said.
“Before, going out and paddling for two or three hours would have been a big day,” he said. “(Now) we paddle for seven hours.”
Every two hours they would take a break, make sure they were still able to walk around, grab snacks and then resume the trip.
Canoeing the Wabash is a far cry from a recreational afternoon at the lake, Shaver said.
“You could be relaxing and all of a sudden you could be in rapids or something,” he said. “You really have to keep your guard up.”
It’s not all serious, though. Shaver and Robinson, who are neighbors, share funny stories from the trip and agree that getting to know others was the best part of the journey. Friends and family members, in their teens through their 70s, joined them for portions of the adventure. Shaver and Robertson were the only two to canoe the entire river.
“We always joke about how everyone in Indiana knows somebody who’s had a canoe in the back of their garage for 20 years,” Robertson said.
Their primary goal was to to have fun.
“Everybody had bandanas. We also had a duck, that’s a blow-up duck,” Robertson said. “It’s for the bonehead move of the day before. Like if somebody forgets a paddle or somebody leaves a life jacket in the wrong spot or the cooler falls in, the person who received it for the day before gets to pick who gets it for the next day. (Having fun) takes the edge off of everything.”
Shaver said that at least 10 people from the card club expressed interest when Robertson first announced the idea. But he and his wife, Connie, were the only ones who followed through and participated in the trip. Both men wish more people would have joined them and experienced the sense of accomplishment.
“There are all kinds of reasons not to (go),” Robertson said. “But when it’s all said and done, you think, ‘Wow, we canoed that whole thing?”
David Shaver and Mike Robinson’s survival tips
1. Blow-up Duck
“It’s for the bonehead move of the day before.” — Mike Robinson said.
If your friend falls in the water, or you cause your snacks to get soggy, it’s your job to take care of the duck. It’s tied to your boat so everyone in your group knows you’re the bonehead of the day. Don’t worry. You get to pick who gets it next. This duck’s purpose is all about fun and keeping things light.
2. Candy
“Candy is very important to get Dave down the river.” – Mike Robinson
Candy is a necessity for some people. It’s just how it is. Sugar gives you boosts of energy and tastes really good. Have these on hand at all times to keep your mouth from getting dry and to keep you from being cranky.
3. Friends
“I’ve gotten to know Mike a lot better.” – David Shaver
“You had no choice, right?” – Mike Robinson
Friends are an essential part to having fun and making great memories. Without this trip, Mike and Dave might not be as good of friends as they are now. This is tough to fathom because they laugh both at and with each other as thought they’ve been best friends for a long time.
4. Sense of humor
“His fault.” – David Shaver, on how they got the idea to canoe the Wabash
A sense of humor is crucial on an adventure like this. It’s no fun to be mad and irritated when you forget your paddle or fall off the canoe. You have to get up, put a smile on your face and accept the fact that you are in the running for taking care of the duck tomorrow.
