2016 Ottawa Outdoor and Adventure Show

The Ottawa Outdoor and Adventure show was held on March 19 and 20, 2016 at the EY Centre near the airport. The baby show was next door at the same time. There were strollers!

Here's the link: http://www.adventureottawa.ca/

We attended on Saturday. There were a few new companies participating this year. Eddie Bauer was there and offered 40% off the clothing they were displaying, a lot was really nice stuff. If they didn't have your size there, they'd take the order and honour the discount.

Eureka! had a bigger display this year. They weren't embedded with the Scouts, but right next to them. They were giving a healthy discount from their MSRP. They even had our bug tent on display.

BIG tent (not bug tent)

LT was tempted by some different air mattresses that we'd never seen before. The prices were really good, but he didn't bite. We're looking for a better solution for the hammock tents we'll both be using this summer.

I stopped by the La Verendrye canoe camping booth to look at their maps. I bought some fudge ($10 a slab!), I tested the salami at D&D Meats, I chatted with a scout leader about "Mike" (their stuffed fisher), I took a free fire starter from Qwik Wick, and I got a discount coupon from World of Maps for a book I had to pick up later that day I had on order. Bonus!

The Canadian Canoe Museum had a nice booth. They are promoting the build of a new museum in Peterborough.

We watched Becky Mason in the pool, she had a lovely blue canoe her husband had refinished for her, she can turn on a dime. 

She's talking about how to choose your paddle size

Around one corner this guy greeted us:

Parks Canada's Mascot

We went to listen to Kevin Callan's talk. They had less than half the number of seats they had last year and there were a lot of people standing, us included.

Wally Schaber was doing his talk beforehand with no microphone or video displays. He had propped up his tablet with his slide show. He's the author we heard on February 13th in Old Chelsea.

Wally's book

By the time Kevin was on, they had figured out the microphone, and he ended up setting his laptop on a table so people could see. They got the video display working for the next speakers after him.

He talked about Algonquin Park

LT wanted to get a couple of autographs on his paddle. He'd prepped the paddle and had left it in the car. After checking with Becky, he went and got the paddle, she was happy to sign it.

Then he asked Kevin, but I didn't get a picture of that. Here are pictures of the paddle with the autographs. He plans on putting a protective layer over the autographs before using the paddle again.

Another paddling season is almost here and this show is the harbinger of that! I can hardly wait.