PADDLING ON THE RAISIN RIVER

A Happy Day paddling on the Raisin River with thrills, spills and chills!!
March was definitely showing signs today of exiting like a lamb. The heat of the day was a warm blanket awakening our senses from the slumber of winter and the hope that summer is just around the corner. Five friends met at St. Andrews Village next to the Raisin River that meanders through the township past several communities and eventually spilling into the mighty St. Lawrence River in South Lancaster. The river was high from the melting snow which made it easier for us to paddle through. The rapids here can be quite high and turbulent when the water drops and thus becomes more exciting for eager enthousiasts taking up the challenge of paddling the rapids in various sections of the river flowing from St. Andrews to Williamstown, in an event known as the Raisin River Canoe Race. Today's adventure would end in Martintown, about half the race route. It was sunny and very warm and the current was so strong, we almost didn't need to paddle. I was apprehensive about the rapids not knowing what they would be like but was reassured by Wayne that they were small. I borrowed Ken's cycling helmet in the event I would need to don this, mind you with the current as fast as it was, I would be in the water before I even unclipped it from the kayak. As it was, we all made it through the rapids quite easily and my confidence was renewed. So here we are in calm water and a tree is leaning over the river blocking our way, forcing us to go around it ... well it became a bottleneck with two of us arriving at the same time, so I reached out to stop myself against the tree and as the current was so strong, it turned the kayak and forced it to roll over. I could not shift my weight fast enough to correct and down I went into the cold icy water. Well I still had my paddle, hat and sun glasses on swimming towards the shore and as I tried to stand up along the slippery muddy bank, I slipped right back into the water. I was able to grab hold of roots to pull myself out and as I looked down, I realized I still had my video camera tied to me. I ran along a farmer's field to join up with the others further down the river and was able to get back down along the bank to grab my kayak. Thank God for friends. They all came to my rescue. Ken was holding on to the kayak and Jim paddled over to help me turn over the kayak to drain the water and Gord was indicating an entry point for me to get back in. I was able to turn over the kayak onto Jim's kayak with the other end against the bank and the kayak was able to drain. With Jim on one side, I was able to enter the kayak and I was back in the game. The heat of the day helped and once we stopped for lunch, I was able to get my jacket out and heat was returned to the core of my body. We reached our designated point in Martintown, all happy that we had a great day on the water.

There is a video to show but it is not downloading properly at this time. Stay tuned.

Upcoming Hiking Trips

In preparation (as well as enjoyment) for our big Nepal Hiking Trip, we decided to booke some time at John's Brook Lodge in the Adirondacks to get our legs in hiking mode .... there is a difference in muscle performance between walking/cycling/jogging ... and hiking up mountains will definitely let you know they're not on the same level!

Our goal there will be to hike up a loop trail, across the Great Range, taking in Upper and Lower Wolf Jaw, Armstrong, Gothics and possibly Saddle and down the Orebed Brook Trail back to the lodge, along the brook that was completely overtaken with flooding from last year's hurricane during the summer. Here is a picture from atop Saddle Mountain and also a video of my hike up Jay Peak northeasterly of the Great Range within the Adirondack Park. As I turn around, you will see into Vermont, southerly towards the Great Range with Mt. Marcy and then Whiteface Mountain off to the West.