Burritts Rapids Family Report
Sunday, August 14, 2022
Highlights of our trip on the Rideau Canal:
- We learned how locks work and we got to paddle through the lock at Burritts Rapids!
- We watched several great blue herons, Canada Geese, an osprey, and a frog.
- We saw cattails and Black-eyed Susan flowers.
- We saw what seemed like a loud bi-plane but we think it may have been a drone!
- We paddled 5 km to Nicholson lock station and then 5 km back to Burritts lock station.
EXPLORATION OF PETRIE ISLAND
SAT. AUG. 13, 2022
Saturday, August 13th offered perfect conditions for a leisurely paddle around Petrie Island. The day dawned warm and sunny with minimal wind; in short, a gorgeous paddling day. Ten paddlers – Alice G., Adam G., Chihung (Henry) L., Kim M., Jane M., Daniel T., Tracey V. and kayakers Wendy C. and Louise G. set out for Petrie and the challenge of first navigating the 417 highway closure.
COVID-19 Protocols for the RACCC – May 2022
The continued presence of the COVID-19 virus in the Ottawa area has resulted in ongoing significant restrictions on club activities in order to reduce physical contact and, thereby, the risk of transmission of the virus.
All members of the Club must recognize that the failure to abide by these restrictions could result in the reinstatement of activity restrictions to the detriment of all members.
The protocols and guidelines will be updated in accordance with the latest information from provincial and local authorities and the RA centre. The club expects that there may be updates to the rules that the club must follow during the summer of 2022.
Our Day at the Beach
On July 30th seven of us enjoyed a family day trip to Anniversary Park, Kemptville. We paddled down Kemptville Creek against a head wind. We saw a turtle on a log, several sets of ducks and three great blue herons. We saw cattails and waterlilies. We crossed the Rideau River. A short distance west, we took a look at Second Beach and the Main Beach of Rideau River Provincial Park. We decided to stop at Second Beach which was very quiet.
Sand toys appeared thanks to our parents! We built a castle with a moat, went swimming and played catch with beach balls. After a few hours we ate our lunches. Second Beach became more crowded. We spun around on a novel play structure. We got back into the canoes and paddled back to Anniversary Park with a light tail wind. Some of us blew bubbles and some of us took a nap. We travelled about 10 km in all.
Introduction to Solo Canoeing Course Report 2022!
June 20/July 16/17
This is a great course for someone who already has experience tandem canoeing. We were a small group of three students so we were able to have lots of one-on-one time with our two instructors. We were able to ask them questions and get them to critique our individual performances. They gave us easy to understand feedback in an encouraging manner. It was a three-day course. On the first day we got wet and practiced various one and two canoe rescue methods. On the second day we did a review that allowed us to integrate all the different strokes to move our canoes the way we needed to. This really helped me personally to understand how the canoe moves. To top it off we also learned the history of canoes and reviewed canoe tripping safety and first aid principles with creative games. Our weekend in July was very hot and humid and our instructors were very responsive to our needs. A highly recommended course to build on your canoeing skills and help you become more confident in a canoe.
Submitted by Sandip
Read more: Introduction to Solo Canoeing Course Report 2022!
Meech Lake Evening Paddle
July 14, 2022
Eight club members had a very enjoyable evening paddle to MacDonald Bay on Meech Lake on July 14, 2022 where they had a picnic and those who wanted to went for a swim. The weather was perfect and the chance of showers in the afternoon meant there very few other paddlers on the lake and we could find our little bit of wilderness. Three of the paddlers, Jane, Adam, and Jim, have been coming to MacDonald Bay for many years going back in some cases probably 35
Tay River Outing – Perth To Beveridge Locks
July 16 2022
On a hot, sunny summer day, July 16th, 8 members of the RACCC set off for Last Duel Park in Perth, one hour west of Ottawa. Our destination was the Tay River Canal and ultimately, the Beveridge Locks along the Rideau Canal. Total trip distance was approximately 20 km. Little did we know that the day would end in music at the annual Stewart Park Music Festival!
A Hot Day on the Mississippi River
On Sunday, July 10th 2022, two club members enjoyed a hot, sunny day by paddling the Mississippi River from Pakenham beach to Blakeney Rapids return. When we departed from the beach it was empty. The water level was low compared to other times we had been there. We saw a young deer along the side of the river. We watched a large frog or toad, saw a beaver lodge and several great blue herons. We noticed that a small island we had seen on previous trips was now connected to land! Blakeney Rapids is a beautiful spot. We ate our lunches. Some people were swimming in the calm water. We saw large rapids, but not as large as they had been in the spring. We explored the trails and found little bridges, picnic tables, a campfire area and scenic views over rapids.
Follow the Heron!
or our South Nation River exploration
Thursday, July 14, 2022.
Six experienced club members set out to explore the South Nation River from Cass Bridge Conservation Area on the morning of Thursday, July 14th. The conservation area had a nice dock, a shelter, a new open outhouse and plenty of parking for our group. They had a table and benches showing all the turtles found in Ontario. The weather was calm and warm. The wind was low. In four red boats we headed to the right (southwest and upstream). None of us had paddled here before and we were not sure if there would be enough water to go very far. The scenery was peaceful and beautiful. There was little current.
A great blue heron led us upstream! My paddling partner identified the various plants and animals we were passing, giving details about each. We saw a family of mallard ducks and a muskrat. There were some farms along the edges of the river. Swamp milkweed was one of the first flowers to be spotted. It is a very good plant for pollinator insects. I noticed that wild parsnip lined the banks too – not so good. Suddenly I heard, “That shouldn’t be here! We have to stop!” and we did. A water chestnut plant floating in the river was the reason for our stop. My paddling partner removed it and put it in our canoe. It is not normal in the South Nation River and is an invasive species. It is harmful to other plants. To get rid of water chestnut plants, you must pull the plants out of the river. We paddled on and removed more water chestnut plants.
Ode to a Moose
(Or our adventure on the Bonnechere River)
Some of us started our adventure Monday, June 13th, setting up camp on a lovely, riverside campsite in the beautiful Bonnechere Provincial Park. It was sunny and warm. There was significant current this time of year. We paddled upstream towards Jack’s Chute to build up our appetites for supper and a campfire. Afterwards we were serenaded by a family church group that sang their hearts out from a nearby site, in a friendly competition with the resident bullfrogs.
Parks Canada Learn to Paddle or Camp
Parks Canada is running their free Learn to Paddle program at Hartwell Locks again. The lesson provided is 90 minutes and there are spots available. You need to register ahead of time. Click here for more information.
Parks Canada is also offering Learn to Camp free kids workshops (Manotick, Nepean, Barrhaven etc) and family overnights in Manotick (cost $142.75 per group of 4-6 people). Click here for more information.
Enthusiastic Intro to Lake Tandem Canoeing participants paddled rain or shine!
Kudo's to all the participants and instructors in the Introduction to Tandem Lake Canoeing course, June 11-12, 2020
Participants said:
- "it was wonderful spending the weekend outdoors with everyone .. rain and all."
- "it beat all expectations."
- "It was a great pleasure sharing the weekend with you."
-" It is a wonderful Canadian experience for me"
**A number of participants want to practice some more, so they are organizing a day trip. Well done gang!.
Instructors send 3 cheers to the participants:
"It was a real pleasure to work with such a motivated group who kept paddling - rain or shine!"
"They all made great improvements over the 2 days."
Note; There's more to this course at the July 5th Pool session which focuses on canoe rescues and water safety!
The next Intro Tandem Lake Canoeing Course is July 5, 9-10, click here more info. Come paddle with us - It's worth it!
Thanks to Lee Ann S for the pictures!
Read more: Enthusiastic Intro to Lake Tandem Canoeing participants paddled - rain or shine!
Murphys Point Canoe Trip
June 11, 2022
On June 11th, six of us went on a canoeing trip starting at Big Rideau Lake. We canoed all around the Point reaching Noble Bay. There were many turtles where we started. They were lying on a log while we canoed by. We saw turtles with a map-like texture. You might also see them in Hogg Bay. They are called Northern Map Turtles because of the pattern on their shell. They can lay about 10-17 eggs each year. They are endangered and preyed on by raccoons, coyotes, and birds.
At the end of Noble Bay we portaged over to Loon lake. We all ate ice cream from the park store and enjoyed it in the hot sun before we headed out again. We saw a beaver’s dam. We did not see any beavers but looking at their lodge was incredible in itself.