Sounds like my experience, I paid $70 for a clear straight 10 foot WRC 2x6 here in Calgary.
Later that year I stopped at a small sawmill in Revelstoke BC (middle of the mountains) and got a couple more for 5 bucks each.
Oddly enough I no longer feel guilty about the 70 dollar paddle, my time spent carving it was worth more, and I love that blade.
Have fun carving it down.

: So I just got home from this "exotic lumber" yard down
: near Annapolis... I stop in there now and again to see whats
: available and all, and they had two 8' long 2x4's of the
: sraightest, clearest grained Western Red Cedar I've ever seen...
: The one was slightly more perfect, so despite its price of
: around $32, I couldn' turn it down. I plan on turning this into
: my first GP (after I'm done building my current WW project), and
: I am definitely excited about it. I have a feeling if that other
: piece is still there the next time i stop in that I will have no
: choice but buying it. Besides, $32 compares quite favorably to
: my ~$350 carbon Werner paddle :)