On a rainy, wet snow but warm morning I left to Inglewood near the Credit River to meet up with other adventurers of the WCA to participate in a 4 hour trip down the upper Credit River.
With help from others we unloaded my canoe and met with Dave and Barb, who organized this trip.
The group existed in about 23 paddlers varying in age from 8 to quite a bit older. We had a kayaker, a playboat, 2 solo canoers and all kinds of canoes, white water canoes, Kevlar with and without airbags and/or knee pads.
I met with Elizabeth who was going to be my paddle partner for the day.
The weather had cleared up and it was very comfortable and warm especially in the sun.
After sorting out my equipment, and deciding yes or no helmet, yes or no sweater or raincoat, we left in a convoy for our shuttle to the end.
A nice scenic little half hour trip near the Cheltenham Badlands hills (red hills with blue stripes), the scenic village of Terra Cotta, and the enormous nurseries of Sheridan and ending in Glen Williams where we parked our cars.
From there we went with 11 people in one van and some in another car back to the beginning where we slipped into the water for our trip. The weather was much warmer and dry. I paddled in my wet suit and my canoe shirt and felt very comfortable with it. Extra clothing and a rain jacket were close by in case the weather would shift suddenly.
The Credit River was quite small in width, shallow in certain points and very curvy, there was a constant current. I had to get used to paddling again in white water this early in the year.
It was awesome to see snow and sometimes huge ice blocks on the banks of the river, as if they had opened up for us to paddle in the river. At the sunny places I saw the odd dandelion popping up their yellow heads to let us know spring had started.
I had my camera in a waterproof otter box but it was awkward to open and close every time and the river didn’t give me much opportunity to take leisurely pictures. So I took my camera out and put it in my camera bag attached to my thwart for easier access.
There were regular trees on the river that caused nice sweepers. It was not always easy to avoid as the current was fast, the wind would get quite strong sometimes and I had to get used again to steering and controlling the boat.
And here our Adventure started within the first half hour of the trip. There was a tree blocking about 2/3 of the river. We paddled as far around as possible, but the strong current and a strong wind gust blew us very close to the tree, which resulted in leaning over and avoiding the tree and instead tipping our canoe and get soaked in the water.
Luckily both Liz and I were okay except of some bruises where either the canoe or the tree hit us. Decorated with our warrior wounds we waddled to the chore of the river. Our equipment was all attached to the boat so nothing was lost. But it wasn’t easy to turn a completely swamped canoe in waist deep water.
So I pulled the canoe to the other shore where it was shallower and other canoers were there to help us. We turned the canoe and emptied out the water. That is where Rick and Diane noticed that my face was bleeding and beside the bruise I had also a cut just above the eye. Luckily Rick had a First Aid kit where he with expertise cleaned my wound, put antibiotics on it and a little stitch strip to reduce the scar tissue.
Through this fall my camera had a dive and therefore I have no pictures of any further of the trip.
I hope there will be others that have taken some and are willing to share it here with us.
Even though I was a bit shaken, Liz and I decided to continue. A little further was a small ledge/rapid but I chose to portage around it and take a little breather. It was nice that the rest of the group was waiting there and making sure we were okay.
After that it was easier and we took it slower with wider curves around the trees and rocks.
There was another area where some paddlers played in the rapids. It was near a little park with picnic benches. We took some snacks and paddled further.
Richard took some amazing pictures with his huge camera that he had with him when we came down a small rapid where Dave stood to guide us and making sure we went the right way down.
At lunch time I changed my socks as my feet were getting cold of the constant bit of water that was still in the canoe. But the sun was nice and toes were in no time toasty. Even though Diane asked for the sun it was not warm enough to dry off my wet socks quickly. Matthew? and Ed? had occupied the 2 lawn chairs that were sitting on the little shore where we had lunch.
Dave shared some of his warm milk with some good stuff to warm us up.
There was some nice chatter going on and it was quite comfortable for an April morning outside.
After lunch it seemed that the river was wider, not as fast and less sweepers, or I was more comfortable turning the boat and keep us away from the obstacles. The wind though was getting quite annoying at times. And especially our solo canoers and our mini kayaker had a hard time with it to fight with the wind. But once in a while even the double canoers were just blown to the side by the strong gusts of winds.
The rocks were at 11, 12 and at 1 and all around the clock as Liz said and sometimes they were under us, when we saw them too late.
At about 3.30 we arrived in Glen Williams where I changed my socks again to warm dry socks and shoes and drove up to load my canoe. Where I was almost hit by another car, but luckily a loud scream avoided any incidents.
I was very happy with the help of strong men to pull the boat up to the shore and load it up on my car.
Some people went directly home because of the long distance they had to drive to go home.
While most of us went to Janet and her mom Kathleen house where we were welcomed and had a potluck supper with some amazing appetizers, soups, salads, warm entrees and a variety of pies for desert.
It was nice for everyone to introduce themselves and getting to know them all a bit more.
Thank you Dave Y, Barb, Liz, Diane, Rick, Bruce, Beth, Richard, Susan, Matthew, Ed , Mary, Daniel, Eugene, Dave W., Dorothee, Janet, Scott, Jasper, Seamus, for an AWESOME trip.
