Sat, May 1 2010 - Paddle down the Grand River (View Original Event Details)
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The weather forecast was for showers and thunderstorms and that was certainly how our day paddling the Grand began. The outfitter had taken us and our gear to Bean Park in Paris where we would begin our trip down the Grand River. It was raining, hard at times, and thunder kept us off the water for a time. Half an hour after the last thunder clap, the rain had also stopped and the rest of the day was beautiful. Pairing off the most experienced paddlers with the least experienced, off we went. The Grand River is a great place to learn paddling skills. There were lots of rock gardens and riffles to negotiate, and the current was not too strong. Only Stephen and Sabrina, attempting a novel reversing procedure out of some shallows, flipped their canoe. But no harm was done, as it all happened in three feet of water, which is about the average depth of the river! It is hard to believe this river and the lush vegetation of its banks, because it winds through Canada's industrial heartland, is home to so much wildlife: geese, ducks, turtles, blue herons, kingfishers and bald eagles. Just to mention a few of the creatures we saw. It was fun watching the brook trout flapping their way up the rock gardens and playing in the riffles. Four and a half hours later we arrived at our destination, just past Brantford. For some of us, it was our first paddle of the year, for others, their first ever. Judging from all the smiles at the end of the day, it won't be the last. Thanks to all of you who came out to my first attempt at coordinating an event. You were all a pleasure to spend the day with. And thank you, Matt, for sponsoring me.
Have some photos from this event that you'd like to share in our photo album? Please forward them to Erik Sonstenes at photos@torontooutdoorclub.com. Please note that we prefer to receive the photos in approximately 640x480 or 750x500 pixels - do NOT send original high-res photos. If you have a LOT of photos, please submit up to twenty of your favorites (only) for a day event, or up to forty of your favourites for a multi-day event. Thank you.