My wife and I used last Labor Day weekend to drive from Chicago to Ely, MN to buy a used Souris River Quetico 17 from an outfitter up there. We called it the Crazy Canoe Caper weekend.
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Very Far. I went to the dark side and started craft cobbling them together my self.
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The boatā¦I walked out to the front door and picked up the shipment of parts to build the boat. I did go 100 miles to test paddle a similar model.
The dogā¦I donāt build dogs. We recently , before Covid, drove to Gainesville, VA to pick up a Flat Coat Retriever puppy. It seems like a 900 mile one way drive.
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Live in CO, flew to the ADK to test-paddle a lightweight pack canoe by Hornbeck, ordered it and had it shipped back across country. It was worth the trip, money & wait!
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Love the in-law visit.
My most recent trek about a month ago. 3.5 hours each way from St Joseph Michigan to just north of Dayton Ohio so a retired guy in his 60s (moi) could buy an old (1996) Magic from a really nice retired guy in his 70s thatās upgrading from a 39 pound solo to a 28 pound solo (Hemlock Kestrel). Just a delightful drive through rural Indiana and Ohio on a 95 degree day. Pics show boat with Ohio stickers and then cleaned up for use in Michigan.
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Well, it was probably the greatest trip of my life. I travelled from Atlanta to Washington State, and back, to pick up a Sterling Grand Illusion. I had recently retired and turned it into a major road trip. Saw so many incredible State and National Parks and other attractions (e.g., Grand Canyon, Zion, Yosemite, Antelope Canyon, Monument Valley, Mount Ranier, and on the way back, Yellowstone and Devils Tower among others). After I had been on the road for a few weeks, my fiancee flew out and met me in Trinidad CA as per our plan. We got married a few days later in Redwood National Park. After our honeymoon (we drove through the northwest, stayed at one point in a mid-century themed trailer park which was really cool and right up my wifeās alley, finished in Whistler, BC), she flew back home and I spent another couple of weeks driving home - hitting the Apostle Islands and Pictured Rocks National Lakeshore on there way back.
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These have all been great stories but I think yours tops them all, Monkeyhead. You are lucky to have a partner to travel with.
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Agreed Willowleaf. Iām a pretty lucky guy!
No Oldtown Loon 126 kayaks anywhere near me. Stumbled upon one on sale 25% off 2 states away. I am retired so plenty of time for a road trip. So added the cost of gas and a bribe to get get my wife on board a meal at Red Lobster.
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I hope itās a photo thing that makes the stern droop.
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Just the other day, I drove 4 hours each way from the Binghamton, NY area to the Hartford, CT area, and back, to buy a 1982 Merrimack. The fun part was finding enough wifi in the Albany area on my way home to host office hours and attend my grad seminar (virtually, of course). 4 hours isnāt much compared to some of the stories here, but Iām sure it will remain memorable to me because without COVID, office hours and grad seminar would have been in person, and so I wouldnāt have been able to get the boat.
The boat is in excellent shape except for some expected scratches in the gel coat. Single owner and garage kept for almost 40 years!
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Why I remember the timeā¦ I had collected 9 of 10 sequential permits, date specific. Drove from Michigan to Wyoming to meet the new boat being shipped to Wyoming from B.C. Unwrapped a highly specialized boat, crushed by a forklift. 4 grand boat that never saw a foot of water. So, I made a small side trip to B.C. Canada and pickup another new boat that they built for me as I drove. Arrived on Friday, Boat was finished on Monday 12:30 noon, and by 1 PM I was headed south, back to Wyoming.
Did a full Powell + 1,300 miles. And then rented a Ford Focus 14 feet long, to put my 20 foot canoe on top, Boat is bigger than the car. Not just longer, bigger. Chop up the Focus and you could carry it in the canoe ,and still have 6 inches of freeboard left. Drove back to my truck in Wyoming. Still have the boat.
Nice boat. Worth a drive. I just drove over 800 miles to pick up a vintage Bell Wildfire for my wife to use. After a couple of paddles she wants something shorterā¦ 
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About 4.5 hours each way. Longest search CD Expedition 7 years or more lol. Found some but states away even CA and Iām in NY.
I have got some spectacular deals you just need to be persistent 
in searching almost daily.
900 bucks
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Thatās a gorgeous Wildfire. Since your wife doesnāt like it, it would be a shame if you had to keep it for yourself.
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Already sold. I have a Rapidfire on order. Still need to find her a boat. Probably a Placid Spitfire.
A Kevlar We-no-nah Wee Lassie just turned up on Pittsburgh Craigslist for $800. Almost the same dimensions as the Spitfire throughout, though 6 to 9 lbs heavier. Nice price though.
https://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/boa/d/trafford-wenonah-wee-lassie-canoe/7197954613.html
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That is a nice price. Already found her a Spitfire though which is what she wants. Picking it up tomorrow.
Update: Drove an hour and a half one way to pic up the Spitfire. She loves it. Actually I like it also. Tracks well for 12ā Will be a fun little boat for exploring.
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Ironically, someone just hipped me to a P&H Aries today. I paddled an Aries several years ago and LOVED it. My wife was getting seriously annoyed, because all I did on that test-paddle was spin around in circles, giggling. Iāve never forgotten that boat.
The best thing about this one? Itās like 5 minutes from my house AND right next to a park with a small lake, so guess what Iām doing tonight? TEST DRIVE!!!
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