This was the spring canoeing season that never was. The Lower Credit wasnt' even paddlable this spring, and last weekend we found the Moira at a level that we would normally expect at early May. All the HWY 7 rivers had become hiking trips. The Trent Waterways people had turned of the tap to the Gull earlier in the week.
So it was that Good Friday found 20 hard-up river paddlers congregating at the HWY 169 bridge over the Black River south of Washago to run the last bit of water with a semblance of whiteness anywhere in southern Ontario. We had a potpourri of every craft imaginable- tandems, solos, kayaks, and even an inflatable kayak. Apparently, we were not the only people thinking that this was spring paddling's last gasp, as several other groups also pulled up as we were unloading.
While the Black was about as low as one would want to run it at, the spring weather was a treat, and it was just great to be out in a boat on a river. However, the water was still pretty chilly, as a few over-exuberant people playing around found out. Even at its modest flow of 25 CMS, the Black still has some interesting spots to play and have fun, and to sit back on some warm rocks having lunch in the spring sun with a bunch of great people. Who could ask for more. It really was a good Friday.
