Upcoming Events
Please note the following events:
1) Paddling Locally: in Scotland or the Ottawa Valley! - 7:00pm January 17
Click Read More below to see additional photos from this seminar
Part 1: Paddling in Kilts
Last summer Max Finkelstein and wife, Connie Downes canoed the beautiful Spey River in Scotland. What a trip!
As Max would say: " It's do-able' ! Maybe you would like to do this too?
Part 2: Rowing a Guide Boat from Kingston to Ottawa
Back home again, they rowed a beautiful Adirondac Guide Boat from Kingston to Ottawa on the Rideau River and canal route. Find out how you can do this trip!
(NOTE: This Adirondac Guide Boat is 'not just any old' row boat!)
Part 3: Getting us Paddling the Ottawa River
Discover how easy it is to get out and paddle on the beautiful and historic Ottawa (Kitchisippi) River both in town and out! Max and Dot will share their current interactive project re: identifying putins, portages and points of interest on this 8500 year old route. You can spend a few hours or a few wonderful weeks on the Ottawa!
(Please bring and share your Ottawa River info!)
Members and non-members welcome.
Presenters: Max Finkelstein (Author, formidable Canoeist and fun presenter) - he's the famous one.
and Dot Bonnenfant (RACCC member, instructor, trip leader) - not so famous :-)
Cost: Free
Room: Courtside A (at the East end of the building)
Location: RA Centre, 2451 Riverside Drive, Ottawa
No advanced registration needed.
2) Winter Planning, Packing and Travel - 7:00pm January 24
A introduction to planning for winter trips, methods of travel and packing for winter trips.
Methods of Travel
Planning/Routes/Trip plans
Layering and Packing
Hygiene
Members and non members welcome
Cost: Free
Room: Courtside B (at the East end of the building)
Location: RA Centre, 2451 Riverside Drive, Ottawa
Registration with Training Coordinator at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. is requested.
3) Skating Party - 6:00pm January 26
Members and friends are invited to skate on the canal at their convenience. A volunteer to coordinate a group skate would be appreciated.Post skate social at Catherine’s house anytime after 6:00pm with potluck dinner about 7:00pm. Hot apple cider will be provided. Bring food item to share, with list of ingredients for those with food sensitivities. Party will take place freeze or thaw. Please RSVP to Catherine to get the address.
WW Instructors Meeting -- 12 February 7:00-9:00 PM, Outaouais Room
There will be a meeting of the WW instructors in mid-February to discuss this year's training. On the agenda are:
- what we should be offering beyond the usual beginner training (some things already on the go here)
- who wants to do what and when
- what we should do about pre-Palmers training for beginners. We used to have an evening, plus a half-day flatwater session, but seem to have stopped doing this. Should this be restored in whole or in part?
If you can't attend but have ideas or preferences, please let me know.
Adventure Smart:10 Essential Survival Items
According to Adventure Smart (more info here) - here are the 10 basic survival items to have with you in any outdoors situation, whether you're out for a few hours or few days. (Check out sample kit below)
(These are not the specialized/essential pieces of equipment that you would bring for a camping trip e.g. tent, sleeping bag, etc.)
1. Flashlight, spare batteries (and bulb)
2. Fire making kit: waterproof matches/lighter, fire starter/candle
3. Signaling device: whistle or mirror
4. Extra food and water
5. Extra clothing (rain, wind, water protection, toque
6. Navigation aids (map/compass)
7. First Aid Kit (know how to use it)
8. Emergency Shelter (orange??) :-)
9. Pocket knife
10. Sun protection (glasses, sunscreen, hat)
Paddling the 'Eye' of Quebec - 2018 Trip
Paddling the ‘Eye” of Quebec A cool place to paddle….but…would we go again?
About 214 million years ago a 5 km diameter meteor struck the earth. It is one of the oldest known impact craters on earth.
In the 1960’s, a series of dams (power generating stations) created a circular reservoir at the crater site. ‘Lac’ also known as ‘the eye of Quebec’, can be seen from space and is one of Quebec’s ‘curiosities’.
This geological phenomenon offered an enticing destination that was also doable and affordable! If someone had a keen interest in geology it would be a fascinating place to go! Despite impact taking place so long ago you can still see how it shaped the landscape. Amazing to think of how much heat it took to liquidate bedrock and shape the island and surrounding mountains!
Circumnavigating the centre island is approximately 250 km, requiring 10 – 12 days of 20 – 30 kms per day. Bonus – no portages !
But…. Beware the weather! Due to the lake effect and long reaches, it changes quickly from sunny and calm to dark, stormy, windy, waves and buckets of rain!
How far away is it? It is located about 300 KM north of what is now Baie Comeau. About 1160 kms from Ottawa or 14 driving hours with the last 4 hrs on a road alternating between asphalt and gravel. Access is easy – if you don’t mind the long drive. We opted to drive for 2 ‘reasonable’ distance days . On our way to , we camped at Les Bergeronnes right on the shores of the St Lawrence River just north of Tadoussac. Beautiful!
Baby It's Cold Outside
Here is an interesting website about dealing with cold that is funded by the government of Canada. Gerry G stars in the lost skiers episode.
Voyageur Canoe Trip Sept 6-10, 2018
Driftwood Provincial Park was the gathering place for the
beginning of our trip and the first night stay after dropping a
vehicle at the Pembroke Marina for the car shuttle at the end.
It felt like a family reunion since we were 10 of the paddlers
from the East Wind Brigade of last June.
Friday began with the club percolator bubbling away as we
packed up to meet Alistaire Baird and our boat at The Swisha
(Rapides-des-Joachims).
The mist hung low over the river as we lifted the 33 ft boat
down from the trailer, checked the maps, listened to Alistaire's
advice on our route, packed our gear and gathered for a
tobacco ceremony before slipping into the calm water of the
Ottawa River.
We easily fell into a paddling rhythm after being trained on
last years' voyage. Gouvernail (stern paddler) steered while
communicating with the Avant (bow paddler), who set the
pace while watching for obstacles.
Thanksgiving comes early on the Petawawa
From bad experience comes good stories…
Bruce H and I (Scott C) and two friends from Montreal did the Petawawa last weekend, Sept 21-23 2018. We dropped one car at McManus Lake and carried on to Lake Travers. While we unloaded, a somewhat contemptible canoe landed, carrying two men: one middle-aged and barefoot, the other a young adult, both dressed all in cotton and soaked to the skin. The canoe was a 14 foot fiberglass beast, complete with folding seatbacks, suitable only for kids fishing in artificial ponds. The gentlemen walked up the landing to talk with us, and their story emerged…
Frontenac Provincial Park Family Trip Report
August 31-September 3, 2018
A great weekend relaxing at Hardwood Bay in Frontenanc Provincial Park. The two families that went were Cory, Kylah, Dylan, Riley and dog Dakota plus Nakissa, Grandma Shahin, Darius, and baby Kayvon.
We met late Friday morning and loaded up canoes then headed out for adventure. After picking up permits and a picnic lunch, we drove to the boat launch beside Devil Lake. Along the way we saw a deer, a turkey vulture and a blue jay. We had a great paddle to Hardwood Bay over calm waters and under overcast skies, spotting a few loons. Everyone got setup, we enjoyed a yummy shared dinner of beef stir fry and tacos, then relaxed around a campfire and the kids had fun roasting hotdogs, marshmallows and s’mores.
French River Trip Report 2016
See the attachment for the trip report, two years late!
 French River Trip Report 2016.pdf | [ ] | 1398 kB |
Lake Louisa Loop-Algonquin Park 2018
July 15-20/18 saw 6 paddlers( Shannon H, Delia E, Lynn O,Judy O-O’R, Greg G) led by Rick S, heading out to meet the hoards of deer flies during a paddling trip around Lake Louisa Loop. Luckily, our group tackled the bugs and kilometres of portaging with humour, patience and fabulous food to start and end each day-eggs/bacon tortillas, veggie chilli, two variations of porridge, pasta with pesto, curry with basmati rice and mango chutney and open-faced pizza, for example.
Lake Louisa Loop is a satisfying canoe route giving the paddler varying experiences- lots of paddling through lakes and streams,portaging, navigating beaver dams, beautiful scenery, lovely camp sites and some with sandy beaches. Luckily the leach- infested Welcome Lake was a lunch spot enjoyed on it's sandy beaches and not an overnight stay.
We headed out on the water each day at 9 am , alternating paddling partners, and pulled up for the night in the later afternoon. This gave us lots of time for setting up camp,a swim and relaxing before bed. Due to the fire ban and no nightly campfire, we attempted to play, "Two Truths and a Lie" but quickly discovered that our group were not good liars.
The enduring spirit of canoe trips
Click here for a nice Globe and Mail article on canoeing.
Kiosk 2018
For 8 days in August, we had near perfect weather, very nice campsites and almost no bugs. We started at Kiosk and then stayed at the following lakes in Algonquin Park:Kioshkokwi, Mink and Cauchon. Except for one afternoon, it was dead calm for the whole trip. The temperature ranged from 25C to 30C during the day. Click on "Read More" to see additional photos.
Algonquin South Trip Report 2018
A trip to the French River had to be moved when the park was closed because of a huge forest fire. So instead, we did a 7 day trip to the southern part of Algonquin Park. We visited Galeairy Lake, Rock Lake, Pen Lake and Clydegale Lake. It was nice swimming weather and not unbearably hot like it was in Ottawa. We were also able to stay at three excellent campsites. Click "Read More" to see more photos.