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  Pembroke, Ontario, Canada
Thursday, September 25, 2008

Phew, where can I start?

First of all,sorry that I haven't written anything for a while. After my last entry we were whisked off for a week to camp by the Ottawa River next to a rapid called Lower Olstroms. There we did swiftwater rescue training, whitewater canoeing and a lot of swimming in the river. We set up tension diagonals, rescued people from the other side of the river using spinal boards and canoes lashed together and generally got very wet. We ran the whole Ottawa Middle Channel in a canoe, including Big Butterfly. There was a lot of portaging too... We then had a girl's trip riverboading the Ottawa and another to Ottawa to do some crazy whitewater swimming in a kayak slalom course. This was swiftly followed by a shopping trip and a visit to the Level 6 HQ (with a 40% discount from them, most of us still spent a fair amount on clothing there).

Anyway, after that we were back for one evening which was spent packing for the Rupert River canoe trip. We left the next morning for a 14 hour bus ride up to the James Bay Highway Bridge, where we put in. The next five days involved a lot of flatwater canoeing with big waves and headwinds, some whitewater canoeing, cold cold camping, late nights round the fire and early mornings packing. We also did a lot of portaging through woodland trails which would usually tire me out without a canoe of a barrel filled with today's dinner, but I made it. It was all worth while for the camaraderie, the views and the massive rapids. It is also satisfying to say I've done it and sad that I may be one of the last - the Rupert has been given the death sentence and in a few years it will be dammed to make hydroelectric power for Canada. Unfortunately, the attempts to save the river have failed and the amazing rapids and epic views will be lost forever, not to mention the way of life of the Cree people who live and paddle along the river.

After the Rupert trip, we travelled for another 12 hours south again to the Gatineau River, where we stayed at the Bonnet Rouge campsite. This was a beautiful site by the awesome Gatineau River. The Bonnet Rouge is the smallest rapid on the river, but the waves are still much bigger than I have ever paddled before in a kayak. The first day we arrived, fresh off the bus, to a gorgeous sunny day. We unpacked, set up and played some silly games (human pyramids, human wheels, catch the flag) which got us in the mood for our first day back on the whitewater in kayaks and rafts. I rafted that day and was utterly amazed at the rapids - they were bigger than the Ottawa Main! We ran all the rapids, switching the guide position on each one. We got pinned on a rock above a giant hole on one, which was scarey, but we didn't flip all day - not even running The Wall (a giant wave, aptly named). The next day was kayaking. I spent a large portion of the morning with Skip practicing my roll, then we ran the Bonnet Rouge twice. That was fun. After that we travelled home in Vader, the bus which we are taking on our trip. It has undergone "The Miracle" which means that the bus seats have been removed and long bench seats put in running the length of the bus. Middle parts have been made so that the bus becomes a giant bed!

Photos can be found here: http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=54054&l=86843&id=661177381

This week we all rafted the Ottawa Middle and Main, and also had to do the safety and paddle talks on the bus and in the raft. I guided Butcher's Knife and Iron Ring which went pretty well. We also made it through Colesium and the especially flippy level of 5 3/4.

For the last 3 days we have been kayaking. I have found this especially challenging, but yesterday I did 2 rolls and today I pretty much ran the whole Ottawa Middle Channel (including Iron Ring, Butterfly and Lower Olstroms). I'm pretty pleased with that as I have achieved quite a lot in just a couple of days.

Tomorrow is the Extravaganza day - we are being tested on our knots, raft guide skills and who knows what else. I hope we do well.

If you would like to see more photos, they can be found here:

http://www.new.facebook.com/album.php?aid=51669&l=bb2b5&id=661177381

(If you you think you have seen these before, this album has been updated in the last few days).

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