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From: Mark H. Hunt <mhh_at_aretha.jax.org>
subject: [Paddlewise] Missing Canadian Ballast Rocks
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1998 13:15:29 -0400 (EDT)
           I am saddened to report the apparent theft of a complete set 
of four perfectly matched Canadian Ballast Rocks. The perpetrators 
obviously knew something about kayak gear in that they passed over the 
GPS, the UHF, the graphite paddle, etc and took only the CBRs.They are 
grayish in color(the rocks not the perpetrators) with a speckling and 
somewhat rounded. If you are offered a deal that seems too good to be 
true on a matched set of Canadian Ballast Rocks it probably is. I dare not 
set out on the ocean without them......
                                                   mark.
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From: <JCMARTIN43_at_aol.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Missing Canadian Ballast Rocks
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1998 14:36:48 EDT
In a message dated 98-10-14 13:21:09 EDT, mhh_at_aretha.jax.org writes:

<< 
            I am saddened to report the apparent theft of a complete set 
 of four perfectly matched Canadian Ballast Rocks.  >>

Sorry to hear of your loss, Mark.  Did you keep the registration?  If you did,
I can check around when I'm in Washington tomorrow --- will be near
Pennsylvania Avenue for a while --- but with so many domestic <and> imported
stones being cast around that part of town, it's important to know the serial
numbers.

Jack
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From: Larry Mills <millsl_at_purchase.edu>
subject: RE: [Paddlewise] Missing Canadian Ballast Rocks
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1998 14:37:45 -0000
This message is in regard to the sale of Canadian Ballast Rocks
in New York City.  I had business downtown and as I was walking
along, I noticed a street vendor with a table full of rocks.  The rocks
were grayish with a speckling and were somewhat rounded.  They
seemed nicely matched.

I stopped to look at the rocks and the vendor became somewhat 
nervous when I asked about their origin.  He assured me that they 
had come directly from our friends to the north and that he had all 
of the appropriate customs paperwork, although he had mistakenly 
left it in his apartment that particular morning.  Since he lived near
the Natural History Museum, it was too far away to easily get the
forms.  He said he would bring them with him the next day. 

I thanked him for his information and said I would come back the
next day.  He then pointed out a table 2 stores down where his 
cousin was selling Rolex watches and something he called a 
titanium GPS.  I guess there must have been a Rolex sale since
I got this great $2,500 watch for $18 and the GPS was even less.
I can't wait to try one of those midnight solo circumnavigations of
Manhattan, using them to guide my way.

Anyway, I went back the next day to see about those rocks and
I guess he must have been sick because he wasn't there and the
place where his cousin had been was occupied by a man selling 
kevlar and feather paddles.  I wish I could remember the rock guys
name.  It sounded kind of Hispanic.  Like Diablo or Dia...something 
or other.

Oh well, maybe next time he will be there.

Larry Mills
Purchase, NY

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From: <Johnlebl_at_aol.com>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Missing Canadian Ballast Rocks
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1998 15:54:51 EDT
In a message dated 10/14/1998 1:18:31 PM EST, mhh_at_aretha.jax.org writes:

<<  I am saddened to report the apparent theft of a complete set 
 of four perfectly matched Canadian Ballast Rocks. The perpetrators 
 obviously knew something about kayak gear in that they passed over the 
 GPS, the UHF, the graphite paddle, etc and took only the CBRs.They are 
 grayish in color(the rocks not the perpetrators) with a speckling and 
 somewhat rounded. If you are offered a deal that seems too good to be 
 true on a matched set of Canadian Ballast Rocks it probably is. I dare not 
 set out on the ocean without them......
                                                    mark. >>

Mark,

I confess to taking the Matching Set of Canadian Ballast Rocks.  You see, I
already have a good GPS and VHFand plastic paddles of any quality and price
suck, but I needed those speckled rocks desperately.  What I so desperately
needed them for was to slip into a passing local's portage pack during my next
trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness that is the ONLY designated
wilderness area in the United States that allows motorboats on wilderness
lakes and trucks on portages due to alot of squaking by locals.  I think it is
a $$$$$$$$ thing.

The addition of 20 some odd pounds of water worn solidified mother earth is
just my subtle message to them that they aren't the only ones who can pull one
off.

If you fail to find them before too long, look on Prarie Portage as this was
his next portage to carry them across.  I know he knew they were in his pack
as I stuck a note on it while slapping him on the back while we visited on the
portage trail just like the kids in Junior High School used to put those "kick
me" signs on our backs.

Some people just never grow up do they?

John 
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From: Bob Washburn <whiterabbit_at_iw.edwpub.com>
subject: [Paddlewise] Missing Canadian Ballast Rocks - Trip Report
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1998 19:32:15 -0500
At 03:54 PM 10/14/98 EDT, Johnlebl_at_aol.com wrote:
>In a message dated 10/14/1998 1:18:31 PM EST, mhh_at_aretha.jax.org writes:
>
><<  I am saddened to report the apparent theft of a complete set 
> of four perfectly matched Canadian Ballast Rocks. The perpetrators 
> obviously knew something about kayak gear in that they passed over the 
> GPS, the UHF, the graphite paddle, etc and took only the CBRs.They are 
> grayish in color(the rocks not the perpetrators) with a speckling and 
> somewhat rounded. If you are offered a deal that seems too good to be 
> true on a matched set of Canadian Ballast Rocks it probably is. I dare not 
> set out on the ocean without them......
>                                                    mark. >>
>
>Mark,
>
>I confess to taking the Matching Set of Canadian Ballast Rocks.  
>
>If you fail to find them before too long, look on Prarie Portage as this was
>his next portage to carry them across.  I know he knew they were in his pack
>as I stuck a note on it while slapping him on the back while we visited on
the
>portage trail just like the kids in Junior High School used to put those
"kick
>me" signs on our backs.
>
>Some people just never grow up do they?
>
>John 

Mark - 
I was at Prairie Portage last Thursday.  I noticed a number of rocks
meeting your description along the portage trail (Canadian Side).  Already
having both ends full of camping gear I passed on the rocks.  I'm not sure
what the international treaties are on recovery of stolen property located
in Canada which consists of illegally exported Canadian natural resources.

Incidentally the BWCAW area was gorgeous last Thursday and Friday.  The
birch trees were all golden yellow running to light orange and nicely set
off by the green pines.  Highs during the day were around 60 with around 40
at night.  Sunsets were gorgeous, really brought out the oranges. Saw two
canoes on Thursday and two more on Friday. 

Friday morning while cooking breakfast I noticed a cow moose swimming from
the island to shore.  As I watched the calf set out from shore following
the mother.  Sausage was a little crisp by the time I got back to it, but
what a sight.

There were a fair number of eagles.  Watched one pluck a fish out of the
water and carry it to a rock for lunch.

I didn't see too many loons, but while sitting on Sucker Lake trying to
figure out which cove lead to Prairie Portage one popped up about 5 feet
from the kayak.  As soon as it looked over it's shoulder and saw me it
dived again.

Thursday morning was so foggy you couldn't see 20 feet on the lake.  In the
distance I heard one of the motor boats.  It was killing the engine about
every five minutes, to try to figure out where it was at.  It went right by
my camp site and I never saw it.

Naturally the paddle out was dead into about a 20 knot wind.
                        ,,,
                      (o o)
==================oOO--(_)--OOo==========================
                  Bob Washburn
whiterabbit_at_iw.edwpub.com  or   rwashbu_at_siue.edu
The only difference between a rut and a grave is the depth.
=========================================================
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From: John Winters <735769_at_ican.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Missing Canadian Ballast Rocks
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 07:52:33 -0400
Mark wrote;



>           I am saddened to report the apparent theft of a complete set
>of four perfectly matched Canadian Ballast Rocks. The perpetrators
>obviously knew something about kayak gear in that they passed over the
>GPS, the UHF, the graphite paddle, etc and took only the CBRs.They are
>grayish in color(the rocks not the perpetrators) with a speckling and
>somewhat rounded. If you are offered a deal that seems too good to be
>true on a matched set of Canadian Ballast Rocks it probably is. I dare not
>set out on the ocean without them......


This has become a world wide problem. Genuine Canadian Ballast Rocks (TM)
are as popular with thieves as a Chicago Bulls jacket or a Jeep Cherokee.
Canadian Ballast Rock Ltd, however,  has not stood idly by. In conjunction
with American Express we are now offering our new CBR Security Service. If
your rocks go missing for any reason, simply call the American Express Toll
free Hotline and we will have replacement rocks delivered to you no matter
where in the world you may be within 24 hours. All you need is an American
Express Platinum Card and a Cell phone and you will never have to do with
out your rocks again.

Cheers,
John Winters
Redwing Designs
Specialists in Human Powered Watercraft
http://home.ican.net/~735769/



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From: Mark H. Hunt <mhh_at_aretha.jax.org>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Missing Canadian Ballast Rocks
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 09:09:54 -0400 (EDT)
    Gosh John....I drive a Jeep Cherokee as well. Should I be worried? 
Do these dastardly deeds occur together?.....I tried a platinum card for 
awhile but every time I capsized it would sink to the bottom so I went 
back to using plastic ones.........
                                                mark
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From: John Winters <735769_at_ican.net>
subject: Re: [Paddlewise] Missing Canadian Ballast Rocks
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1998 08:42:15 -0400
Larry wrote;
,
(SNIP)


>Anyway, I went back the next day to see about those rocks and
>I guess he must have been sick because he wasn't there and the
>place where his cousin had been was occupied by a man selling 
>kevlar and feather paddles.  I wish I could remember the rock guys
>name.  It sounded kind of Hispanic.  Like Diablo or Dia...something 
>or other.
>
>Oh well, maybe next time he will be there.

Don't count on it. My associates will have capped his knees by now. 

Cheers,

Louis Giancanno
Patent Infringement Division 
Canadian Ballast Rock Ltd. 
 



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