Water Rescue in Arnprior

A police officer thought we might need help but we didn't.

For a couple of weeks, DW and I knew that we had to get some practice in for water rescues, in the event that one of us overturns in our kayaks while we're paddling in the fjord of the Saguenay River. We're hoping to not fall in but we need to be prepared anyway.

The last few weeks, however, have either been too hot, too smoky, or too hot and smoky. We went three weekends without kayaking—the longest gap this season and one of the longest gaps of any kayaking season.

I was hoping to put out a kayaking video every one or two weeks but it's been a while. And as I write this, I realize it'll be several weekends before I release any video, as DW and I will be away. I'm sure I'm messing up the YouTube algorithm with my inconsistency in video releases but it can't be helped.

So, as I said in yesterday's video, DW and I took our kayaks to Arnprior and put them in at a boat launch at the mouth of the Madawaska River, where it opens into the Ottawa River. We planned to paddle downstream on the Ottawa River to the Mississippi River, go up as far as we could towards Galetta, and then paddle back.

But first, we were going to practice water rescues.

Within a minute or so of heading out from the boat launch area, DW and I realized that we hadn't stripped down to the bare necessities in our kayaks. We were still wearing our hats and sunglasses, and we had other gear strapped to our decks. We needed to put them somewhere safe, so we paddled to a tiny beach so that we could place this equipment in our kayak's storage containers.

DW flipped her kayak over first and I rescued her. That's when the cops showed up.

You can see the action plus the rescues in my latest video. Have a look:

Because it took us more than 45 minutes to prepare for our rescues, practice our rescues, and set back up for a paddle, we didn't get to the Mississippi and decided to turn back, especially since time was getting on, the wind was picking up, and the skies threatened some rain.

All in all, it was a good paddle. Even though being upside-down, under water, played havoc with my sinuses for two days after.

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