Well another paddling season is winding up and I managed to get out paddling only a couple of times. Why? It is a bit of a long story but in early April I fell while trailrunning and broke both wrists. Nasty. Don’t do it. Sort of an end to life as you know it for quite a while. No ultramarathons for me this season! I can paddle now but only for about 15 min. or so before it all my fingers go numb. Hopefully this will all go away and next season will be better.

Needless to say, without wrists/hand/fingers sewing was not possible. Therefore, if I didn’t have it already made and sitting in inventory – your order was delayed until the casts came off in late June.

Thank you to all the customers who were willing to wait for things that needed embroidery and thanks to all of you who were willing to accept whatever was already made and available for immediate shipping.

My first regatta of the season was the last regatta of the young kids season – the Trillium in Ottawa. I love the new club house – a beautiful new building with a fabulous fall/winter training weight room on top. Lucky Rideau paddlers!

Nationals in nearby Welland were welcome since long drives would have been hard on my still healing wrists. The WOD group of organizers had everything in good order and I was lucky to be inside a huge tent for the duration of the racing.

The one evening that the tornado was expected to come through the area, we were forced to empty everything out of the tent overnight so that they could collapse the tents for security. I had a bit of a dilemma since all of my product wouldn’t fit in my car but WOD organizers came to my rescue and Cindy from South Niagara Canoe Club volunteered the back of her van. As it happened, Chris from Regatta Sport who was also on site selling Nationals product, made room in their trailer for my bins and Cindy and her van were off the hook. I am very appreciative of just how lucky I am to be surrounded by such good people.

I would also like to thank Katie from CKC for her conversation, information and booth watching while we both stood around during the week under our mutual tent. She was always in good spirits and I know will be a welcome addition to wherever she ends up next.

I love hearing stories about what happens to my product when it leaves my hands. I heard from more than one mother this year and without naming names and therefore avoiding any lawsuits – here are my favorites.

One young man was caught by his mother using her sewing machine to fix a hole in his McNie shorts. She didn’t even think he knew how to use it!

One mother reported that her son still uses the same shorts he got when he was 12! Surely they must be too small and yes, she was buying him another pair.

Another mother reported that her son gladly lets her do all his washing but insists on washing all his McNie clothing by hand himself! Wow.

I am so impressed by my customers love of their McNie clothing and gear. It makes me feel fabulously useful.

As a Thank You to all of you I am suspending any shipping charges from now until Dec. 24, 2011 – regular mail Canadian shipments only.

That’s right – FREE SHIPPING – from now until Xmas 2011.

I have new inventory of the always popular Men’s Unisuit with the maple leaf detail on the sides. I also have inventory on the new White CoolMax Short Sleeve quick dry shirt – also printed with maple leaf sleeve detail.

Check the web site for photos -

http://users.openface.ca/~paddle/heather.html

If you have the web site bookmarked – note that it has changed slightly – why? Who knows – I sure don’t but whatever the IT people want to do – they do….

That’s it for now – if you are wondering if I have product in inventory just drop a quick email and I will get right back to you.

Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays to all

PS:

I was told by more than one mother that anything from McNie under the tree was their kid’s favorite gift. That’s just amazing to hear. Thanks so much.

Therefore. Christmas Gift Suggestions:

Pogies (hand covers for cold water paddling spring and fall)

Spraydecks for kayaks – same as above

Paddling shirts – for warm weather Short Sleeve White CoolMax

- for cool mornings LS White CoolMax

- for cold weather LS Paddling Shirt

Kayak Padded Shorts

Canoe Unpadded Shorts (also fine for kayakers who prefer no extra padding)

Tights (to the ankle version of the canoe shorts for cold weather paddling/

running etc.)

Paddle Covers and Boat Covers

A minimum of 2 weeks is necessary for any product not in inventory – add an extra week if personalized embroidery is to be added since it has to be done before the final sewing is completed.