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.
Petrie Island Family Turtle Trip 2022
On Saturday, June 4th thirteen new canoeists of all ages learned how to transport canoes and go canoeing at Petrie Island. Most of us were new residents of Ottawa and some of us were also new Canadians. We had the assistance of seven experienced instructors and trip leaders. Before lunch we took a short paddle near the canoe launch area.
At lunch, Mason, from the Friends of Petrie Island, told us about the Petrie Island turtles and answered our questions. Petrie Island has mostly painted turtles and map turtles as well as a few blanding turtles.
Executive Meeting Minutes May 10th 2022
Log in to see minutes from the virtual meeting of the executive.
Irish Creek
April 12 2022
The day was forecasted to be sunny and a warm 16C (it actually was our hottest day this year at 17.7C) with a moderate wind. It was Suze and Catherine’s first paddle of the year, though Karen had been out several times.
Irish Creek is a shallow, marshy creek which flows north into the Rideau River at Kilmarnock, best paddled in the early spring. We put in at Roses Bridge Road, about 5 km from the Kilmarnock lock station. Even in “high” water, waterlilies just starting to sprout, we occasionally touched bottom with our paddles. We paddled upstream, under bridges, around bends, over beaver dams, alternating with no wind, head winds, cross winds and tail winds.
For a quiet shallow creek there were lots of things to see. Highlights of the trip were: 6 trumpeter swans, 2 deer, several turtles basking in the sun, a beaver lodge and 2 beaver dams, lots of Canada geese leading us up the creek, mallard ducks, a loon, bright red dogwood among the cattails, and the biggest waterlily roots I have ever seen, looking like giant snakes or octopi.
It was a great first day on the water. (Click on "Read more" to see additional photos.)
Catherine J
Clyde River - April 2 2022
Beautiful day to be on the water on such a pretty whitewater river. It is a gem in Lanark county and the shuttle is easy. Water level was just perfect to play in with tandem and solo boats for a first outing of the season (for my paddling partner and I). Six of us participated plus one guest. We got passed by a group of kayakers. A couple of pools were still frozen. Thank you to Peter for organizing this.
Click here for a video.
Judith
