Flatwater

As a lead up to the Fall retreat at Paddler Co-op I am takiing the extra day to visit the new Canadian Canoe Museum located in Peterborough.  

Please feel welcome to join me,  I will most likely start with a 10am paddle to stretch from the drive there and then take a tour of the museum.

I have yet to make contact with anyone there to iron out any details so if anyone has a contact or suggestions please feel free to contact me.

Looking forward to having this in my calendar, maybe see you there!

This trip is full

I am looking to gather a group of experienced flatwater canoeists (kayakers welcome) to explore that part of Georgian Bay, 4 days, inclusive. No more than 6 people. Looking to enjoy the spectacular beauty of that part of the Canadian Shield. The idea behind this trip is to explore and take in the incredible beauty of the region not to cover long distances quickly. NOTE: As moving between these islands requires being out in deep, open water both people paddling tandem in a canoe need to be strong, experienced flatwater canoeists and both have to be very comfortable paddling in open water far from the shore.

This one-day 18km trip will take us down the Willow Creek into the heart of the Minesing Wetlands (designated internationally significant), through an often flooded silver maple forest, and onto the Nottawasaga River, ending up at Edenvale Conservation Area. Scenery is highly dependent on water levels, which can very greatly depending on the time of travel and spring runoff. You may need to get out and pull your boat at some places in the heart of the wetland.

We need one person to complete a tandem boat. A few have dropped out. We have space for another tandem canoe as well.

This trip is a 'followup of the trip I did last year (June 2023) on the Rideau Canal. The participants on that trip enjoyed it enough to ask me to organize another canal trip ... so I'm posting for June 2024 on the Trent-Severn Canal.
Presently it looks like this: Saturday June 1st - everyone gets their canoes and gear to Lock #45 Port Severn on Georgian Bay. We would do the shuttle that day (move most of the cars to the take out) and camp at this lock. We will begin paddling Sunday June 2nd, and paddle the canal for nine days. We will take out in Lakefield on June 10th. Camping throughout will be at the locks of the canal and cost 5.25/person/per night. Lake Simcoe can be a bit of an obstacle for canoeists (I have prior experience with this) and I am looking to arrange a shuttle of everything around the Lake (Atherley to the lock #41 at Gamebridge).
I have a home in Lakefield and, as such, it is a convenient place to end the approximately 200km trip. I will be able to park a bunch of cars in Lakefield over the course of this trip.
Much of the details of this trip will be worked out in the coming spring.
I will paddle the entirety of this trip. Anyone wants to join me for All, or parts, of this trip is welcome (if you only do a part you will have to work out your own shuttle). It IS a WCA trip so you must sign up and sign the waivers involved, regardless. As the trip leader I reserve the right to ensure that all aspects of the trip are safe, and that all the canoes and gear used is adequate to complete the trip safely.
Some will wish to organize their own food for the trip. Many of us will organize and share the meals together.
If you are someone who has been on one or two day trips but have never done a back country wilderness canoe adventure, then this is the trip for you to take a step in that direction. While it is 'glamping' in comparison, you will see how it is done as we will be self sufficient for 9 days on this trip.
Disclaimer: We may take in a pub meal or two along the way as this route affords that opportunity at the end of a day!

I am proposing to organize a paddle day on the Grand River, followed up by a dinner Cruise by Grand River Cruises. In the past people have organized a Grand River Paddle followed up by a wonderful BBQ afterwards, but it appears 'nothing is in the works' for this, this year, so i am proposing upping the ante a bit and going for a nice river boat cruise meal after a day of paddling. Sure, we'll all be sunburnt (hopefully a sunny day!????????), and maybe a little ripe, but we'll be sitting as a group and so NO PROBLEM for us!
The details:
You can google Grand River Cruises to see their boat, their menu and pics of the rivers.
The Cruise starts at 5, so presently I propose we paddle from Glen Morris to Paris. Its 10 km, generally easy paddling, bring a light lunch, we take out at 3pm and make our way to the Cruise launch. I am looking to get at least 8-10 people to do this. The dinner and Cruise is $75 (probably plus taxes). There are no bookings left for the size of group I'm proposing (sorry this was a last minute idea) for Saturdays in June to I'm proposing to do this as a Sunday event. Preferably Sunday June 18th (if that doesn't work, let me know if you'd be interested in June 25th).
If I get enough interest ... as in 10 people ... I will book the spots on the Cruise ship and proceed to work out the fine details of the canoe paddle that day.
If I get more interest, I will try to book more spots, too.
Preferably you have a partner in mind already, but if not, I will try to match people up. I suggest you have something better than a Kevlar boat, something a little more durable like a whitewater boat ?? as the Grand can be a little low in summer. But don't worry, as I have paddled it a lot and I know most of deeper routes.????
You must get in touch with me asap as the spaces on the Cruise ship will disappear quickly. If I get 8 people (myself included) I will make the booking right away, and then ask you to email transfer me the cost of the booking right away.
You can also rent boats at Grand Experiences (115 Grand River St N, Paris, ON - 888-258-2441) if you don't have one of your own.
Another possibility, you get yourself a hotel in the area so as to make your day less stressful when the Cruise is over.

This is a novice event. Your do not have to have white water skills for this ... although the Grand in this region does have a few swifts.

Suitable for seniors. Easy put in. Short paddle to site. Base camping. Explore area via boat. Nearby hiking trails.I paddle two small kayaks. I am not a canoeist. BYO boat, food, gear, etc., etc. Pay fee at office. Meet at access point on Stormy Lake at noon. Motor boat traffic on lake. Crown land with cottages in the area.

EVENT SIGNUP IS FULL; please contact organizer (Tom Connell) re wait-list or confirmation. This one-day 18km trip will take us down the Willow Creek into the heart of the Minesing Wetlands (designated internationally significant), through an often flooded silver maple forest, and onto the Nottawasaga River, ending up at Edenvale Conservation Area. Scenery is highly dependent on water levels, which can very greatly depending on the time of travel and spring runoff. You may need to get out and pull your boat at some places in the heart of the wetland.

"From May to October, the canal is open as a 202 km-long navigational waterway for boaters and paddlers. This historic lockage system and UNESCO World Heritage Site, consists of 29 individual locks, and facilitates travel up and down the canal through many remote environments and townsites." I have paddled the entire length of the canal 1.5 times. This May I am organizing a paddle for WCA members. There is an article in the Nastawgan ('Tripping Ontario's Two Great Canals') that was published in the Fall of 2022, on my adventures on the Rideau, and the Trent Severn Canal. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=04PjIiLpqdA) This is a sort of 'glamping' trip, ideally suited for flatwater paddlers who might wish to try a long trip for the first time, without the stress of back country camping. All nights on this trip will be either at the Rideau canal's locks on nicely mown grass, or in a proper campsite such as exists at a Provincial Park.