With our 'fearless' swimming leader--The Dipper--, aka know as Bruce Murphy, south of the border viewing Ground Zero and visiting relatives in the Big Apple, the polar bear swim was not the first event that entertained the Gonzos. Rumour has it, and I'm certain they are true, was the first things done were the regular early morning runs of those that did not have too much diet cola the night before.

That being said, certainly the first 'group' Gonzo event of 2002 was the paddle in Bedford Basin at the mouth of the Sackville River.

The afternoon was gorgeous as we unloaded out canoes and kayaks off our vehicles--Viking and Sungod with the 'new to you' Wenonah XX White Water racing C2, Imax and Spell Chic in the Old Town Appallachian, Low Maintenance, Brian TRI-GUY, and Fireball in their Old Town Millinnium Sea Kayaks, and Barbie running around taking pictures of what she called the fools.

Just as we were putting in the water along comes Honest Abe, out for a 10 miler. After passing good wishes back and forth, the run made us think of Malcom down in Florida, getting ready to run The Disney Marathon--Good luck GOAT.

We were off into the Basin, the water was still as we paddled out toward the ice, could we get by and into the bay?, would we be able to find a passage--Nope, no luck. Across the Basin, about a kilometer from put inwas ice from shore to shore. Where's the Louis Saint Laurent when you need it? After paddling around for a bit we decided it was time to put ashore and get off to the Marina for tea, cookies, and other gathering Gonzos

A fine start to another BUSY year.

-- NEW YEARS DAY, Part II (or III, IV, or V for some.)

If activity is one part of a Gonzo gathering, FOOD is another part, and the goodies at the Marina were scrumpdillyishous. The paddlers from the noon time excursion on the water hurried out to the Warnica Marina and Social Tea Club to join up, and socialize with, other Gonzos on what could only be called a feeding frenzy.

FIRST I MUST PASS ALONG THE THANKS OF THE GONZOS TO HELGA AND VIKING FOR AGAIN OPENING THEIR HOME TO KEEP US WARM AS WE HOVERED OVER THE VARIOUS DISSHES.

Paddlers Sungod, Viking, Imax, Spell Chic, Low Maiantance, Tri-Guy, Fireball, and Barbie arrived at the shore of Lake Thomas to be greeted and joined by Birder, Helag, Claudia, P*^@k, Geezer, Gail, Scrounger, Honest Abe, Betty Boop, Packitin/Packitout and his lovely wife Linda.

The food was----------------------------------------------------------------------- -----------! You fill in the blanks with the most tasty words you can think of and you will have hit it on the head. And there was lots. Helga was begging all as they left to 'PLEASE' take some home with them. Are we already on a training diet Gordon????

Preliminary discussion of the bike trip to Ireland in late May took place, Ron will be organizing an information session in the near future to get more detailed interest and a better time/cost schedule. If you are interested be sure to be talking to Gordon or Ron. Present interest is at least 6 people.

There will be an overnighter, probably the weekend of Jan 20/21, probably KEJI, possibly Jack's Lake.

Also put Friday, February 1st on your calendar for the 5th (6th, or 7th?) Annual Munroe Day Hike, again this year we will be going to Taylor's Head Provincial Park, Sheet Harbour. Looks like a good turnout will be happening.

See ya in the woods, on the water, or climbing a mountain.

The Sun god