Green Laker reporter Connor Cummiskey helps paddle the canoe through the water during a recent trip on the Fox of the River Voyageur Canoe. submitted photo
by Connor Cummiskey
When I was a Boy Scout, we would go camping every summer.
At camp, the troop usually ended up canoeing as one of our group activities.
That canoe trip almost inevitably ended in a war of boys dumping other scouts’ canoes and splashing water with our paddles.
The “canoe wars,” as I like to refer to them, probably would have been cracked down on more often had it not been the senior patrol leader starting them.
In other words, I have had a lot of fun canoeing in the past, so I jumped on board when I got the chance to go for a ride with Fox of the River Voyageur Canoe LLC.
The trip consisted of fewer water fights and more history and ecology, but it was fun and interesting.
It started off with us being sworn in.
We raised our hands and repeated after Glen Gorsuch, also known as “Jacques.”
He and Jerry Disterhaft ran the canoe trip.
During the oath, we learned the proper times to shout “Viva La Company” (whenever they mentioned the Northwest Fur Co.).
As well as when to shout “Stinking English Pig Dogs, Patooie” (whenever the Hudson Bay Co. was mentioned).
We grabbed our personal flotation devices and our paddles. Then, one by one, we boarded the large North Canoe and began paddling up stream.
As we paddled, our guides spoke to us about the history of the area; discussing rumors of an old underground railroad hideaway that probably did not exist.
The Fox River was beautiful. I enjoyed watching the banks and trying to spot whatever creatures hid in the undergrowth.
We paddled up past the shops on Water Street in Princeton, with a very different view of the stores from the water.
Once we reached a part of the river marked by an old and rusty pontoon tied to shore, we halted paddling and began floating back down river.
Cutting through the water, we discussed things such as how old voyagers were during the fur trade when they first signed on to a company.
The regular age was 12.
We also learned that the companies preferred to hire men who could not swim, because they would be more cautious on the water.
What I found most interesting of all was the fact that three presidents had fought in the Black Hawk War, which took place in Illinois.
Abraham Lincoln was a volunteer during the war, however, he did not see combat. Zachary Taylor fought against the Native Americans.
The future president of the Confederacy of the United States, Jefferson Davis also played a role in the war.
I also found out that it was a Wisconsin infantry that finally captured Davis in Georgia.
Aside from these interesting facts, I also had the opportunity to spot some sandhill cranes wandering along the banks.
This was around the time that I saw a kingfisher repeatedly diving into the water from the tops of trees in an attempt to catch fish.
Both birds I found amazing and fun to watch.
Eventually, we passed an old railroad bridge that was built when steam boats were the primary mode of transportation.
We could tell the bridge was from that time period because it sat upon a central-geared column that enabled it to rotate.
Thus, it could allow for the steam boats to pass without catching their paddle wheels on the underside of the bridge.
Our canoe floated downstream effortlessly. We paddled only occasionally, usually sitting and chatting or watching the banks for something interesting.
We did spot something off in the distance: the Cross of Father Marquette.
Disterhaft had the cross put up within sight of the river after discovering its old location.
Floating on, we eventually made it to their predetermined landing point. As we disembarked from the canoe, we spotted a fox snake swimming close to the canoe.
Once we had all made it back onto dry land, we performed the tobacco ceremony that the two re-enactors always finished their trips with.
For the ceremony, we passed around a leather bag of pipe tobacco and each of us would say what we were grateful for before sprinkling it on the earth.
The ceremony was a way of giving thanks to the earth, plants and animals, for our journey. I was thankful just to have a chance to ride along in the canoe.
Before we packed up, some of us walked along a grassy path to get a closer look at the cross we had spotted earlier.
As we approached, waves of frogs jumped off of the path, more than I had ever seen in one place before.
The cross marked the location of springs that had been blessed by Father Marquette.
Since they have continued to run uninterrupted, they are still considered holy water.
We made it back to the van and all packed in tight, before we drove back to our original rendezvous point.
There, we parted ways, all smiling from our trip as the Northwest Co.
Viva La Company!
To organize a trip with the Fox of the River Voyageur LLC call 920-229-3360 or 920-293-8206.
The Green Laker 