Hello there, my name is Bellatrix and IՉm about to tell you my 5 year story and a little determined canoe. Around 6 years ago I was created by a 13 year old girl named Hailey, she painted and crafted me perfectly, I had beautiful wiggle lines and a palm tree in the middle, my bottom was a blue as the sea. My top had the loveliest color of mustard yellow and hearts carved in black to finish it off. Hailey decided that I should go by the name of Bellatrix, because Bellatrix means a strong warrior and thatՉs what I was going to be. She launched me off in the red river near the Grand Fork, North Dakota with this message ՉOne's life has value so long as one attributes value to the life of others, by means of love, friendship, indignation and compassion.Չ Take note that I will carry this message with me all through the journey. I set off on my Journey to Hudson bay on July 3rd, 2013. I was moving at pretty fa at a pretty fast pace I would say, until I was about 40 miles in, I remember the day like it was yesterday. I was minding my own business, and then BOOOMMMM the current picked up and I could not control myself I was bobbing up and down, I got a minor crack in they top of my boat. I prepared myself that this may be the last part of my journey and I may sink if I got another crack. Then all went black. Until I felt a little prick everywhere in my body and then I realised, I WAS IN A BEAVER DAM!! I haven't had a clue on what to do, so I sat there for 10 miserable and scary days. Then, I saw a small little beaver from they corner of my eye I thought oh great what is this tiny beaver going to help me with! When the beaver approached he made sure everything was okay, then he told me ՉI may be small but never doubt me.Չ That little beaver pushed and pulled and yanked, then all of sudden I was free! I thanked they beaver and continued on with my journey.I was back on the river for another year, I had a 6 month delay since I had been stuck under the ice for a very long time, it wasnՉt as bad as your imaging I made a few fish friends while I was down there. We swam and played and talked and just overall had a blast. Continuing on with my journey, I was 80 miles in when I meet something that I was terrified ofՉ»Չ» A SNAPPING TURTLE. I had heard visus rumors on how mean they were how they would snap and bit and eat you. I saw the biggest bale of the turtles, and naturally I freaked out I mean who wouldnՉt, letՉs be honest. Just when I thought for the second time in my life that I was going to die, I nice elderly woman picked me up and said Darcy look at this beautiful canoe. It was a little girl just like Hailey! We spent the afternoon together right before they had put right back into the water! Fast forward another 2 years, I was extremely happy and I was almost to the hudson's bay, just when the ice freezed again! I had to spend the winter waiting anxiously. You know when you are waiting to go on vacation a month or two before you go thatՉs what it felt like. I waited and waited and waited some more. Slowly, by slowly, the ice began to melt. Then I became free and was ready for the Hudson Bay! I traveled for another 2 months, I moved as fast as I could, or at least tried too. Finally I had arrived after 4 years and 6 months of traveling I made it to my destination. It wasnՉt at all what I expected it to be like though, I almost felt like an outsider. You know when you go to a new school and everyone has their own friend group and you donՉt. A nice killer whale approached me and asked if I wanted to play with them for a while and yes of course I did! So, we played and played and played, I actually found myself kind of liking it here. After 6 months of being there it still really didnՉt feel like home, then when I was resting by the shore a boy around 5 came and picked me up and exclaimed ՉMOMMY MOMMY, look what I have found.Չ Now, I look back on this story as a story about encouraging others on following their dreams. I still live with that little boy, heՉs name is Cameron. I now sit on his bookshelf and look over whatever is happening in the world, I really enjoy my life and wouldnՉt trade it for the world.