A Thanksgiving Hoot

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Hello everyone – Been a while and we’re just bustin’ with things to share:)

Tim charly and pumpkin harvest

White Squall Sailing a Northerly Bearing

For the past 36 years, (in my Walter Mitty brain), I’ve imagined our old wooden shop to actually be an old wooden ship – constantly working to point north. Guess I don’t know how to spell huh? Why north? It’s the landscape of my dreams – wilder than a southern horizon and full of possibilities – at least in my deviated and declining mind. If you get the navigational puns, tell me – unless you think I’m not in ‘dyer’ need of encouragement. If you do find some, tell us and we’ll put your name in for our somewhat sought-after holy sock draw. Hemingway, after a summer of fair winds Kathy and I have maintained course to keep the Squall Ship moving under reduced sail for another season. Cutting through mixed metaphors and addled brain farts – what this means is we’re here for another year by appointment sports fans. “Doing what?” you might ask…
Sales – Delta & CD Kayaks, Bluewave Boards, H20 Canoes, Werner/H20 Paddles, Salus PFD’s and a host of paddling accessories. We’ve also got a few solid Seaward Passats from our rental fleet on sale – if it’s a hard working boat for 2 you want.
Rentals – we may offer up a few rental possibilities next year – tbd so stay tuned
Custom Coaching – beginners to intermediate paddling skills on the mighty Cole Lake
Unfettered & Unhinged Advice & Opinion – a Squall Staple where all you gotta do is ask and get ready for a windy answer

Me Confused – Thought You Were Closed At Cole Lake Dyer?

Why yes – you are as right as rain in terms of regular hours, though we’re open by appointment now and will continue to be. This applies to fall/winter as well, so if you throw on your parka and snowshoes we can make it happen.

Squall Outdoor Store – 19 James St., Parry Sound

Our friendly little shop for the big outdoors is proudly little but chock-full to the gunnels with clothing, gear, maps and that unfettered advice I was talking about. And we have snowshoe and kicksled rentals – ready to go for those sun-filled winter days. Open Mon – Sat from 9:30 – 5pm throughout the year and all we ask is you mask with one person at a time inside. 705-746-4936 or [email protected]

Incoming Intel

Come early November we’re getting a boatload of Delta and Current Design kayaks. Some of these are spoken for, but some will be free agents, looking for a home. We made the bold, cheeky and maybe misguided decision to bring boats in now while the gettin’ is good. Our thinking is a boat in the hand is worth two in the bush – most of the time. Or put another way…who the heck knows what next spring is going to bring in our bewildered world and gosh darn, wouldn’t it be nice to at least be able to paddle? With full payment, we’ll cheerfully store your boat here for the winter and can deliver within an hour for free in springtime. Best of all is our almost famous Squall ‘No Guff Guarantee’. For a month after paddling your dream boat you can return for full refund if she’s just not the fine cup of tea you thought it might be. I don’t think too many paddling outfits offer this guffless promise and is pudding proof that we truly want you to get the right one.

Tim’s Tip

At the risk of being a worn out record – I’m again signing off our annual thanksgiving letter with a song. Bob Frankes is the writer – Garnet Rogers is the performer. Hope you can take 3 minutes to just read and listen with a hot cup of tea. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_efdDMlCe-A

Thanksgiving Eve
by Bob Franke

It’s so easy to think of days gone by
It’s hard to think of times to come
And the grace to accept every moment as a gift
Is a gift that is given to some

What can you do but work and hope
Let your dreams bind your work to your play
What can you do with each moment of your life
But love til you’ve loved them away

There are sorrows enough for the whole world’s end
There are no guarantees beyond the grave
And this life that I live & the time I have spent
Is a treasure too precious to save

Thanks for listening folks.

Want rid of this turkey? Just hit reply and say “Tim, go paddle your gravy boat up your nose” and we’ll for sure leave you with the left-over mashed potatoes in the fridge. ttfn – tim