New Toys For My Canoe Trips

Today's society is rife with technology. You can either dismiss

it, or take advantage of it. Occasionally I do the latter

- like GoPro's Hero Video Camera.

I love canoeing, that is pretty obvious. But I also love some of the opportunities that come with being "the crazy canoe guy" - as a work colleague aptly puts it. Sometimes I look for opportunities or things that can benefit me on canoe trips, and other times, fortuitous opportunities or things come my way because of what I do. Either way, it is both enjoyable and rewarding to discover new things, and in return share these things or experiences with my readers.

Much like the Eureka Singlis/Dualis air mattress that I'm trying out this year, I will also be using/testing some other products, one of them being a reflector oven. I'm not much of a baker both in the bush or at home, but I have made bannock bread on previous canoe trips and have thoroughly enjoyed it. Which self-respecting canoeist hasn't? Anyhow, one of my paddling partners this year, Anita, was a baker by trade years ago and of course a light bulb went off in my head. Now of course, glowing coals in a fire pit doesn't exactly equate to a commercial convection oven, but I put the challenge to her. I have to admit, there isn't much equal to freshly baked bread on a trip, so I hope to exploit...(Oops, did I say that?!!)..I MEANT 'utilitze' her skills to see what interesting things we can bake and come up with.

Light and compact (when folded), this reflector oven shouldn't be

much of a burden on trips. Especially considering

the great pay offs it is capable of!

I've owned an Outback Oven for many years and have had some good results, but I've heard even better things from using reflector ovens. A couple years back at the MEC Paddlefest, I was introduced to Rob Stevens, who was showcasing several beautifully handcrafted products, including a cedar canvas canoe. But what I recall was a reflector oven he had that was imported from Sweden. After a quick search (Got to love the Internet!) I found the oven and contacted the owner about whether he was interested in showcasing his product. Surprisingly, I was then contacted by Rob, as he is responsible for distributing the ovens in Canada, and soon found the reflector oven waiting for me at home!

Now that I have it, its time to put it to good use. Anita has got a chance to 'play' with the oven, has already purchased a lightweight baking pan and is presently mixing/testing some secret ingredients together for its first official test. (I have been sworn to secrecy from revealing the ingredients as my life may be in danger - just joking!) Well, during the course of this year, follow along and let's see what interesting things we bake up. I will selflessly volunteer my stomach and subject my body to all those extra calories to let you know how the baked goods taste and share with you our experiences. Guaranteed to have lots of pictures and hopefully some videos to share as well.

I know its a teaser, but that's all I can give for now. You'll have

to wait until I'm given the green light before

I spill the beans!

Secondly, I have gotten an unique opportunity to try/test a prototype paddle that is not on the market yet. Even though I already have a partnership with Bending Branches, in a round about way, Russ Schroeder, who is in charge of advertising at Rapid Media recommended me to the Marketing Director of Bending Branches when he was looking for some avid paddlers to test this new paddle out. So after a few emails, I was sent this pre-production model to field test and provide feedback. I can't give much more details, but this is one sweet paddle. When all is said and done, and this paddle makes its grand entrance into the paddling world, I will for certain provide information and pictures. I'm also looking forward to getting one myself!

Lastly, some of you may recall my blog last fall when I went on a solo trip in Algonquin and missed a great opportunity to get photos of moose. As my camera was dropped off at the end of the portage, I was obviously left without anything to capture the ungulate experience. I vowed not to get myself into that situation again. I am not a big fan of point and shoot cameras, but they do offer some advantages I can't get from my dSLR. The main reason being that they are compact and can be kept with me at all times without getting in the way. So, I finally went out and purchased a couple of them. The first one is a Canon Elph 300 HS, a small 12 mega pixel camera that can also record 1080p high definition video. The second one is the Pentax W90, which like the first is 12 mega pixels, records 720p high def video, and most importantly is waterproof.

One of two compact point & shoot cameras that I will have with

me at all times. No more excuses for missed photos!

Many times I have missed opportunities to take photos in conditions that would guarantee the demise of any dSLR, but not any more. Since I have covered all the grounds now, there really shouldn't be any more excuses to miss those "once in a lifetime" photos (and video). Lastly, to round out these expensive purchases, I also got a GoPro Hero Camera to record video. These are compact waterproof hi-def video recorders that can be placed in the most unusual places to record amazing/unique footages. So with all this extra gear, my trip weight will surely increase, (sigh) but hopefully I will have more to share with all of you!

Ok, so enough babbling. Time to get out paddling and put my

money where my mouth is!

Cheers,

tPP

Black Flies Are Out!

Fred and Maral were all smiles despite the long day in tough

conditions. Of course a hot supper helped!

Wow, boy is it hot today!* I would love to be on the water today so that I could jump in to cool off! On the second trip of the year in mid-May to Massassauga Provincial Park, I was hot then (temp was just above 20C then compared to 35C today) and decided to take a plunge into the cold Georgian Bay waters. It was refreshing to say the least and it didn't feel too cold at all, until I jumped in the second time. This time I screamed like a girl and came out numbed. My friend Fred decided to go for a plunge as well since I told him it wasn't too bad after my first jump. Judging by the fact he didn't emit a single sound from his mouth when he hit the water and crawled out as fast as he could, I knew he didn't agree with my assessment. Oops! (No, he was quite ok with foregoing another plunge!) * This blog was supposed to be posted this past Mon during the heat wave, but was obviously postponed!

Massassauga Provincial Park is accessed at either Three-

Legged Lake or at Pete's Place. Wonder why it's

called Pete's Place?

The canoe trip to Massassauga Provincial Park, like the one to the Kwarthas previously was over shadowed by the forecast of rain all weekend. But like before, we headed out expecting the worse and hoping for the best. My only wish was that the rain would hold off for the first night so that we could enjoy steaks from the grill by the fire, instead of from the frying pan under a tarp. My prayers were answered as we all eagerly devoured not on the steaks, but grilled red peppers and corn. Ummmmmmm, yummy! In the end, we lucked out with the weather too, only getting one day of rain out of the three. Not bad I say!

My mouth waters when I see this picture,.....sigh!

Memories of a delicious meal.

The only issue we had with the rain on day two was that it lasted all day. Throw in some strong headwind and waves and we had quite the battle to do. Luckily we didn't have to cover too much distance that day, but it was enough to worry me in regards to my paddling companions. All have only little experience in regards to canoe tripping and I purposely planned an easy trip to teach them the ropes. That day it was a crash course on paddling into driving rain, wind and waves - fun! Fortunately, they all managed ok and were only worse for wear, but it certainly did push them. In the end, I was really proud of them and impressed at their enthusiasm and determination to keep plodding ahead despite the conditions.

Everyone's spirit was still high despite the constant rain.

I couldn't have asked for better companions!

Photo: Maral Kodjayan

Maral, a work colleague of mine and her husband Fred, joined Anita and I on this trip after inquiring the previous year about canoe tripping together. After all the talking and planning, the only reservation she had was getting cold, especially when she slept. Besides all the advice I gave her on wearing layers and such, the single most important thing I recommended to her was getting a down sleeping bag. It was a fairly big purchase, but I promised her that she would not regret it, especially since she owned a synthetic bag with no loft. The first thing I asked her after she crawled out from under the tent in the morning was, "How did you sleep?" She had the biggest smile on her face and couldn't stop raving about how warm she was. She said the purchase was worth every cent! Another time, during our battle with the wind and rain, we stopped by shore to take a break. I was concerned about her bare hands being cold (as mine were) and offered her my dry neoprene paddling gloves in my pocket. With her characteristic big grin, she told me she was fine and that her hands were warm. I thought for sure she was just playing tough, but when I grabbed her hand, they were actually hot! I couldn't believe it! (She said she actually dipped them in the lake to cool them off while paddling!! ????) I'll take my gloves back thank you! I think it is safe to say she managed fine with the cold on the trip. Phew!

Maral's smile was infectious. You might not be able to

see her eyes, but her smile still shined through!

Like Maral, my paddling partner Anita also managed to surprise me. Although, maybe because there was ulterior motive to avoid portaging, but it showed inquisitiveness, initiative and a bit of adventure from this paddling neophyte. You see, we portaged roughly a kilometer to get to the present campsite at Little Blackstone Lake, but had to head out the same way the next day. While looking at the map, Anita questioned why we couldn't paddle the ribbon of blue that ended at the lake where we were headed. Not noticing this previously, I took her suggestion seriously and agreed that it could be possible, but only if we scouted it first. I wanted to check for rapids and also determine the terrain we would be passing through since the contour lines were compressed along portions of the route. So after pulling the canoes on shore at the head of this waterway, off we went along the river's edge to our intended lake, scouting as we went. Since we didn't know what to expect, we decided to carry some of our gear and drop it off at the end in case we still had to portage.

The rough trail along the river was quite a surprise, helping

us both scout as well as enjoy the scenery.

Unexpectedly, we found a rough trail along the shoreline that was cleared and marked with flagging tape, which made the scouting easier. We surmised that the park was in the process of making a hiking trail, which we agreed was a scenic route. The highlight of this trail was saved for last when we came to a set of cascading falls that tumbles into Blackstone Harbour, which was our intended destination. After a brief break viewing the falls, we headed back knowing we only had to tackle a few shallow C1's at the top, limbo under a felled tree and deal with a couple lift-overs. After a crash course in basic whitewater maneuvers, I ran both canoes through the rapids with Anita and Fred intact. We all got to squeeze and duck under the trunk of the large pine, and luckily, we were both able to force the canoes to slide down two beaver dams. The biggest challenge came when we had to navigate the canoe down a narrow 90 degree channel, but a bit of skill and lots of luck got us through that upright. All that was left was to pull the canoes out before the falls, which we did without incident, and portage to the rocky shoreline.

Running a few shallow C1's rounded out our

adventure to Blackstone Harbour

Photo: Maral Kodjayan

We all agreed that this unplanned excursion was much more enjoyable than portaging back on the same trail. Especially with the falls at the end where we took time to sit back and enjoy the scene. Although, we were not the only ones eager to hang out by the falls. The black flies were now out in numbers and made our time there a bit annoying to say the least. Unfortunately for me,...well, depends on who you ask, the black flies swarmed around my head, and unlike my companions, decided to only bite me! Now how fair is that?! I'd like to espouse the high quality of my blood as being the reason why the black flies targeted me, but I don't think its a quality I was going to tout at the moment. Despite the black flies, I was just happy that my companions gave me the thumbs up in regards to this trip as we all headed home looking forward to the next one!

The "fruits of our labour" was a pretty set of cascading

falls we got to enjoy before heading home!

Hope you've all got out paddling! More trips to come!

Cheers,

tPP

A Free Trip!

Kawarthas Highland Provincial Park, Ontario's newest

fee paying park. Still worth it!

There's nothing like finally getting out on your first canoe trip of the year. With all that has been going on, I haven't even had the chance to get out for a day paddle so I was eagerly looking forward to this inaugural trip. Even the weather forecast didn't phase me as rain was called for during the whole time we would be out. As it happened, (as usual) things changed and the first day we were treated to a day full of sun, blue skies and 18 degree temperatures. Couldn't have asked for better conditions! It was totally invigorating as it really felt like I crawled out from beneath a rock.

Our small party headed to the Kawarthas since I knew for sure the ice was out. Reports from Algonquin then indicated that some areas were still not accessible due to ice, so I was a bit reluctant to head that way. And no, that was not what was stopping me, you kidding?!! It was just that my paddling partner, a colleague from work whom has never canoed before was joining me, so I had to be mindful of the type of trip I was leading. I learned well enough from previous experiences to keep people from being turned off by my types of canoe trips!

Looking out across Cold Lake and enjoying the view

First off, permits are now needed for camping at Kawarthas Highland Provincial Park starting May 1st. April 30th was the first day of our trip, but since we were going to be there until May 2nd, I checked the park's website to find out where to obtain permits. The only instruction was to call the MNR office in Bancroft. I called the day we left, but no one was there to answer the phone. When we arrived at the access point, the info on the display there gave the same instructions. I tried again to no avail. With all the notices about park permits and the resulting fines, I was a bit leery about not having one, but with no other recourse, we left with a note on my dash about our dilemma and hoped for the best.

Enjoying an unexpected whitewater run on Ansthruther Creek!

Photo: Anita DeVries

The trip turned out to be lots of fun, sometimes unexpectedly, like when I didn't pay attention to the map after the first portage. We completed the short carry as expected in the right area, but when we came upon rapids, I knew something was very wrong. Absent-minded while caught up the group's conversation and in the splendor of the beautiful day, I didn't realize we should have paddled across a small pond rather than down a pretty creek. We certainly didn't mind as it was a really scenic area, but I now had to figure out where we were! (Oops!) Luckily, we were headed in the right direction as this creek also ended up at Gold Lake, our intended destination. (from Ansthruther Lk) The best part of that was, it now gave Ben and I an opportunity to run both boats through a tight twisty section of C2's that had us grinning from ear to ear, not to mention wet our pants! (No, not what you are thinking!) We were more than pleased to get this unexpected whitewater run out of a flat water trip.

These bugs were found swarming at the put-in by the water.

Does anyone have any clue as to what they are?

We also had fun on a small adventure when we decided to see if we could find a way into Cloudy Lake from Cold Lake. I had no information regarding this route, but based on the topo map and the higher water levels, it looked feasible. The only real challenge was navigating upstream through the marsh with multiple liftovers, but surprisingly it was a beaver that stopped us in our tracks,.....er, in our boat. As we came upon another mat of sticks in the narrow channel, a beaver appeared on the opposite side and swam towards us. Of course we stopped and watched with delight as the beaver approached us, but couldn't believe the audacity of this rodent when it waited in front of us, wanting us to move out of the way! Of course there was no way we could turn the boat around nor could we navigate all the way back in reverse, so we made a stand and stayed there. In the end, the beaver slapped its tail in disgust and headed back up. I felt bad, but soon after we passed over the clump of sticks, my partner shrieked when her paddle almost came in contact with the beaver as it swam beneath the canoe and continued downstream. I'm sure the beaver had the last laugh! In any case, we did make it to Cloudy Lk. It is a pretty place and worth the effort to get there, also evidenced by the fact someone else was already camped there!

The search for the passage to Cloudy Lake. Did I

mention it was also cloudy that day?!

We didn't come away unscathed by the weather as it progressively got worse towards the end of the trip. By the last day, we were trying to stay dry under a tarp from the driving rain as we packed up our wet gear. Despite this, it didn't dampen our spirits as much as the thought of heading back home. We did find the right portages this time on our way out as we had to double back through the same area. Just like the creek on the first day, this small body of water ended up also being a nice tranquil sanctuary to paddle through. Although lucky enough to experience this place in solitude, I could definitely see this area being far from silent and isolated in the summer as it is very close to cottages, a road and a marina. Glad to have experienced it this way!

The beaver waiting for us to pay the toll before letting us pass.

"Anita, do you have any fresh twigs on you?!!"

When we got to the access point, as a bonus I didn't find a ticket on my car - phew! I was also surprised to find the parking lot empty, since on the first day it was full of vehicles. I guess everyone wanted to take advantage of the last opportunity to camp free before the permit system came in effect. We also found that all the information inside the display had been changed with instructions on how to fill out the permits provided in a cubby below. This definitely takes care of the headaches and worries of obtaining a permit to camp in the park now. Thankful that the park warden spared me a ticket and gave me a free pass for the opening day of the new park, I took it as a good omen to start the paddling season on the right foot!

Let the canoe trips begin!

Cheers,

tPP

The last vestiges of winter to stick around.

Darn, no beer to cool in the snow!

Finally Getting Out With A New Sleeping Pad!

I got my first article published in a magazine!

As some have commented, "It's

about time!!"

Man, its been way too long since I've blogged, sorry! So much going on and just not enough time. Since my last post, I've finally got my first magazine article published in Kanawa (Requiem For The Romaine), had a fun time presenting at the Barrie Canoe and Kayak Club, had several requests from other canoeist (both friends and strangers) to join them on some big canoe trips, assisted a Parks writer with information about canoeing, met a few new potential paddling partners and to boot, I became an uncle again! The tot's name is Noah. I figure with a name like that, - synonymous with a boat & water - you know we are definitely going to get along well! Anyhow, despite all this I decided it was time to sit my rump down and post something before the paddling season begins. It definitely has begun and yes, if you believe, I still haven't been out! I'm totally discombobulated! Anyhow, that should soon be remedied this weekend as I'm heading off on a short 3 day trip to start the season.

The Barrie Canoe and Kayak Club members attending my

presentation. It was surprisingly a large group,

(gulp!) but fun presenting there!

Photo: Anita DeVries

Timing was perfect as I got some new gear from Eureka today to try out and use. One which has me very interested in trying out is their new line of sleeping pads. I'm sure you are all aware of the self-inflating sleeping mats that have revolutionized the outdoor community by storm, replacing those de facto (and uncomfortable) blue foam pads. Well in recent years, there have been a few companies that have come out with 'air-mattresses' that are significantly more comfortable. For colder climates, you can even get ones that insulates as they have either down or synthetic fill inside of them for the best of both worlds. Well, Eureka took a different angle on this principle and has created their own line of comfortable sleeping mats - the Singlis ST and Dualis ST.

Eureka's answer to the 'air mattresses' growing

popularity among trippers.

The Singlis ST is an 'air mattress' comprised of 6 longitudinal tubes that can be inflated with either the integrated hand pump or by blowing in through a brass valve. It doesn't have much of an R value (insulative value) since air is the only thing inside of the tubes, therefore it is only good for warm weather excursions. The big benefit is that it is really comfortable and eliminates even sizable protrusions from below. The Dualis ST on the other hand has a unique twist being that the same 'air mattress' style tubes are bonded underneath to a self-inflating mattress. Therefore you have both the comfort of the air tubes, plus the insulative properties from the self-inflating foam! Seems pretty brilliant to me! I'm certain I haven't seen anything of this sort on the market, so it will definitely be interesting to try out and see how well they perform.

From the initial impression and test, the Singlis ST was quite

comfortable. Can't wait to test it out!

It's still pretty cold out there during the night, so I'm going to use the Dualis this weekend. In fact, because I'm so excited to try it out, I'm going to sleep on it tonight at home! I'll let you know how things turn out after the weekend. Hope you are all getting out soon too, despite all the wacky temperamental weather!

Cheers,

David

Back In The Swing of Things!

Working the Eureka booth at the Sportsmen Show with Dave

Helsdon, the creator of the Chrysalis and Jim Stevens,

head of Eureka-Johnson Outdoors.

Ahhhh! Its been way too long since I posted on my blog! Thanks to all of you that stuck around, wondering and waiting,...waiting,....and waiting,......for the next post. Sorry! The last month or so has been quite the beehive of non-stop activity that was somewhat related to canoeing, but unfortunately nothing in terms of actually getting out on the water with a canoe and paddle. Yes, the weather has warmed up enough that the local waterways are flowing, but as friends have luckily already headed out, I'm still on the computer working away, wishing for my opportunity to get out. See, I haven't forgotten this blog and as we 'speak', I'm typing away! Hopefully next weekend I'll get the chance to finally get out on the water, crossing my fingers!

Had the privilege of meeting Sonya Swanson, the Sales and

Marketing Assistant for Bending Branches

at Canoecopia.

So I'm sure some of you are wondering which rock I crawled under? Well at times, that would have actually been nice, but no, I've pretty much been front and center among lots of people. It first started with a presentation at Nova Craft in London, then working at the Outdoor Adventure Show, then off to Madison, Wisconsin to attend Canoecopia to present, and then back to the Sportmen Show where I worked at the Eureka booth again. Things have just finally started to wind down, but I just got a call from the Barrie Canoe and Kayak Club requesting a presentation, so as you can see, it is still not over. Plus during this whole time, I've had writing assignments and still have yet another article to work on. However, despite the hectic schedule, I always come away from these shows and presentations more inspired than ever. Yes, they can be long hours on your feet when at times you think you'll never stop talking, but there is always an amazing exchange of stories, information, and laughs. I've meet new friends, reconnected with old ones, made new contacts, and even learned new things. But the greatest reward is helping people, whether inspiring them to head out on their own canoe trip, or advise them on purchasing appropriate gear for their next adventure. That alone is worth everything.

Talk about nerve-racking, I got slotted to be one of the first

speakers when the doors opened at Canoecopia!

You should have seen the line - yikes!

Photo: Rosie Page

I know I head out on many canoe trips throughout the year and get to experience and see some amazing things (usually). So as I speak to fellow paddlers that are as varied as the canoes out there, sometimes I feel a sense of remorse. Many wish that they can head out as often as I do, or paddle to some of the places I've been too. I totally understand because I was once there too. I looked up to notable paddlers years ago as inspiration (and still do) and wished I could be like them one day. I certainly haven't gotten anywhere close, but I've certainly come a long way and feel now at the place and position I'm in, despite canoeing for myself, I feel a greater reward by giving back. That's when those longs hours standing and talking pay off, when I get a heartfelt thanks from helping people and seeing their enthusiasm build for their next adventure. Or giving advice on different canoe routes and encouraging them to venture outside of their usual tripping destinations as you see a light bulb go off. Even so much as helping kids into a hammock at the Eureka booth and getting them all excited about going on a camping trip. Whether or not any of this actually happens, I will never know, but you plant a seed, and let them go with it. And occasionally, just occasionally, you come across someone who tells you that it was either my advice or the inspiration I gave them that got them out there. You know that credit card commercial that speaks about priceless experiences? That is exactly what I'm talking about, priceless - and for everything else, there is Mastercard!

Cheers everyone! Good to be back on the blog!

tPP

The Nova Craft booth at Canoecopia after a long day. Rosie

Page, Roch Prevost, Dave Hood and Tim Miller,

owner of Nova Craft Canoes.

Mexican Canoe?!!

Most people at work know me one way or another as the "canoe guy". When I am approached, its not "Hey, how's it going?", or "Did you see the latest movie?". Its usually follows along the lines of, "So where did you go on the latest trip?", or "Where are you planning on going next?". Yes, I admit I do talk a lot about canoeing, but that's not the only thing I talk about - really! (I know a bunch of you are already rolling your eyes.) Well, occasionally someone else actually initiates a conversation regarding canoeing as I'm innocently walking by. Such was the case at work not too long ago. So there!

A colleague I work with recently came back from a vacation in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico and saw something really interesting. She follows my blog and obviously knows my passion for all things canoeing, so she was keen on relaying her story to me. Apparently one day as she was walking along the beach (Los Muertos) with her partner, she came across a wooden canoe. It was nothing like she'd ever seen before. She said it looked very old and in rough shape, but even more surprising, she said it looked like it was made from one tree! (Much like the big ocean canoes from the west coast of Canada that were craved from a single large tree too.) Immediately she thought of moi, and pulled out her point-and-shoot camera a took a shot. She knew I would be thrilled to see the picture - evidently so, she was right!

Come on, isn't she a beauty? A Mexican beauty at that! I was

quite surprised to see such a close resemblance

to the canoes we have here!

Photo: Johanne Denis

Canoes are usually not found plying the oceans. Sure they are versatile enough to paddle in the swells and surf too, but they are usually not the best choice. So it was a surprise when she told me what she did, and even more so when I received the pictures. The canoe is actually gorgeous! It actually has beautiful symmetrical lines with a shallow V, prominent rocker, what seems like a bit of tumblehome and quite the depth. (Probably for hauling in fish!) What is missing is the usual thwarts, but there really isn't any need since the sides of the canoes are self supporting. What also is neat is that even the gunwales are part of the canoe! Talk about all-in-one construction! For propulsion, there seems to be a combination of paddles and oars, although seeing how thick the shafts are, they must weigh a ton! (Or the Mexican's have big forearms!)

Made from one tree - talk about craftsmanship! Although the

thick shafts on those paddles could double as bats!

Photo: Johanne Denis

The canoe does look old, with several patches evident, but my colleague did mention that she did eventually witness the canoe in the ocean, so despite how it looks, it's obviously still operational. The only thing that had me scratching my head was in regards to where they got a big enough tree to crave this canoe from?! Does Mexico have trees this big?!? I've always thought of Mexico being fairly dry, but maybe I'm wrong? Maybe someone can pipe in under the Comments section, but I asked my sister as well who recently vacationed there and mentioned all the tree trunks were fairly small diameter-wise. Either way, if this canoe was not made in Mexico, it could have been transported from somewhere else - like the rain forest area further south, or even north from Seattle/Vancouver area. Although it is a pretty long distance either way! I would love to know the history behind this canoe, but I'm afraid this will remain a mystery. Fascinating. I know if I was there, I would have definitely not only inquired about it, but would have asked to paddle it! What else would you expect from me?!

Thanks Johanne for sharing this with me and all the other readers!

Remando feliz! (Happy Paddling in Spanish),

tPP

PS. I'll be at the annual Outdoor Adventure Show this weekend, working from the Johnson Outdoors Eureka booth Sat and Sun. Please come by and visit if you are around. It's a great show to get some deals on outdoor equipment and jump start your canoe trip planning for this summer!

Happy Feet Means Happy Paddler

Our feet take a lot of abuse on portages, which is only fair to

treat them with the utmost respect. "Who wants to

massage my feet tonight? Hello!?!"

Photo: Marylou DiRienzo

Ever since I was a young kid, I always dreaded walking for long periods of time. Even the excitement of going to an amusement park was dampened by the thought that my feet would ache throughout the day and many times long after. My parents took the due diligence to have me checked out, but even the doctor at the time didn’t know what the problem was. My parents probably just assumed I didn’t have good feet for walking or I was a wuss, so nothing more was really done about it other than the odd foot/calf massage with Rub A535 (Remember that!). It was tough as a kid, since I always loved to tromp around all day in the fields, forest, rivers, and ponds, despite the discomfort.

This by comparison is much better to portage on then a lot of

the conditions we encounter, but it still helps to

have a good pair of feet, or support.

My ‘light bulb’ moment came in my mid-twenties when I heard about orthotics and how they help people with flat feet. As I began to inquire, I realized a lot of the symptoms people had with flat feet were very similar to my own. Funny thing was when I got checked out, I really didn’t have a severe case of flat feet. (Probably why the doctor back then didn’t think anything was wrong with my feet!) Regardless, I had the symptoms and I wanted anything that could help with managing the pain. Thus I soon became the very happy owner of my first pair of generic orthotics. I couldn’t say it eliminated my pain totally, but significantly enough that the dreaded thought of walking all day was a thing of the past.

Yeah, yeah, that is me during my backpacking era!

Good memories except the sore feet at

the end of the day!

Photo: Marylou DiRienzo

You’d think with someone with my condition prior to remedying the problem would abstain from any type of lost distance walking. Well, the lure of wandering the woods superseded the issues associated with my feet. The irony of the whole thing was I initially was a backpacker!! So not only did I walk long distances, but on uneven terrain and with a huge load on my back. Yes, the pull of the wilderness was far to strong to keep me home. By all accounts, I should have really been a paddler as I would have been off my feet most of the time. But no, off I went, trouncing around in the woods like a kid without a worry in the world, enduring the pain, but loving every moment of it.

Here's a novel option, if you don't want to walk/portage on

a canoe trip, have someone cart you across!

Guaranteed to save your feet!

Photo: Ben Albert

At some point, I made a fairly abrupt switch to canoeing when I realized the far greater potential for experiencing the Canadian wilderness, but ironically, it had nothing to do with my feet. Its pretty obvious where I now stand with canoeing, but even though it takes a big portion of walking out, it still involves walking, or better yet, portaging. Much like backpacking, when we do portage, its often with a much heavier load, the same uneven terrain, (except for Algonquin) but much shorter distances. Although, I distinctly remember a monumental trip in Temagami where I portaged roughly 33 kms. With 2 carries, that was approximately 100 kms of walking, not forgetting the paddling part!

Another way to save your feet on a canoe trip is to not only have

appropriate footwear, but to have support in the way

of orthotics such as Doc Walks.

Walking, portaging, bushwhacking, or hiking - they all still play a significant part on canoe trips. Well, if you have similar issues with your feet and walking, you know how important orthotics are, even more so when you head out on canoe trips. The problem is, those custom orthotics cost several hundreds of dollars, easily ranging from over $300 to $500! It’s a hard swallow to even get one (lucky if you have some insurance coverage), let alone another for things like canoe trips. Besides that, they are usually covered in some slick leather or comfortable piece of fabric, so it would not fair well on canoe trips where they would constantly be wet, muddied, and who knows what else. That’s where I want to share with you an amazing product that will not only make your feet much happier, but easier on your wallet as well.

Terrain such as this is guaranteed to strain and utilize every

single muscle in your foot and leg as you portage.

And who said 'walking' is easier on

canoe trips!!

Last year when I worked at the Eureka booth at the Sportsmen show, there was another booth in front of ours that sold ‘value orthotics’ called Doc Walks. I didn’t really pay much attention as I was already wearing my own custom ones, but also because I tried a few generic versions years ago that although they did help, they were never as good as the ones I was currently wearing. Well at the end of the weekend, I ended up chatting with them and met the president, Alex Ein of Comfort Corner Corp., who convinced me of getting one as a spare to my own custom ones. (Talk about good salesman!) He even gave me a better deal to try and convince me it was worth it. Yes I was skeptical, but I went for it, mainly because I saw an opportunity if these Doc Walks worked well - for canoe tripping.

"Another one bites the dust" - your foot is not the only

thing that is taking abuse on canoe trips!

After trying the Doc Walks out on a few smaller canoe trips and even around town, I found them to be very comfortable, almost rivaling my custom ones! With some follow-up discussion and phone calls, explaining to Alex how they may work well for canoe tripping - assuming they could hold up to the abuse they would be subjected to - he agreed to sponsor Lisa and I with Doc Walks for our canoe trips. I would use them like no other customer would, and he would either stand by the toughness and resiliency of the product, or realize they were better made for ‘domestic’ use. (I needed another pair because I unfortunately lost the original one at the MEC Paddlefest last year - sigh!) This could all help in his marketing campaign, and in return I could help endorse his product, especially to a different segment of people.

Orthotics such as Doc Walks support your arch and keep your

foot in the optimal shape to shoulder load.

To me it was a lifesaver!

The conclusion? Well after almost 70 days of canoe tripping through varying terrain that included rocks, boulders, sand, water, muck, bog, soil, and ice, they are as good as new. The Doc Walks still have its patented curve and no part of the mould or plastic is cracked, chipped or falling apart. Despite shouldering loads of over 100lbs, not including my own weight of 155lbs over the various terrain described above, they are still going strong. But most importantly, my feet/legs felt great! Never once did I have sore feet or achy calves that I was so familiar with in the early years. I am so impressed with them, I am now using them for work instead of the custom ones! (Shhh, my chiropractor will probably not take that well!) I can say without a doubt, I truly endorse this product because of how well they served me for my purposes. If you have the same issues with your feet AND you canoe trip as well, you will not go wrong with this product. And if for some reason they don’t work well for you, there is always the 100% guarantee. You just can’t lose. You owe it to yourself and your feet. Happy feet really does mean a happy paddler!

Doc Walks Ortho-Insoles are inexpensive, tough and most

importantly, they work. They will now accompany

me on every canoe trip hence forward.

Doc Walks is a preformed, ortho-insole that you put into your footwear that is made from some tough plastic. It also comes with a foam backing which I tore off due to the nature of canoe tripping. Since the foam would have held water and dirt that would compromise comfort, I took it off. (The remaining foam/adhesive can easily be removed with Goo Gone.) Alex explained that Doc Walks originally were sold without the backing, but it was subsequently added on due to customer feedback. (I definitely am not their typical customer!) Without the foam, they are easily cleaned and don’t hold any odour. Lastly, Doc Walks are very affordable compared to those custom orthotics. At $39.99, you can easily purchase several for all your footwear for less than the cost of a custom one! Check out their website at comfortcorner.ca, which also have the times and places where they will be hocking their ware. Tramping through tough portages or exploring the wilderness has never been more comfortable!

Cheers,

tPP

Let's not neglect our feet - they take us

where the canoe can't!