In Training

Yes, this is another post about kayaking. Sorry to those who aren't into paddling, but this activity seems to be a big part of our life, these days.

A couple of weeks ago, when DW and I were on Clayton Lake, in Lanark County, with our good friend, Russ, we discussed doing a paddle trip to Barron Canyon, in Algonquin Provincial Park. DW and I had paddled this route in October 2020, and Russ used to make an annual trip with his mother, on the Mother's Day weekend.

He hasn't been back to Barron Canyon for a couple of years, since his mother passed away, and he noted on our recent paddle that he'd like to go back. This time, with us, and this month, if the weather held out.

DW and I said that we'd love to go, and if it was okay, we'd invite our Paddlefolk, too.

Getting three couples (Russ would bring his girlfriend) to coordinate on a particular weekend was a challenge. We settled on the last weekend of October, but we're not holding our breath that the weather would cooperate.

Our Paddlefolk were also available this past weekend, and because the forecast looked good, we decided that the four of us would make the trek on Saturday. We'll join Russ and his girlfriend on another trip, later this month.

DW and I figured we'd need the workout. We're heading on a big vacation, in May, and we need to be in good shape (hint-hint). Barron Canyon has a 420-metre portage over rough terrain, and lugging our kayaks is no easy feat.

We were up at 5 and on the road at 6. By 8:30, we were in the river at Squirrel Rapids.

Mist rose up from the cool water, hitting the cooler air. We knew that as soon as the sun hit the water, things would clear up. It was a better day than when we set out, four years earlier.

We couldn't have called a better day. Within an hour of paddling, it was already starting to warm up. And when we reached the bottom of Brigham Chute, nearly nine kilometers upstream, we needed to peel off some layers.

We ate lunch at the waterfalls and then made our way back to the starting point.

I don't know why my lungs gave me trouble but I found myself fighting for air during the portages and I was exhausted during the final kilometre, but I told DW that pushing myself was good for getting in training for our vacation.

Breathing was going to be an exercise of its own (hint-hint).

Because our Paddlefolk, Nina and Brian, hadn't been to Barron Canyon before, they wanted to hike to the top of the canyon cliffs. So we got our cars packed up and drove to the trailhead.

It's a steep climb to the lookout points, but DW and I were in training, as we'll be doing some climbing, where we're going in May (hint-hint).

From Algonquin Park, we drove to Pembroke, where we had a great dinner at a place called The Nook, and then continued home.

When we had pulled out of our driveway, at 6 in the morning, it was dark. When we returned home, at 9, it was dark again.

We unpacked the car, put all of our equipment away, and were in bed by 9:30. Within minutes, I was sound asleep.

It's good to wear ourselves out and, weather permitting, we'll do it again in a few more weeks, weather permitting.

We need to push ourselves. We're in training, after all.