Get In. We'll Go For A Wee Paddle On The River That Makes Up My Backyard

On the Trent-Severn waterway. It's a gorgeous day on the water and canoeing and knowing how to canoe goes hand in hand with the part of Canada that I call home. If you are Canadian, you're born with a hockey stick in one hand and a canoe paddle in the other, it seems.

Lilly pads and algae blooms abound and the river system teems with life where ever you look. All you have to do is simply look close enough.

The river is 240 mi (or 386 km) long and contains 45 locks that move boats through the entire system.

The trees are just starting to show the tell-tale signs of Autumn. The leaves are just beginning to turn colour. In another month they will put on a brilliant display of yellows, oranges and reds. 

This is a flock of Turkey Vultures drying the morning dew off of their wings in the sun. Their wings need to be dry so that they can soar on thermal winds once they get their day started.

Just around the corner there is a bridge with lots of rocks and faster moving water. We will not be doing any rapids or white water today. (My paddling skills require more work before we can do that.)

Here's some Canadian geese. They are standing on rocks that are just submersed below the waterline. This is why it is imperative that you pay attention while you're out for a paddle. Hitting sharp rocks with the bottom of a canoe is not a great thing for a very light Kevlar canoe. It weighs about 30 lbs so is easy to lift and maneuver. It's strong but it won't take heavy, repetitive rock hitting.

Turning this vessel around and heading back to shore. Thanks for the quick visit. I promise to take you out again in about a month. The leaves will be in their full colour by then and you'll be able to see what the Fall season can be like in these part of Canada.

I welcome your comments and I invite you to follow me on my journey...sometimes we might go by canoe. ;)

~ Rebecca Ryan