Photo essay, Cardboard Canoe

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Merrimack Library Cardboard Boat Race 2001!
Short photo essay of the 2001 Merrimack Library Cardboard Boat Race..
Last update: Tuesday, July 09, 2002

This year, I'm beat. Here it is, 24 hours later and I can hardly move. Bruce, Sue, how on EARTH did you do this for so long. Man, I had no idea how much work was involved... But I loved every minute of it.

I've captured a whole bunch of photos this year. It is not my intent to bore anyone like unwanted relatives with that 3 hour boring slide show of their vacation to hoboken. Rather, I want to praise and honor all who participated with their parents, children, imaginations and creativity.

We had fun, didn't we? I've said it a hundred times before, and I'll go ahead and say it again. Bar NONE, this is the best parent/child event that Merrimack has ever hosted. It's fun, silly, tense, amazing, heartbreaking and laugh-out-loud hilarity all rolled into one action packed day. What more could you ask?

If you missed it... ...well, what can I say? You missed IT. You missed THE event that the participants (boaters and spectators alike) will be talking about for the next 12 months, till they have the 2002 Cardboard Boat race to talk about. If you don't beleive me, go ask them!

The banner at the top of this page shows boat #3, the Midway, coming across the finishline during the second of 13 heats that day (not including the two heats for the Merrimack Cup award).

Right up above we have the start of the last race of the day with the Merrimack Belle on her 3rd run in 3 years! This beautiful boat (built by myself and Ken Coleman) showed her colors in 2000 and took 3rd place in Adult-Team and 1st place as most attractive. A design error caused a paddle to break halfway around the course. We corrected the design problem and proudly sailed her onto a 1st place trophy in Adult-Team! She came in second in the Cup race, but put in a most wonderful race! This is now 3 boats that I have worked on that have raced over two years in 3 or more heats.

At the bottom of this page I have a close up of the Merrimack Cup Winner (Chili Pepper) as he crosses the finish line to victory!

For details on the three boats entered by the Flis family, you can check out the following photo essays on their construction:

Dread-Not Guitar

Merrimack Belle

Click here to go to the Merrimack Library 2002 Cardboard Boat Festival page!

NOTE: All of the photographs found in the photo albums below are available in higher resolution, some suitable for printing. If you see a photograph from these albums that you would like to have, in higher resolution, feel free to drop me a line at jflis@hotmail.com I have no problem emailing you copies (within reason, of course *S*) of these pictures for your own personal use. However, All photographs found on Toad's Tavern website are copyright in the name of Jim Flis and I retain all rights to the use of these photos. Please refer to my copyright page for details and information concerning fair use of my photographs.

A tour of boats	A quick photo essay of the 25 boats that graced the grass near beachside at Wasserman park on this beautiful day!
The Races	Close races, not so close races, but always a whole lotta fun!
People and Activities	All sorts of fun to be had at the Merrimack Cardboard Boat Festival! Check it out!

(Return to my Canoeing page)