Issue #45 - Ottawa Outdoors Magazine

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ottawaoutdoors

FREE | SUMMER ISSUE

2015 | OTTAWA • GATINEAU • ONTARIO • QUEBEC • US & BEYOND

ADVENTURE | TRAVEL | FAMILY | HOME | HEALTH

Escape to a park campsite this summer!

Exploring cool caves in the region's underworld OUR WHITEWATER CANOEING CORNUCOPIA

GET MORE HEAT FROM A DAKOTA FIRE

WHEN CAMPING, HOW MUCH ROPE IS ENOUGH?

Be the first to paddle models from leading brands such as H20 Canoe Company, Riviera Paddlesurf, Delta Kayaks, Wilderness Systems & Perception Kayaks, Riot Kayaks, Tahe Kayaks, Zegul Kayaks, Current Designs, Aqua-Bound Paddles, Salus PFD’s, and more!

What’s New for 2015: H20 Canoe Company unveils their ultralight / Ultra-tuff Epoxy PRO Canoes; Delta Kayaks redesigns the popular 17 & 15.5 models; and Wilderness Systems releases new kayaks and upgrades.

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OTTAWA

OUTDOORS 15

PADDLEBOARD YOGA ON THE OTTAWA RIVER

Cover Photo by Ontario Parks

HOW MUCH ROPE IS ENOUGH?

SUMMER ISSUE

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44

WHITEWATER RAFTING IN THE HEART OF OTTAWA

04 Publisher’s Letter 05 Escape on a bike 06 Get more heat from a Dakota fire 07 How much rope is enough?

09 Dows Lake Pavilion 10 Our whitewater canoe cornucopia 15 Paddleboard yoga, the best of the wet and the dry 18 Ottawa Riverkeeper protects our watershed 19 Park it for summer in Ontario 23 Dollar stores a boon to campers 24 Hot Clothing section 26 Caves are cool, in more ways than one 29 Paddle, hike, fish – then relax at rustic island cottages 30 Outdoor adventure clubs 32 Adventure Travel: A West Coast Tale 34 Adventure Travel: Nova Scotia’s Eastern Shore 36 Ease in to first-time overnight camping 40 Dog ‘sledding’ without the snow 42 Click your way through the web to open the outdoor world 44 Whitewater rafting in the heart of Ottawa 46 The Back Pages

read it online

07

Check out the P.7 article and prepare for your summer outdoor adventure.

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ottawaoutdoors I 03

PUBLISHER’S LETTER

SUMMER BREEZE It took a while, but finally summer arrived.

Don't know if you're a reader who loves the heat or prefers the fun ways to cool off instead, but in this issue there are options. For example, if you wanted to 'mentally' cool off you could head over to p.40 and read the article about dog sledding without the snow.

But if you prefer something outlandishly fun then p.44 holds the answer as it gives a complete update on whitewater rafting 'in' the city. Yes you read that correctly. One of the veteran whitewater rafting companies has launched a new division, Ottawa City DAVE BROWN Rafting Adventure, and they offer safe whitewater trips down the PUBLISHER Ottawa River from Britannia Beach to our downtown bridges.

Editor-in-chief Lastly, if you're more of a paddle adventurer, then David Sach's Ottawa Outdoors ottawaoutdoors.ca article on p.10 is terrific as it highlights some of great canoe and kayak whitewater paddle spots you'll truly enjoy. Always remember SHOW OWNER to wear your PFD though.

The Outdoor & Adventure Travel Show So if you're hot, choose from any of these three adventures as a adventureottawa.com great way to get wet and cool down.

But what if you want to chill other ways? The answer rests in the sport of caving. Over on p.26 Andrea Cranfield highlights many of the caving options nearby just waiting for explorers of the underworld. If that's you, read the article, gear-up and head down under.

As you continue to read through this issue cover-to-cover you'll also enjoy some Zen activities beckoning you; namely paddleboard yoga. An original idea, you mount your Stand-up Paddleboard and paddle out with the instructor to a designated quiet location.

Then it's time to sit or kneel and begin your yoga positions. To say nothing of the core workout one receives from yoga, doing so on a paddleboard only engages the muscles further. And being this close to nature magnifies the peacefulness. If you've never tried it, check out www.paddlefit.ca and book your first lesson with Jodi.

I'd also like to give kudos to our provincial parks who have a patch of land waiting just for you. The article on p.19 spotlights a few nearby parks to visit with your tent and gear. And whether it's one of the ones listed in this article or others like St. Lawrence Park, it's a great way to find peace in nature.

Don't forget to read the ads on every page. They always convey great information about what's ahead and how you can take-in the great outdoors.

As always, enjoy the many other articles featuring adventure travel, outdoor hints and tips and more.

Whether you're hiking, paddling, cycling, or camping in the months ahead, finds ways to enjoy the summer breeze. :)

THE TEAM

OTTAWA

OUTDOORS &

MAGAZINE

MAR 19-20, 2016

PUBLISHER, EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

DAVE BROWN EDITOR

ROGER BIRD WRITERS

SHEILA ASCROFT, ALLEN MACARTNEY, DAVID SACHS, ANDREA CRANFIELD, KATHARINE FLETCHER, JENNA THOMPSON, CRAIG MACARTNEY PHOTOGRAPHERS & ILLUSTRATORS

OTTAWA CITY RAFTING ADVENTURE, CINDY LOTTES PHOTOGRAPHY, ERIC FLETCHER, KATHARINE FLETCHER, JENNA THOMPSON, FLICKRDAD, ADAM KAHTAVA, JOE STRUPEK, MICHAEL LECKMAN, MASHA, JOHN VETTERLI, DAVID SACHS, OUTDOOREND.COM ADVERTISING INQUIRIES

Dave Brown, Publisher | Ottawa Outdoors Magazine is an independent publication published seasonally every four months and distributed FREE at sports stores and a hundred other locations around the region.

E-mail: Advertising@OttawaOutdoors.ca Publisher: editor@ottawaoutdoors.ca Tel: 613-860-8687 or 888-228-2918 Fax: 613-482-4997

HOW TO GET PUBLISHED

Ottawa Outdoors welcomes story and photo contributions. Publisher may publish any and all communications with Ottawa Outdoors, and may edit for clarity and style. Indexed in the Canadian

Periodical Index ISSN No. 1204-69556. ©Copyright 2015. All rights reserved.

Reproduction of any materialspublished in Ottawa Outdoors Magazine is expressly forbidden without consent of the publisher.

Printed in Canada mail me your comments: editor@ottawaoutdoors.ca

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ESCAPE ON A BIKE New bicycle tour outfit offers an escape for tourists and “staycationers”

By Sheila Ascroft

The word “escape" has extra significance for Maria Rasouli. It’s not just the name of her new business, Escape Bicycle Tours, it’s a part of who she is.

Rasouli grew up in a village in northern Iran near the Caspian Sea and says her greatest joy as a child was riding her bicycle every day after school with her best friend. They rode past young men playing soccer as they headed through open fields and the nearby forest.

But at age 11 her parents told her cycling was inappropriate for a young woman, took away her bike, and gave it to her brother.

She put her energies into her studies but never lost the passion for cycling. It took her another 13 years to get back on a bike – in Canada. On her first day here – at age 24 when she came to study at Carleton University – she borrowed a colleague’s bike for a ride.

“Words cannot describe how I felt the moment I got on that bicycle – what a rush of excitement, freedom, and joy!” said Rasouli, who says she lives by the motto: “a bicycle, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.”

She started Escape Bicycle Tours in May so she could share “the joy of bicycling in nature.

It’s about celebrating our freedom to explore and connect with our Canadian heritage, magnificent nature, history, and culture – on our bicycles!”

“The Ottawa area is rich with natural beauty, history, art, and fantastic locally sourced food,” says Rasouli. “Escape tours are about unwinding from our daily hectic www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

pace and experiencing this great region in a relaxed, fun way.”

Rasouli, who guides for her company as well as running it, emphasizes that its tours offer tourists and staycationers “the sights, sounds and secrets of Ottawa … on a bicycle,” using the city’s extensive bike path network as well as quiet, safe roads into the nearby countryside.

The company offers half-day and full-day tours, weekend getaways and special-occasion tours like Perth’s August Garlic-Fest. And custom tours for business groups or family celebrations.

Escape provides bicycles, helmets, maps, water bottles, snacks, museum admission fees, and guides with bike-repair and first aid skills. They take clients to both urban and rural destinations in Ottawa, the Valley, and the Outaouais.

One half-day tour ($110 plus GST) covers only 15 kilometres in four hours, but it’s an eventful trip to the National Gallery, the Museum of History, Leamy Lake Park, Leamy Lake Beach, Casino du Lac-Leamy, the Parliament Buildings, Victoria Island, Ottawa Locks, and the Bytown Museum. The $50 Ottawa Express is a two-hour tour around Ottawa’s major attractions for visitors with limited time to explore the city.

The tours have a set ratio of six cyclists to one guide – no mob scenes here. Each rider is fitted to a hybrid bike (you tell them your height so you get the right size frame). Before you ride, guides adjust seat, handlebar and helmet.

Escape Tour rents “comfort hybrids” from RentABike and Cyco’s, on Rasouli’s theory that their operations are complementary.

“They are respected companies that have been providing bike rentals in Ottawa for decades, with more than 200 bikes available.” Using their resources makes sense for Escape, which focuses on thematic sightseeing, she explained.

While bringing your own bike and helmet gets you a small discount, Rasouli prefers riders use Escape bikes since they are properly serviced and have the right sized accessories such as spare inner tubes. Rasouli says riders have shown up with bikes in poor condition or the wrong size, and she wants to avoid that kind of discomfort for riders and hassle for herself.

“We provide major safety instructions before we begin cycling, including turn and stop signals, distance to keep from other cyclist, passing, using the bell,” she says. “We start very slow for the first 15 to 20 minutes so the cyclists can get comfortable with each other.”

Escape has partnered with the Otesha Project, a youth-led environmental charity based in Ottawa to establish the Escape Bursary Fund, contributing two per cent of each sale to give young activists the opportunity to make a difference.

Like that borrowed bike long ago.

For more information, email Rasouli at maria@escapebicycletours.ca or contact her by phone at 613-608-7407. 

ottawaoutdoors I 05

SURVIVAL101

ALLEN MACARTNEY

GET MORE HEAT FROM A DAKOTA FIRE North American Aboriginal People built a “Dakota fire” when they wanted to minimize the smoky fingerprint of their campfire, and also when fuel was scarce and the wind was high. This kind of fire is also an excellent survival tool because it focuses all heat in one direction – straight up – making cooking easier.

Simply put, it’s a fire in a hole in the ground with another hole at the bottom feeding in fresh oxygen.

As hot air from the fire exits through the top exhaust hole it creates suction that draws fresh air in through the smaller air tunnel hole, directly onto the fire base. Creating a self-feeding cycle, it focuses fresh oxygen to continually aid combustion. Fires don’t get much more efficient than this.

The hotter the fire, the more the suction, the more the suction, the hotter the fire ….

A Dakota fire is not for just any camping experience. It requires an environmentally minded camper who will avoid digging a Dakota fire in campgrounds, heavily used canoe-camping sites, or areas with rich nutrient-bearing soil.

It is built clear of tree roots in a gravel or clay soil if possible, because it will hold its shape when heated, and fire won’t harm the nutrients found in rich loam.

Start with a hand trowel and cut out a grasssoil plug from the ground and set it aside for when you leave the campsite. Then dig a hole about 30 centimetres across and 30 centimetres deep. Enlarge the bottom of the hole slightly to accommodate kindling and larger 06 I ottawaoutdoors

PHOTOS BY OUTDOOREND.COM

Backwoods thermodynamics from its inventors

pieces of firewood.

Next, dig a 15-centimetre air hole starting about 30 centimetres from the fire hole and aimed at it. Angle it down so it ends at the bottom of the fire hole. Ideally the air hole should be upwind of the fire hole.

Then partly fill the fire hole with kindling, and light it. Add sticks and wood to fuel the flames. Then place two pieces of thick wood at the top of the fire hole at ground level to support your pot or frying pan.

When the cooking is over and before leaving

the campsite, drown any smoldering embers in the hole, and stir them. Then drown the ash again. Then fill in both the fire and exhaust holes with the gravel/clay/sand mixture you dug out, and replace the grass-soil plug to return the site to its original condition.

Every seasoned camper should have Dakota fire knowledge as part of their mental equipment. As a survival tool, it produces a hotter fire with less wood. This fuel efficiency means less time looking for firewood and more time staying warm.  www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

How much rope is enough?

anymore because they rot quickly and don’t carry much weight. But hemp holds a quick knot well, so I keep several short lengths in my tent pocket for tying up sleeping bags or sleeping mats.

PARACHUTE CORD

THE QUICK ANSWER IS ‘MORE’

By Allen Macartney

I’m addicted to rope. Once my wife and I were hiking the beach in Cornwall, England.

Lying on the sandy shore was a 15-metre length of thin, blue polypropylene fishing rope, which was irresistible. Despite my wife’s protests, I stuffed it into my pack and still have it for camping trips.

That’s my ropey way of life, so it often seems half my pack is filled with different types, colours and lengths of rope. I’ve got thick, yellow polypropylene rope, long thin lengths of nylon cord, cotton twine, parachute cord, even hemp. Each has its purpose. Some springy (for tying down tarp corners or tent flies), others ideal for a boat’s bow as a painter for tie-up – because they float.

NYLON CORD

This stuff is cheap, strong, light and won’t rot, though it degrades if left out in the sun too long. About the size of a shoe lace, nylon rope or cord is slightly stretchy. Cyclers, hikers and backpackers love nylon cord for its wide

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range of uses. I keep four or five three-metre lengths of it in my fanny survival pack. It weighs almost nothing and takes slightly more space than a toothbrush. Once, when paddling solo on the Yukon River, a bolt holding my canoe seat broke. My nylon rope fit perfectly through the bolt holes, and within minutes the seat was fixed. It lasted all the way to the Arctic Circle.

POLYPROPYLENE ROPE

There’s no rope better for a canoe or kayak painter than polypropylene; it floats, and won’t rot when wet for prolonged periods.

Usually yellow, it’s strong and cheap, and comes in a wide range of sizes. My favourite is 3/8-inch. A four-metre length tied to the bow takes little space. A six-metre length in my kitchen pack stretches between two trees to hang my tarp.

COTTON TWINE AND HEMP

Few people carry these old standbys

No wise camper ventures far without a stash of good parachute cord. I love it! But not all parachute cord is created equal. Cheap imitations abound. Real parachute cord (a.k.a.

“550 Cord”) has a military specification that requires seven to nine interwoven strands of separate cord surrounded in a tough, braided nylon sheath. Its minimum breaking strength is an impressive 250 kilograms. Offered in a selection of colours (e.g. white, black, camouflage, fluorescent orange), it has myriad uses.

Need emergency thread? Cut a length of parachute cord and strip out the seven to nine central cords. They’re tough! The cheap imitation stuff is still good for looping around flashlights, GPS units, folding saws, fishing pliers and folding knives for a firm grip. It’s also excellent for improvising a broken guywire, repairing a tent or hiking pole, or for wrapping a knife handle.

KNOT-FREE PACKING

Before packing your rope away, loop it around your open hand or arm (the longer the rope, the larger the loop) and tie it off securely. Ropes seldom tangle with this method.

So how much rope is enough? I’m not sure, so I just keep on packing more and more. 

ottawaoutdoors I 07

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DOWS LAKE PAVILION Seven great reasons to visit this adventure location all summer 1. Lakeside escape in the heart of the city Don’t have a cottage, or the time to drive all the way out of town? No problem! Located at the base of Preston Street and minutes from downtown, Dows Lake offers an “urban hinterland” retreat in the centre of Canada’s Capital.

2. Fun on the water Try out a stand-up paddleboard (SUP), a kayak, canoe, pedal boat or one of our brand new row boats!

3. Experimental Farm Make a day of it! Bring the family and friends and after a nice paddle on the Lake, take the quick walk over to the Central Experimental Farm and enjoy one of the many programs and attractions on offer.

4. Arboretum Paddle along or stroll through the 26 acres of diverse flora.

5. Paths and trails Jogging, walking, biking, or rollerblading, there’s hardly a nicer setting in Ottawa than the paths running along Dows Lake and snaking through the arboretum.

6. Stay fit! Whether you’re on the water itself or taking advantage of one of the surrounding areas,

all activities in the vicinity offer varying degrees of physical challenge that are bound to get the blood flowing and keep you smiling.

7. Three fantastic restaurants After it’s all said and done, take some time to relax; no matter if you’re looking for Tex-Mex, pub style fare, or casual fine dining. Dows lake has it all!

PHOTOS OF ACTIVITIES YOU COULD BE DOING this SUMMER AT DOWS LAKE PAVILION

• PADDLE on stand-up paddleboards, kayaks, canoes or pedal boats • WALK OR RUN the boardwalk ending where you began, at the Pavilion • DINE on the large decks of any of the three restaurants • RELAX watching the boats, SUP’ers and kayak/canoers come floating by • ENJOY the view day or night

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ottawaoutdoors I 09

OUR WHITEWATER CANOE CORNUCOPIA

By David Sachs

W

hitewater canoeists know the problem: arguing with trip partners about the route. Around Ottawa-Gatineau, this doesn’t happen only while scouting the next mazelike rapid, but in the safety of dining rooms and bars, where trips are planned. There are just so many wild rivers around Ottawa, and they can create kid-in-a-candy-shop paralysis.

Even beginner-friendly rapids offer an adrenaline rush, and the excitement grows in tandem with paddling skill. Riding rapids is like a roller coaster where you’re the boss –

with the fun of water splashing your face. Try a river, and you may find yourself planning summers around the sport.

(Be safe and wear a helmet. You never know

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when your partner will clunk you on the head with a paddle for picking the wrong line.)

Wild rivers bring you to beautiful, magical places, and few are aware of the near-limitless adventure at hand in Ottawa, up the Gatineau and in West Quebec.

Here’s a look at some whitewater favourites.

These rapids are graded from Class I (too easy) to Class IV (too hard). Check online for current water levels in cubic metres per second.

If you have a few hours, I’d recommend three sites.

Remic Rapids on the Ottawa River off Bate Island (reached from the Champlain Bridge) gets more popular each year – in spring you have line up with kayaks and SUP boards.

Off the Quebec shore, the water is more interesting, allowing play from eddy to eddy.

Park on Lucerne, just east of the bridge (look for the path by the bus stop). Try crossing to Bate Island as high in the rapid as you can.

The Wakefield covered bridge over the Gatineau River is a fun, big wave Class II in high spring. After that it becomes a more technical play spot to practise moving across the features. By July it flattens out. The real challenge is when the water is too strong to return to the put-in at the public stairs.

On the Lower Mad’s Rifle Chute Rapids.

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ottawaoutdoors I 11

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and-down-cliff portage. They hold their water year round: When the Mad is low, head here.

My favourite stretch happens at the bottom of Rapides Guinette (CII/III) on the Coulonge. A set of three ledges, offering routes from technical to ride-’em-cowboy.

For shuttle info, it’s Ron Henry Guide Service, Esprit Rafting, or the Black River Inn. The Third Sister is the Dumoine, similar to the Noire and Coulonge, but with even more elevation drop. It’s farther afield (forming the boundary between Pontiac and Témiscamingue counties, so it really demands an extra day.

For shuttle info check Ron Henry Guide Service or Esprit Rafting. ~ David Sachs is author of the thriller called, The Flood. His articles, fiction and blog are at www.davidsachs.com  Hauling your boat up the steep shore below the rapids is a second work-out. Now you deserve a beer at Kaffé 1870.

An easy-to-reach alternative is the Rideau River below Hog’s Back Falls, beside the Carleton University campus.

If you have a whole day, try the Picanoc River below Gracefield off Quebec Highway 105. It offers seclusion, sweet fishing, long sets of Class II-IIIs, and one short portage, paddler’s left, around a beautiful waterfall (a great lunch or overnight site). The river sometimes dries out by mid-July, so check the on-line gauge and avoid anything below 10 cubic metres per second.

After the waterfall is a Class III/IV ledge (carry-over on right). It’s a steep, fast chute, with a big souse hole near the top, and a massive rooster-tail wave at the bottom. My first two runs here, the wave threw me and my partner into the drink.

To get there, take Chemin Harrison in Danford Lake and follow the signs for WT Outfitters/ Pourvoirie 2000. The take out is by the bridge at Chemin Ruisseau des Cerises in Kazabazua.

Daylong alternatives are Ontario’s Highway 7 rivers – Moira, Skootamatta, Black, Clyde and Salmon.

For a weekend or longer, best bet is the Lower Madawaska, the classic Ontario learning river. Portages are clear and easy, with plentiful long CIIs to develop skills, and occasional CIIIs to push your limits.

Campsites offer spectacular views from cliff ledges, and many will have you sleeping with the roar of the rapids in your ear. Check the level: don’t run the Mad below 20 cubic metres per second.

My favourite rapid is Split Rock (right channel, a CII/III. A roller coaster of big waves, with a poorly placed boulder at the bottom to make it interesting. To get there, www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

A post-portage swim on the Picanoc.

check out Mad River Rentals or Greater Madawaska Canoe Rentals.

Other longer time adventures are the Coulonge and Noire Rivers. These are two of the Three Sisters (we’ll get to #3 in a moment).

I just. Love. These. Rivers.

There’s nothing like running a hairraising class III and finding a perfect beach campsite at the bottom. Tumbling from the high elevation of the West Quebec Canadian Shield to the Ottawa River, the rivers have abundant rapids of all levels. They offer beach and rock-outcropping campsites, first-rate fishing, and multiple waterfalls.

The Noire also has one miserable up-hill-

Wakefield's covered bridge (bottom); The Rite of Spring: trip-planning the season ahead (right).

ottawaoutdoors I 13

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15, 2015 Register today at riverkeeper.ca

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Benefiting a swimmable, drinkable, fishable Ottawa River.

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Paddleboard yoga, the best of the wet and the dry SURPRISING COMBO BUILDS BALANCE AND CONFIDENCE

By Andrea Cranfield

YOGA

has been around for hundreds of years but rose in popularity in the western world in the 1980s. Now it’s a staple in most fitness classes.

Paddleboarding also goes back a long way, but only recently became popular in North America.

It’s probably safe to say that most people have heard of or maybe even tried both, but have they ever combined the two? The idea is simple: doing yoga poses on a paddleboard while floating on the water.

It sounds difficult, but Jodi Bigelow, who runs Paddlefit in Ottawa said it’s great exercise, not to mention calming, confidence-building and with lovely scenery.

Bigelow started Paddlefit four years ago and said at that time hardly anybody was paddleboarding in Ottawa. Since then, “It’s really taken off, it’s been great,” he said.

Bigelow said some companies take paddleboard yoga class participants out into the water and drop an anchor while they do the class, but he takes classes out into the water at Meech Lake, Bate Island, Rideau Falls, Aylmer Beach and Jacques Cartier Park, and just lets people float.

The company supplies equipment to those who don’t have any.

“We incorporate a bit more movement of the board, like we’ll move from one location to another. We’re just trying to discover a blend of yoga moves with a SUP (stand up paddleboarding) skill,” said Bigelow. “Because there’s a bit more wobble and a bit more shake to a board, so it’s a bit more challenging than a standard yoga class in a studio.”

Because the board does shake more on the water, it helps people learn to balance because their stabilizing muscles are always activated.

And, Bigelow said, paddleboard yoga connects you with nature. “You hear the water and the birds and the wind is blowing in your hair,” he said.

Paddleboard yoga boards are wider and flatter than normal ones. Some are squared off at both ends. “They’re really stable,” Bigelow said. “Picture your yoga mat and make it five inches thick and paddle that out on the water, I’m exaggerating a bit but it is basically a big thick mat.”

Beginners usually start with low-centre-of-gravity yoga poses and a lot of stretches to get used to balancing on the water. “The higher you stand up, the more challenging it becomes,” Bigelow said.

www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

ottawaoutdoors I 15

SURF’S UP! Bigelow has added surfing classes to the Paddlefit calendar. You don’t need an ocean to go surfing, he said, because, “We have high water in Ottawa, we’re kind of blessed with a couple of really nice waves.”

The most popular is called the Wall Wave, off Bate Island, “maybe shoulder high when it’s really pumping so it’s a really good wave,” Bigelow said. And it’s close to shore, suitable for beginners. If someone misses the wave or falls off, it’s a quick paddle to get back out and try again.

This wave disappears once the river’s water level drops, but the Dessert Wave further downstream has whitewater all summer. But it’s in the middle of the river, so if you miss the wave, you have to paddle to shore and walk for about 20 minutes to get back to it.

“It’s got some kickback and it’s more like a Hawaii style wave, like an ocean wave where it’s actually breaking so it’s got some real power,” Bigelow explained.

The biggest drawback to Ottawa surfing? According to Bigelow, the water can be really cold.

He said normally people are afraid to fall in the water. But once they do, they realize that all that happened is they got wet and they climb back on their boards and continue with the class. He said they think falling off means “I couldn’t do it.”

But once they get back on their boards, Bigelow said people’s faces change and they become more open to learning because their fear of failure is gone.

He urges people to, “Listen to the waves, feel the board move under your feet … we have a short summer in Canada, let’s get outside and enjoy what you like doing outside.” 

Live Local Jazz every Sunday-Tuesday-Wednesday evening.

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Settle into one of Ontario’s leading resorts where country warmth and luxury are combined with limitless seasonal activities.

Welcome to Calabogie Peaks Resort, where nature provides a glorious backdrop of mountain, lake and land.

The mountain, where a small group of enthusiasts carved out trails for skiers and hikers; the lake, which in the 1800s was part of the river system that carried the mature soft and hard woods for shipping overseas; and the land, welcoming adventurers every season of the year.

Includes a stay at the Calabogie Peaks Hotel, breakfast, warm-up rounds at our executive Ironwoods 9-hole course & a full round at the beautiful Calabogie Highlands.

1-800-669-4861 (use code “golfout”)

www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

www.calabogie.com/golfout

ottawaoutdoors I 17

OTTAWA’S NATURAL ENVIRONMENT

OTTAWA RIVEKEEPER PROTECTS OUR WATERSHED

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Ottawa” forms the border between the two provinces, and much of its watershed as well as headwaters lie in Quebec.

Ottawa Riverkeeper projects include: • “AquaHacking”: Apps for the health of the river. This year’s Ottawa River Summit in Gatineau in May saw the culmination of the AquaHacking competition. Cash prizes were awarded to teams of developers, programmers and designers to create technology-based tools to help water managers and groups like Ottawa Riverkeeper in their daily work to protect the river. Watch the Riverkeeper website for apps you can use to report pollution or share observations and data.

• Who you gonna call if you go to the beach and it’s closed because of sewage pollution? The Swim Guide is a website and a free app for iPhone®, iPad®, iPod touch® and Android. The app has tools enabling you to find the closest place to cool off, information about the e.coli levels of beaches, integrates with GoogleMaps for directions, and has simple tools for reporting pollution issues.

• Ban the (micro) bead and make microplastics history: Lush Cosmetics has partnered with Ottawa Riverkeeper to ban tiny plastic microbeads found in many cosmetics and toothpaste. Riverkeeper Brown says, “The growing problem of microbeads accumulating in our lakes, rivers and oceans must be solved. These tiny plastic particles are

showing up in the guts of aquatic animals and in our beer. Canada must take action to protect our valued freshwater heritage.”

• Engage with the watershed. Become the river’s eyes and ears by joining the 60-plus volunteers who monitor the river from Temiscaming to Lake of Two Mountains.

They test water in a citizen-science water quality test program and tell neighbours how to keep it healthy.

From river shore cleanup days to learning why natural shorelines at cottages and homes are important, Ottawa Riverkeeper is the go-to organization and website. Go. Learn why ripping out trees, shrubs, reeds and grasses from shorelines for beaches, lawns or concrete walls destroys wildlife habitat.  FIND YOUR RIVER AT: ottawariverkeeper.ca info@ottawariverkeeper.ca or 613-321-1120 pollution hotline 888-953-3737 CITIZEN SCIENCE WATER TESTING: www.ottawariverkeeper.ca/ottawa-riverwater-quality From a swim guide to advice on naturalizing shorelines, plus volunteer programs, Riverkeeper is our watershed advocate-guardian

PHOTO BY ERIC FLETCHER

The Ottawa River is almost 1,300 kilometres long, draining an area of 146,300 square kilometres – an area substantially larger than England.

This vast watershed is so much a part of KATHARINE our National Capital FLETCHER Region, Ottawa Valley and Outaouais, it’s easy to forget what it actually symbolizes.

A life force: that’s what.

All life depends upon clean, usable water.

And besides that, people use it for fun.

Snorkelling, wildlife watching, swimming, paddling, skating – you name it, without clean water, our lives would be diminished and threatened.

Canada’s capital is surrounded and fashioned by water. The city lies at the confluence of three historic rivers, the Ottawa, Gatineau, and Rideau. Along the Ottawa River, tributaries like the Coulonge, Dumoine and Noire which flow into the Ottawa from the Quebec side contribute to its volume.

No argument then about the importance of ensuring its protection and cleanliness.

However, despite the presence of 200 municipalities within its watershed, plus a 16-year drinking-water advisory for the Kitigan Zibi First Nation near Maniwaki that’s deep inside the watershed, there are zero government agencies with a mandate or a plan to safeguard the Ottawa River’s health and future.

Enter the Ottawa Riverkeeper.

Founded in 2001, it’s part of the International Waterkeeper Alliance, run by executive director Meredith Brown (she’s known as the Riverkeeper) and Adèle Michon, director of operations for Québec. No surprise here, because “the

www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

Park it for summer in Ontario PROVINCIAL AND NATIONAL PARKS IN THE BOONIES OFFER TRULY DIFFERENT ADVENTURE

By Katharine Fletcher

W

hether backcountry multi-day canoe or hiking trips are your thing, or camping in one of Parks Canada’s oTENTiks (think cabin-tent crossover with beds in a campsite for six) our national and provincial parks systems offer diversity – and fun.

Where to go? Here are some destinations we believe are truly special. Find out why for yourself, starting with Ontario Provincial Parks …

view as much as us, because his painting of Pic is famous.

Go here for camping that looks out over the greatest of the Great Lakes, hiking amid subArctic vegetation, paddling (remember, winds can generate rough waves and wind across this immense lake), and wonderful swimming.

 Lake Superior: 130 kilometres north of Sault Ste. Marie, 15 south of Wawa on the lake’s eastern shore ontarioparks.com/park/lakesuperior There’s world-class paddling under vaulting cliffs, through almost Caribbean-turquoise waters, forested islands and beaches. For us, these natural elements generated feelings of awe.

Being interested in First Nations culture, we hiked the Agawa Rock Trail to see the redochre symbolic pictographs painted on the

cliffs by Ojibwe peoples. One shows Misshepezhieu, the Great Lynx, spirit of the water. He could work for or against humans – calm the waters, or bring wind and storms by thrashing his tail. Misshepezhieu (spelled many different ways) was later immortalized in a painting

by Ojibwa artist Norval Morrisseau.

Go here to fish for trout in a spectacular setting.

 Quetico: about 200 kilometres west of Thunder Bay to Atikokan, then south into the park ontarioparks.com/park/quetico Up for canoeing and wildlife watching amid 460,000 hectares of wilderness with 2,000 lakes? Quetico enables you to paddle to remote backcountry sites where waterfalls and loons are likely neighbours.

We set off in Windigo and pitched our

 Neys: just over 1,200 kilometres from Ottawa on the north shore of Lake Superior, near Marathon. ontarioparks.com/park/neys German prisoners of war were held in Canada during the Second World War, and Neys Provincial Park is on the land that housed them. The visitors centre has a model of Camp 100.

Renowned for its fabulous stretch of sand beach, we discovered Neys while driving across Canada with our homemade cedarstrip canoe, Windigo strapped to the roof, seeking watery adventure. We lingered here, feasting on immense blueberries, and gazing at Pic Island. Group of Seven artist Lawren Harris seems to have enjoyed the

www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

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tent at sundown – not ideal timing, but who cares? Memories of solitude, the majesty of virgin pine forests and endless-seeming lake water still resonate with me.

Go here for family camping at Dawson Trail Campground. Wilderness Skills Weekends in July and August give you and the kids a chance to learn orienteering, firestarting, shelter building and more.

Our look at Canada’s national parks, starts where I did in …

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 Georgian Bay Islands National Park: 450 kilometres west of Ottawa, near Midland, Ont. pc.gc.ca/pn-np/on/georg/natcul/natcul1. aspx When immigrating to Canada from England in 1958, my family visited Georgian Bay’s glacier-sculpted rock islands with wind-tossed white pines and felt we’d touched the heart of our new land.

Nowadays, I long to return and explore

this park’s Canadian Shield rocks, where hot summer hiking on fallen pine needles releases their signature pungency into the air.

All of this park’s trails are on Beausoleil Island, whose northern (Canadian Shield) and southern (mixed forest) ecosystems are completely different.

Go here to book a waterfront cabin for two, take a trip on the Daytripper boat to visit just a handful of this park’s 30,000 islands.

www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

 Bruce Peninsula National Park: 670 kilometres from Ottawa near Tobermory on Lake Huron pc.gc.ca/pn-np/on/bruce/index.aspx and Fathom Five National Marine Park of Canada

 Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site of Canada and Peterborough’s Lock 21, 270 kilometres from Ottawa pc.gc.ca/eng/lhn-nhs/on/trentsevern/visit/ visit6/lock21.aspx I studied at Trent University so I’ve been familiar with Lock 21 for a rather long time.

It’s the highest hydraulic lift lock in the world.

The visitor information centre explains the construction of the 386-kilometre TrentSevern Waterway, which took 87 years to construct in the 19th and early 20th century.

It opened transportation of goods and people from Lake Ontario to Georgian Bay: no won-

der this engineering marvel is a Parks Canada national historic site.

Go there to explore the site, camp in an o-TENTik, and get a sense of the glaciated topography of drumlins and eskers which underpins the Peterborough and Kawarthas area.

You can boat through the entire lock system (Parks Canada permits required) and sit on red Adirondack chairs dotted in pairs along the Trent-Severn. A new program this year, they’re great places to take selfies. ~ Photos by (in order of appearance): FlickrDad, Adam Kahtava, Joe Strupek, Michael Leckman, Masha, John Vetterli 

Hiking the Bruce is on our bucket list to explore the heart of this World Biosphere Reserve, and we haven’t done it yet. Neither have we visited Canada’s first National Marine Park, Fathom Five, which I’ve twinned here because these adjacent parks offer completely different activities.

Fathom Five is internationally recognized as one of the world’s best freshwater diving destinations, because Georgian Bay’s clear waters give superb visibility of shipwrecks as well as underwater formations.

Go to the Bruce and Fathom Five together, to take in breathtaking terrestrial and marine ecosystems

Introduction to canoe-camping Learn the basics and the joys of canoe-camping with a passionate, qualified guide. All the food, a fully equipped canoe and most of the camping gear are included. Accessible by bus.

English: July 11-12 • French: July 18-19

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(819) 435-2331 - 1-888-435-2331 From mid-Sept. to mid-Mai (514) 252-3001 info@canot-camping.ca www.canot-camping.ca Ad_½_page_CCLV_O_outdoors_2015.indd www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

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Your Great Room is the Great Outdoors

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View these spectacular products on-line or visit our outdoor display at 100 Bayview Road where your ideas come to life.

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DOLLAR STORES A BOON TO CAMPERS They’ve got the small stuff to make camping comfy

By Allen Macartney

You’ll find a wide selection of rope, thick and thin, nylon cord, short and long bungee cords, as well as light tarps – perfect for setting up over a picnic table if rain threatens. Pick up a clear plastic sheet (an instant picnic table cover), and wicker picnic mats for when you want to sit on the ground near the beach for a meal with a view.

A dollar store hand broom works for sweeping out the tent each day. Grit can quickly build up, and it kills a tent floor fast.

Sparklers for campfires, light sticks for nighttime scavenger hunts, and zany cartoonish props for skits add zest to the evening campfire.

And treats: candy, chocolate and gum.

Rainy days? They happen, and pass easier with crossword puzzles, Sudoku and word searches. If you’re backpacking and need to save on weight, look for miniature checker and chess boards.

Not all dollar stores offer the same selection, so poke around a few of them to build your camping kit. And if some of your equipment gets wrecked, soaked, scorched, torn or blown away, it’s easy to just toss it. After all, it’s from the dollar store.

FINAL WORDS

New readers out there might be thinking about camping but don’t want to spend a pile of cash and then discover they don’t even like it (well, a few maybe).

Experienced campers know there’s a lot of basic camping gear no further away than the local dollar store. For comfort and safety, a quality (uh, expensive) tent and sleeping bag are a must, so borrow these from friends. But lots of my camping supplies come from the dollar store.

Don’t believe me? Matches, lighters, candles, can-openers, cutlery and kitchen knives are all available in a wide range of fashionable colours. (Not that fashion matters much in the middle of Gatineau Park or a remote provincial campground.) The dollar store can quickly fill any kitchen pack with anything and everything – bamboo barbecue skewers, wire barbecue grills, wash cloths, pot scrubbers and clothes pegs. Cheap plastic food containers keep ants at bay, while lightweight coffee mugs and plastic wine glasses add class to rustic dining. www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

I used to haul two plywood cutting boards in my pack over long portage trails. But then I found thin, rollable plastic cutting boards at the dollar store. Now I carry two – one for meat and the other for veggies.

If you’ve discovered camping is for you, go out and buy an excellent tent, sleeping bags and mats. Get advice from outdoors store staff – they’re often diehard campers working for the cash to travel and camp. Buy a medium grade green tarp (10 by 18 feet), and a multi-fuel camp stove. These will guarantee comfortable camping for years. The rest is at the dollar store. 

3-Hour Trips

Whitewater, Nature & History!

The Perfect Outdoor Group Activity in Ottawa for Families, Corporate Team Building and Visitors!

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HOTCLOTHING FOR THE SUMMER SEASON MEN'S LOAFER™ 2 PANT | $75 A travel pant with good looks, big comfort, and great wrinkleresistance. The Loafer is incredibly easy to wash and wear, and will be the first thing you throw in your suitcase when heading out on the road. It’s made from a fabric blend that’s predominantly cotton, with just a bit of spandex added in for increased comfort, stretch, and performance. A stellar traveler! Look for it where Mountain Hardwear products are sold.

WOMEN’S ZERO RULES™ SHORT SLEEVE SHIRT | $44.99 A super-cooling tech tee with feminine flair, this soft and lightweight V-neck tee sports Columbia’s industry-leading Omni-Freeze® ZERO technology that reacts with your sweat to lower the material’s temperature to keep you cool during dynamic aerobic activity in the heat.

Available in additional colours. Look for it where Columbia products are sold.

MEN'S MONTRAIL FLUID™ ENDURO LEATHER OUTDRY | $150 Keep the Montrail Fluid™ Enduro Leather Outdry® shoe on hand for all your impromptu outdoor adventures. Ready for anything, this men's multisport hiking shoe has a mesh upper topped with full-grain leather overlays for support; an OutDry® membrane delivers dependable waterproof protection.

The FluidFoam™ cushioning midsole is flanked

by FluidFrame™, making this an ideal shoe for pronation control. Underfoot, the Gryptonite™ outsole is equipped with multi-directional lugs to take on a variety of surface conditions. Look for it where Montrail products are sold.

PARIS SLEEVELESS T-NECK Stylish all year-round, this sleeveless top adds delicate charm to any casual outfit. Available in seven colours.

Look for it where Pure Handknit products are sold.k MEN’S ZERO RULES™ POLO SHIRT | $44.99 With Omni-Freeze® ZERO technology, this member of the Zero Rules™ collection is the coolest of them all. This comfort-stretch with a modern fit tee provides Omni-SHADE® UPF 50 sun protection and Omni-WICK® high-performance wicking fabric, which is just what your sweltering torso is seeking.

Available in additional colours. Look for it where Columbia products are sold.

MUSEUM PULLOVER A sophisticated dolman sleeve pullover with a back tie detail upgrades a pair of jeans. Tie can be reversible. Look for it where Pure Handknit products are sold.k

WOMEN'S MIGHTY ACTIVA™ CROP PANT | $60 Crop pant with the perfect mix of style, comfort, and athletic performance. With its crop style, this training pant looks great whether you’re out trail-running or just hitting the gym. Made of a stretchy, fast-drying fabric enhanced with Wick.Q™ moisture-wicking technology, the Mighty Activa keeps you cool and dry while offering maximum mobility and comfort. Look for it where Columbia products are sold. Look for it where Mountain Hardwear products are sold.

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MEN'S MONTRAIL MOLOKAI | $70 A Montrail classic, the original thermomoldable flip flop offers incredible comfort and performance. Cushioned fabric lining, with lugged synthetic sole Look for it where Montrail products are sold.

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SPOTLIGHT: WILD ADVENTURES CANDADA & JUSTIN BELLON

Your Guided All-Inclusive Adventure Awaits

FOR FAMILY, FRIENDS & ADVENTURERS

WILD ADVENTURES CANADA Wild Adventures Canada specializes in guided all-inclusive adventure trips through Algonquin Provincial Park, Killarney Provincial Park, Bruce Peninsula National Park, and the French River.

• Family Canoe Adventure • Classic Canoe Adventure • Exclusive Guided Adventure • Full and Half Day Guided Adventures • Women's Adventure Retreat • Interior Backpacking Adventure We provide our guests with top-of-theline equipment to keep you comfortable, and experienced guides to keep you safe.

Take your Canadian wilderness adventures with us.

WHAT IS INCLUDED • Professional guide • Camping equipment - backpack, tent, air mattress, sleeping bag with liner • Snacks and delicious home cooked meals (no freeze dried food) • Camping and parking permits WHAT TO EXPECT • World-Class Wildlife viewing - moose, deer, beavers, and loons can all be seen • Fishing for Algonquin’s legendary speckled trout • Day hiking • Scavenging for wild edibles • Safety instruction

influential ABOUT US surrounded my life in the most has s nes der wil ’s ada Can , ber From as early as I can remem bert and his buddies would travel deep inside the Canadian his ow way. My Grandfather Bernard Lamhy size speckled trout. Little did I know I would eventually foll trop t tha of re... backcountry in search But my adventure did not start the s would footsteps to that very same place. Algonquin Park became a second home. As a child, my parentthe in Paddling around Rock Lake Exploring and learning about the rivers, trails, and islands of uld set e. t wo take me there for weeks at a timed freedom. I didn’t know it then, but it would be this spot tha ain xpl une secluded lake was an d territory. His close friends me on a path of greatness. er craved seclusion and unexplore fath my r, lore exp s nes der th of the French River. Dad wil sou t Like any to for years jus ng goi n bee had y the t spo a ut learnt the skills had mentioned to him abo spot where my passion evolved and this be uld wo it and e ng the skills to rid rni the lea for ps, brought me a long ame a canoe tripper at various cam bec I , trip t tha er Aft . rs” doo out to “live in the ch as we can guide professionally. ng, enjoying and learning as muat I feel most livi h wit re mo and l, viva sur h based upon, and wh We’re concerned less wit ndation that every trip we offer is hest about the outdoors! This is the fou rs. Wild Adventures Canada supplies our guests with the higto inspire doo is out job r the Ou ut als. abo me ng ry gourmet people get wro t epic st on the most delicious backcount quality equipment, and will fea Whether it is the chance to see a family of moose,conquer thaelling with re. trav mo ve for atever your reason, and make our guests cra you could only get at the top. Wh , and fill your trip with memories ngs hike, or witness that majestic view ndi comfortable with your surrou us, we want to make sure you’re that will last a lifetime. ad Guide Justin Bellon | Director and He

BOOK YOUR GUIDED TRIP: 1.800.547.5072 | info@wildadventurescanada.com

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Justin Bellon

CAVES ARE COOL, IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE Ottawa-Gatineau has an underworld to explore

By Andrea Cranfield

I

f summer heat and humidity start to get under your sweaty skin, go down to escape. Way down. Underground in fact, into one of the many caves located within an easy drive from Ottawa.

Climbing into a dark crevice maybe shared by bats might not sound like a barrel of laughs but it’s exciting and fun.

Touching rocks shaped by millions of years of seeping water, walking with the earth’s surface many metres overhead, seeing fossils tracking the cave’s history makes delving into caves a memorable summer activity.

So Ottawa Outdoor Magazine asked several cave managers about what’s going on down there, and here’s what they had to say: Wear non-slip walking or hiking footwear and bring a sweater or jacket because it gets cool underground. Wearing clothes you don’t mind getting dirty is also a good idea. A head lamp lets you use your hands, and in some cases a safety helmet is recommended. And don’t forget your camera.

Contact each cave to find out when they’re open, and whether tours are available.

Taking a break at Lusk Cave.

BONNECHERE CAVES, 1247 Fourth Chute Road, Eaganville, Ont. These caves appeared on the first map of the Bonnechere River in 1853, made by Alexander Murray, a geographer for the government of what was then Canada West, today’s Ontario.

The caves are a postglacial formation in limestone that dates back to the Ordovician Period about 450 to 500 million years ago.

Visitors can expect to see fossils and finely formed passageways, experience absolute dark, and learn the area’s history and geology from friendly, knowledgeable staff.

The Bonnechere Caves are an extensive and accessible cave system, which at their deepest point go about 25 metres down.

There is no place where you have to crawl or squeeze, and bats hibernate in winter when the caves are closed to the public. The lights go out for a few minutes every tour to show visitors what “absolute dark” looks like. The temperature hovers around 10 to 12 degrees.

LUSK CAVE in Gatineau Park.

From the Lac Philippe campground, it’s a two-hour hike to Lusk Cave, formed about 11,000 years ago, when glaciers from the last Ice Age melted. Even today, water from a stream through the cave continues to erode the marble from its walls.

Even beginners can enjoy exploring this geological gem, with a minimum of equipment and preparation. The galleries, which follow the underground stream, are about 100 metres long and the water level can be as high as a metre or more.

This is a more or less horizontal cave, with a few open spots to get in or get out.

Think of it as a sort of tunnel a few metres under the surface. Some tunnel sections are only one or two metres across, others wider. There are no boardwalks, stairs, ladders or electrical lighting. And the stream flows constantly, even in dry weather, even in winter under the ice, though it’s off limits to winter visitors when the bats are hibernating.

WARSAW CAVES, northeast of Peterborough by about 20 minutes, near the village of Warsaw.

This is not a single cave, but a series of seven along a trail of less than a kilometre, carved out of limestone bedrock by meltwaters of a glacier that covered Ontario 10,000 years ago. They’ve been known locally probably since the mid-to-late 1800s.

Exploring Bonnechere Caves is a must this summer!

Bruce Cave promises to be an adventure.

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www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

Each of the seven caves is different, some easy to navigate, others more challenging, some open to the sky in places. Cave number 4 is the ice cave, much colder than the others, often with ice into June or early July.

It’s like a jungle gym down there, with stairs and handrails. You can walk through some parts, but in other places you have to squeeze, wiggle or crawl. Expect to get dirty and enjoy an adventure that’s a little bit off the beaten track. The surrounding park has 15 kilometres of hiking trails, a picnic area, beach for swimming, a campground and canoe rentals. And plenty of wildlife. Check out the background material at warsawcaves.com.

TYENDINAGA CAVERN AND CAVES, about 20 minutes northeast of Belleville on Harmony Road.

This cave has been visited by people for over 200 years and the current owners started operation 21 years ago to offer guided tours through this large cavern.

Although the cave has been preserved in a natural state “as much as possible,” stone stairs, terraces and handrails have been added to make it more accessible.

Tyendinaga Cavern is estimated to be 100,000 years old, and its fossil exhibit has specimens dating back 300 to 450 million years. You descend 10 metres below the surface into the main cavern, which is about seven metres high at the highest point. The cavern is well lit, but during the tour there’s a moment of complete darkness. Several species of bats hibernate here.

ARBRASKA LAFLÈCHE CAVES, 255 Rte. Principale, Val-des-monts, Que., 30 minutes from downtown Ottawa.

The cave was discovered in 1865 by a bear hunter. Zephyre Laflèche commer-

cialized the site in 1937 and opened it to cave explorers and the public. Visitors will learn about the history of the cave and its geology. For example, a black layer a few centimetres thick was found in 2010 during an exploration of a crawlway by local cave explorers. It was identified by the University of Ottawa Geology lab to be about 13,000 years old. It’s called a black

mat, and this is the only cave in Canada to have this kind of layer preserved from a catastrophic event.

The best time to visit these caves is during January, February and March because ice stalagmites almost three metres high and a metre and a half wide form in the big room. And plenty of bats are hooked onto the cave roof, asleep. 

Dress warmly when enjoying the one hour tour of Laflèche Caves.

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ottawaoutdoors I 27

GOURMET LUNCHES+ DINNERS BEERS/WINES JAZZ

Another reason to love W a k e f i e l d

COME FOR LUNCH OR DINNER+JAZZ Located in Wakefield Quebec (25 minutes from Ottawa), Terrasse Radisson is a purveyor of fine Artisan Charcuterie and Cheese. Located inside the original Wakefield Inn. Focusing on Quebec artisanal produce, enjoy creative and quality sandwiches, charcuterie and cheese plates prepared with care.

This unique restaurant creates an opportunity to both sample and purchase fabulous products prepared with caring and creativity.

Join us for Dinner and Live music Saturday nights from 5pm until 10pm. Wine pairings and a fine selection of charcuterie and cheese! Reservations required for parties of 8 or more.

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Paddle, hike, fish – then relax at rustic island cottages BRYSON LAKE LODGE OFFERS SPECTACULAR NATURE IN THE PONTIAC OUTBACK

By Katharine Fletcher | Photos by Eric Fletcher

“W

e leased this 140 square kilometres … back in 1993.

My father and I had come here fishing for years as guests of the previous owners so when it became available, we jumped at it.”

This is Denis LeBrun talking about the five years of cleaning, renovating, building that came next. “Over time, we updated existing cabins, built new ones plus the main lodge – and everything you see here,” It’s a broad sweep he describes, taking in tidy outbuildings for boats and machines, a mechanic’s shop, staff accommodations, and large log lodge with game room, stone fireplace, and a shop for tackle and bait, bug repellant, fishing licences, and the like.

Lakeside, it’s cabins and their docks, plus a mini-marina.

Later, he and his wife Laurel LeBrun added a treehouse which their kids now share with guests’ youngsters. There’s a playground, a shower house, and the lake which stretches as far as your eye can see, to the horizon.

Truly, we’re in the back of beyond. Located in Pontiac region of the Outaouais (West Quebec), Bryson Lake Lodge is remote –

200 kilometres from Ottawa – with final access a bit of a drive north from Fort Coulonge along a rough gravel road. (Call Denis first before heading up. Road conditions can alter dramatically, and Google Maps got it wrong – there is only one road into the Lodge.) Think adventure, and you’ll be absolutely a-okay, as we were.

The all-important fish house awaits on the lake shore: it’s here fishers go to clean pike, walleye, lake or brook trout. (yes, Bryson Lake has the Big Four – when you get your quota of one species, you can catch and keep others, depending on their size.) I was dubious I’d ever enter the fish house because I never catch fish. Neither does Eric.

Happily, our bad-luck reputations were soon to become past tense.

“Why don’t you settle in, and tomorrow we’ll go fishing?” said Denis. That sounded good and besides, the lake was shrouded in dense fog, so exploring its unknown reaches by canoe didn’t seem wise. We’d fish tomorrow evening. So we unloaded our gear into Cabin 12 and headed outside to capture ethereal photos of the lake with a haunting loon serenade for background.

Fishing from a dock on a misty evening at Bryson Lake Lodge.

The cabins are what I call “rustic.” This means full housekeeping cottages with toilets, fridges and microwaves, but bring your own towels, pillows, bedlinens – and food.

No worries: we had a splendid time, and the wood fireplace in the cabin banished the evening chill.

Morning dawned and we hiked in glorious sunshine into what I dubbed “the enchanted forest” with filtered sunlight, lush vegetation, and birdlife combining into something magical. I spotted warblers (black-throated blue, American redstart and others) while red squirrels scolded as we passed by. The forest is rocky, so we were glad of our hiking boots.

That afternoon we piled into the LeBrun boat to tour the cabins dotted about the lake. Now I know which I’d like to rent next: cabin Number 5 is on a long, thin island where Group of Seven, windswept white pines sigh in the lake breezes. Great swimming, I noted, and perfect privacy. All the cabins had their individual charm, and several are big enough for larger groups.

Twilight brought fishing. Out we went with Denis onto a protected bay where our reputations remained intact. There were no fish for us, although he caught three walleye – two too big to keep; one too small.

Denis explained that Quebec’s catch and release program means “older, larger fish are protected so we can maintain the gene pool, while younger, smaller fish are allowed to grow.”

In fact, we were hugely impressed with Denis and Laurel’s attention to environmental protection of their land. Their website features hunting, and I had wondered

Fresh Brook Trout for lunch at Bryson Lake Lodge!

www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

ottawaoutdoors I 29

Katharine and outfitter Denis LeBrun with freshly caught Brook Trout.

whether we’d be comfortable there, because we aren’t hunters – we shoot wildlife with cameras. But Denis assured us. “We adhere to strict limits and work with the wardens from the ministry to ensure we’re following

all environmental regulations. They can and do come to inspect – and we have a stellar record. As well, all our guests use the

meat of the animal they take: it’s not just trophy shooting here.”

Thoughtfully, he added, “It’s the only way to go, you know. We must respect wildlife and the ecosystem here; it’s our responsibility.”

Good words to live by and reflect upon.

The next morning off we went to another, smaller and quieter lake. “We’ll go here,” said Denis, “because it’s so windy today.

This lake is sheltered and I’ll go out on a limb and say you’ll catch a fish here, you guys.”

We did. I outdid myself by a stretch.

Jigging for brook trout – brook “char,” Denis corrected – I caught seven. Eric caught one – the largest – and Denis two.

So I got to use the fish house after all.

If you want adventure in a back-ofbeyond beautiful lodge, it’s a long drive, but worth it. Go for the paddling. Go for the views, wildlife watching, hiking, treasure hunts and fishing. Take the children or grandchildren and introduce them to a Canadian-style “camp” lodge where everyone can listen to Denis’ tales.

You won’t regret it for an instant. 

BEFORE YOU GO, CHECK OUT …

• Domaine du Lac Bryson Lake Lodge: lacbryson.com, with a link for directions • Outaouais Tourism: tourismeoutaouais.com • Pontiac tourism: http://tourisme-pontiac.com

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ADVENTURE TRAVEL

A WEST COAST TALE

FIVE FRIENDS FOR SEVEN DAYS ON THE PACIFIC RIM

By Jenna Thompson

T

wo trailheads—Gordon River in the north, Pachena at the south end – invited five hikers into a 75-kilometre trek either direction along the southwestern coast of Vancouver Island.

On this August adventure we encountered mud, tree roots, unpredictable weather and magnificent isolated shoreline. There were lighthouses, dangerous surge channels, suspension bridges and cable cars. There are ladders and more ladders to help in the really hard parts, but they don’t head off the blisters and backaches.

This is the stuff the West Coast Trail in Pacific Rim National Park. One of the best hikes in Canada, it follows an old telegraph line that helped shipwreck survivors along “the Graveyard of the Pacific.” Thousands of hikers from around the world tackle it every year.

We attended mandatory orientation with about 20 other hikers before setting out from Gordon River to our first stop at Thrasher Cove. The notice board told us there had been 46 evacuations for medical conditions and injuries already that. (But Parks Canada won’t send a boat to take you off the trail it you’re just exhausted or out of food.)

The staff also told us about tsunami warning signals like an earthquake or suddenly reced-

32 I ottawaoutdoors

ing sea water and the urgent necessity to get to high ground fast.

When trail school was finished the five of us boarded the ferry across Gordon River to the south trailhead.

After months of preparation and flying all the way from Ontario just to do this hike, we were giddy with eagerness to be finally there.

Since hikers can start at the north or the south end, we met people coming the other way, nearing the end of their hike. We wondered what they thought of our bright eyes, big smiles and clean clothes; the way they looked was what we might look like in seven days.

Along the trail we came upon a rusting donkey engine from the trail’s logging days and climbed the first of the many wooden ladders

to help hikers handle the rugged terrain. We spent our first night at Thrasher Cove, soaking in the last sunshine before our beach campsite fell into shadow.

Then it was early to bed – tomorrow would be a long day. In the night we heard a commotion from nearby campers who learned the hard way to pitch their tent above the high tide line.

On our second day we planned to hike from Thrasher Cove to Cullite Creek, so we were up before the sun at 4 a.m. We chose the beach route instead of the inland route for this section, which meant timing our trek to match low tide (tide tables are a must on the trail). The beach route was a wonderful choice.

The first section is full of boulders, “as big as houses” some said, and we could explore the caves at Owen Point, accessible only at low tide. Then we got to the first of the trail’s cable cars, loaded ourselves and gear aboard, and rode across the stream – almost like ziplining!

In one section we were atop cliffs looking down at the water, with lush, ferny forest close to the cliff edge. Here the trail was muddy, and we all went ker-splut into it at least once before reaching Cullite Cove. It forms a sort of amphitheatre facing the ocean. with rock walls on each side amplifying the crashing of the waves into an awesome orchestra. From that sublime experience, we moved onto the banal as departing campers warning us to hang up our gear to avoid mice. One friend didn’t, and found her toilet paper chewed to bits the next morning.

On the third day, heading to Carmanah Point from Cullite Cove, we had heard there might be a bear in the area, so we sang pop songs enthusiastically to keep it at bay. We saw no bears, but wildlife was abundant: thousands of gulls on the beach, a squadron of pelicans cruising by, tidal pools teeming with marine critters, and seals, sea lions and deer along the way. After some boardwalk bog-walking and more ladders, we had the right tide timing to continue along the beach.

www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

Hiking the beach is a neat idea (this is the coast after all), but we learned quickly that walking on sand is a struggle, and slow. Boots sink in with every step, and the weight of a pack is no help.

We camped at Carmanah because it’s near Monique, the doyen of the trail. Monique, whose husband is a member of the Ditidaht first nation, has set up a “restaurant” of sorts (a tarp structure with patio furniture) on the trail, and the couple boat in supplies and food from Port Renfrew. We were willing to pay any price for fresh edibles, and a can of Kokanee beer had never tasted so good.

On day four to Tsusiat I was sore enough that I really didn’t want to move, let alone hike. I regretted bringing a cheap blue foam pad instead of a proper Thermarest. We made a repeat visit to Monique for breakfast, and her eggs, toast and hash browns fueled us for the morning.

www.ottawaoutdoors.ca

We climbed the hill to check out Carmanah lighthouse, then trekked on through mud, bridges, broken boardwalks and tangled tree roots. At Nitinat Narrows, the only way across a creek was a Ditidaht-run ferry, but we delayed boarding until after feasting on some local fresh crab.

I had my first blister and was limping, but it seemed worth it when we got to Tsusiat Falls where a sheet of water cascades over a 10-metre cliff. This had been our longest and hardest day at 21 kilometres.

Despite the aches and pains, we were ahead of schedule and stayed in camp on our fifth day to relax and enjoy the falls. But clouds and fog rolled in and we spent the day confined to our tents with the distinct smell of sweaty, dirty hikers. So under the falls we went for a shower.

It was freezing!

Since we were near trail’s end, we figured out how much food we would need and ate the rest – we had been rationing carefully and didn’t want to carry more than necessary. That night we enjoyed our first campfire with hot chocolate and popcorn – downright luxurious.

On day six we hit the trail again from Tsusiat to Michigan, and I was hurting everywhere, especially the soles of my feet. Though the trail was noticeably easier at this end, we were exhausted. When we got to the Michigan camping area, it was covered with beach buoys that people have found and carved. I found one on the shore and carved our names in it with my Swiss Army knife.

On our last day to the Pachena trailhead we were in rainforest, with the key word being rain. We’d been lucky with a week of beautiful sunshine and only half a day of light rain.

Most West Coast Trail stories involve rain and mud and we wondered if we needed to hike the whole thing again to get the authentic experience. Uh, not right away – my pack felt like it was full of bricks. Everyone was in high spirits and we could taste the beer and hot food, and feel the warm showers and soft mattresses coming our way.

This was the first major backpacking trip for three of our hikers. But everyone was very fit, and my spouse and I made sure they were properly equipped and knew what to expect.

That said, my advice for anyone thinking about the West Coast Trail is try a two- to three-day overnight hike ahead of time to figure out what gear you need, and don’t need, and to make sure you have the stamina.

Then go for it.

The West Coast Trail is open May 1 to Sept.

30. Make reservations well in advance.

More information is a www.pc.gc.ca/eng/pnnp/bc/pacificrim/index.aspx. 

ottawaoutdoors I 33

ADVENTURE TRAVEL

SURFING AND SERENITY ON NOVA SCOTIA’S EASTERN SHORE Less-travelled region is fun to explore Story and images by Katharine Fletcher

“Do you know what these mounds are?” the outfitter-guide asked our group of five kayakers.

No one did, so Dr. Scott Cunningham explained. “These are middens – garbage piles – left from old First Nations summer settlements. These outlying barrier islands we’re exploring provided protection from the ocean, so Mi’kmaq harvested shellfish, fish and marine animals here.”

This knowledge was a perfect fit with Cunningham’s company, Coastal Adventures. He was correct about protection from the ocean along Nova Scotia’s lesser-known Eastern Shore. After leaving base camp in Tangier (about an hour east of Halifax), we paddled through astonishingly calm waters alongside rocky harbours, beaches, and islands. Thick kelp beds, ruggedly pretty islands with sand beaches, bald eagles and seals greeted us.

Ashore, Cunningham showed us the difference between the islands’ gentler, leeward

side and the severely stunted trees of the windward reaches. These were clues to the stiff winds and sometimes brutal onslaught of weather which doesn’t quite make it to the mainland.

Although I only paddled here for half a day on their Eastern Shore Islands tour, I’m longing to return, to spend a five-day combo of sea-kayaking and camping. And no worries: Coastal Adventures provides the kayaks and a comprehensive checklist of what to bring.

From paddling to surfing, Nova Scotia offers lots to keen outdoorsy types. I was astonished to hear there’s a surf school here – and my inner “water baby” couldn’t wait to go to surf school.

About a half hour from Halifax, East Coast Surf School’s Nico Manos accepts beginners like me through to pros, turning them on to surfing at Lawrencetown Beach.

With us all lined up on the beach, boards in hand, looking like seals in our black neoprene

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wetsuits, he cried, “Surfing’s easy! Just lie on your board, lift your body like you’re doing a plank, swing your left leg in front of you and stand up!”

Right: “Just” is such a big word. My leg refused to co-operate while I practised on the sand, so I suspected my “technique” would go south on the water. I was right, but who cares?

We three women had a blast laughing at one another’s watery face plants. Annoyingly, both of our male companions nimbly managed to get up and surf, but later admitted they’d done it before. Try it. It’s good fun and who knows, maybe you’ll tick off another sport you can enjoy.

Precisely because of its proximity to Halifax and good roads, the Eastern Shore is accessible yet feels surprisingly untouched because there are fewer tourists here than in this

EASTERN SHORE CONTACTS INCLUDE: • threeshoresnovascotia.com • eastern-shorenovascotia.com • novascotia.com • ecsurfschool.com • coastaladventures.com • heritagevillage.ca • sherbrookevillage.novascotia.ca

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province’s more pastoral regions. It reminded me of the Ottawa Valley because of its natural beauty and intriguing mix of First Nations, then European exploration and settlement.

Many of the farms across the rural landscape have an Acadian heritage, a French-language connection that provides another link to the National Capital Region.

After water-based sports, we were ready for terrestrial fun. Enter Liscombe Lodge Resort, where we hiked along the 10-kilometre Liscomb River trail through forests where boulders ground by glaciers dot the riverscape.

We crossed a suspension bridge and found the fish ladder used to help restock Atlantic salmon (the salmon run peaks in July). Other, shorter trails beckon, and there’s wildlife to see, so pack binoculars.

For anyone interested in how the east coast developed after the Europeans arrived, the Eastern Shore boasts two excellent historical villages, featuring different eras of settlement.

Memory Lane Heritage Village animates life in the 1940s and ’50s, with interpretive staff dressed in Forties’ fashion. From learning how boats were constructed at the boathouse, to visiting the one-room schoolhouse, volunteers explain how things were done.

Equally fascinating is the sprawling Sherbrooke Village where the late 19th century springs to life. Blacksmith Tony Huntley welcomed us to try our hand at his forge.

He explained, “The village blacksmith was the kingpin of the community; not only did he shoe horses and oxen, he fashioned and mended indispensable tools.”

Lingering is delightful along the Eastern Shore. Breathe deeply of the salt air, ease a kayak into the ocean, or like I did, take the plunge (literally) as you try surfing. There’s no rush. 

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ottawaoutdoors I 35

EASE IN TO FIRST-TIME OVERNIGHT CAMPING

By Craig Macartney

C

amping is fun, but only if you’re prepared for it. Otherwise, it can become frustrating and cold very quickly. Weather can change without warning and a would-be camper sitting under a tree, soaking wet and wondering how to set up the tent, is having no fun at all. You don’t want that. When camping stays fun, you get hooked for life. Here’s how.

GET READY

Start with a low-stress trip and build from there. A simple overnight or weekend at a nearby park – one that offers conveniences like toilets, showers and driers.

If you’re too ambitious, bad weather and

unfamiliar gear can overwhelm any fun you might have.

GET SET

Be prepared. Try out the important stuff before you leave home. Set up your tent in

the backyard the day before you leave, to ensure you have all the pieces and nothing is broken or torn. If you’ve never lit a fire on

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ACTIVE ADVENTURES your own, practise. It isn’t as easy as it looks or sounds in books or the movies, especially when the wood was rained on last night. Test your camp stove, and test the cook’s skills.

Make sure you know how to use it, and it’s not leaking gas.

Be like Santa – make a list of necessary stuff and check it twice – once when you’re packing gear and a second time as you load it into your car.

Expect rain. The weather channel isn’t always right. Pack for rain even if the forecast calls for sun.

GO

With extra socks, a tuque and a knife. Dry socks are essential for any adventure, especially on a cold night after a day of hiking. A tuque fits the old adage: “Cold feet? Put on a hat.” A good knife is a basic survival tool, and useful in countless ways around a campsite.

With a tarpaulin, and set it up as soon as you reach the site – even under sunny skies.

(Wise campers say this alone will guarantee excellent weather.) Find a good location near your tent, but not right beside it, to set up a kitchen, store food, and eat. A tarp will keep you dry in rain, and shaded on hot days. Make sure you slant it so rain is directed away from your tent.

With a sleeping mat. A thick sleeping mat keeps you off the cold ground, and warm.

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ottawaoutdoors I 37

DIG IN And create a shallow two- to three-centimetre-deep trench around your tent. One corner should lead away to your campsite’s low ground. Even in a downpour this trench will keep rain flowing away from your tent.

TURN IN Fluff up your sleeping bag before bed.

You’ll be amazed how much warmer you’ll be. Flattened sleeping bag material does not hold body warmth worth a darn.

And if you think you’re comfortable now, wait until you survey the wonders of dawn from a warm sleeping bag. 

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The WoodSource is Ottawa’s premier specialty wood store with over 60 years of experience serving the region’s wood and milling needs. Ask us about our vast array of woods, including a range of hardwoods, eastern white pine, as well as a variety of exotic woods for that special project. We also specialize in custom mouldings, and can duplicate any profile you could think of. If it’s related to wood, there’s a good chance you’ll find it at the Source...the WoodSource!

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ottawaoutdoors I 39

DOG ‘SLEDDING’ WITHOUT THE SNOW

By Andrea Cranfield | Photos: Cindy Lottes Photography

A

pack of dogs flies over smooth ground, tongues out and flapping, sleek, athletic bodies covering great distances with every stride.

They run faster and faster as the pack’s excitement builds, each dog fueled by the others, working effortlessly to tow the heavy load.

They are quiet as they run, different from the pre-race tumult when they barked and wailed, raring to go, right up until the cart brake is released … and they’re off!

And then silence except for the sound of the cart wheels grinding like a car which went off the road, and squeals of delight from the passengers, thrilled by the speed – up to 34 km/hour.

Dogsledding has always been an appealing option for families during the cold winter months, but they’re still “sledding” in summer at Timberland Tours in Bristol, Que., about 45 minutes west of downtown Ottawa.

Timberland owner Denis Rozon has been mushing for 42 years, and opened the company in 2008, offering summer sledding that same year. The same sled track is used summer and winter, winding through a red pine forest, and people “come from Europe, they come from everywhere, Australia, everywhere” to use it, he said.

The main difference between summer and winter dog sledding is the cart. Instead of runners under the sled, the cart sits on big wheels that roll along as the dogs run. In winter, the dogs pull two people at a time, one sitting in a small sled while the other stands and steers. Then the riders can switch. In summer, up to 10 dogs (compared to three to five in winter) haul big metal carts that hold up to 10 people while Rozon drives.

Put aside about half a day if you go to Timberland because it’s not just about the sledding. Rozon loves his dogs and wants his customers to be able to bond with them.

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Moose McGuire’s is an exciting new family-owned neighbourhood pub in both Ottawa South and Almonte.

Moose’s is a collaboration of 3 service-minded industry vets with a combined 60years of hospitality experience.

The freshest and tastiest pub fare in the city.

Always delicious and reasonably priced, from our 5 star kitchen.

Weekly Chef-created specials.

Book our private room for groups gatherings.

TWO LOCATIONS!

3320 McCarthy Rd. Ottawa, ON 613.680.4411

385 Ottawa St. Almonte, ON 613.256.2555

At Moose’s we serve the freshest and tastiest pub fare in the city. Always delicious and reasonably priced, you’ll enjoy everything that comes out of our 5-star kitchen.

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“It’s an experience that is very special,” said Rozon. Riders “help to harness the dogs and build the team, that’s why it lasts half a day, they get an introduction to the dogs … when they go back home they can say ‘I know how to build a sled dog team.’”

There is much attention paid to temperature at Timberland. In winter, the dogs run for about an hour, but summer runs last only about 20 minutes – otherwise it’s simply too hot for the dogs. Summer tours are only offered in the mornings when it’s cooler.

Even though most of the dogs are hound mixes with short hair, they still overheat if they run too hard under the blazing sun.

After sledding, it’s hot dogs cooked over an open fire and a visit to Rozon’s collection of photos, medals and trophies accumulated over the past four decades.

And it’s not only about making sure the people have fun. The dogs do too.

In Rozon’s words, “They love to run.” 

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CLICK YOUR WAY THROUGH THE WEB TO OPEN THE OUTDOOR WORLD

By Allen Macartney

Where to go to watch a video on camping techniques, learn a new paddle stroke, or just get pumped by other people’s adventures? A general Google search provides a mind-numbing blizzard of options, so there must be a better way.

There are great websites with everything from camp crafts and wilderness survival, to high speed cycling and advanced paddling – something for everyone. All offer links to other sites to drill down deeper. Start with … www.youtube.com/watch?v=HF1sIdPlWvg Camp Fortune’s downhill mountain-biking trails are rugged, very, but doable for intermediate to advanced riders. This site puts you in the saddle for a fast, bum-jarring thrill through forests, over bridges, rocks, embankments and mud. Are you up to the challenge? Don’t try it without the proper training and equipment (like helmet and leather gloves).

If this rugged video trip doesn’t switch you on, try Googling “Gatineau Park” and “cycling” for slower-paced touring videos. www.youtube.com/watch?v=cgfWoaJM2c0 Gatineau’s Becky Mason offers a visually stunning medley of YouTube videos that demonstrate advanced solo paddling techniques.

These spectacularly videos make learning easy and raise paddling to an art form – a virtual ballet on water.

This site will lead you to other videos that include Bill Mason’s (Becky’s father) instructional classic movies, Path of the Paddle and Water Walker. Other videos here demonstrate how to empty a swamped canoe, paddle with a buddy, and canoe rescues. www.youtube.com/watch?v=88QosNCLbBA

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Ray Mears is one of the world’s top survival experts and he’s produced a range of videos covering activities like building a shelter, how pre-historic people made fire, “hobo fishing” (using anything handy to rig a line) and more. He travels the globe for the BBC gleaning survival tips from groups as diverse as Genghis Khan’s army as history records it, Siberian nomads, Second World War guerrillas and Britain’s aboriginal tribes. Want to learn camping basics? Mears offers camp craft videos covering just about every subject imaginable. www.youtube.com/watch?v=tT58RoqDOpo Called Tips for Camping in the Rain, this 10-minute video has been viewed by almost a million people – for good reason. It offers tips that apply not only to wet days but dry ones too. The video is geared to fastpaced learning, and the music is inspiring.

So next time you’re house-bound and dreaming outdoor dreams, let your imagination surf and soar, click by click. 

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QUÉBEC

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Whether it's decking around your pool, fencing around your yard or functional benches and storage boxes, whatever the ambiance you're trying to create, we can build it for you.

At Northern Vinyl we stand behind our product with a 35-year written warranty. This is not the cheap knock-off, this is thick-wall well-made material. Only $44 a foot INSTALLED! Yes, that is not a typo – just $44 a foot. You won't find a better deal out there for Northern Vinyl so call us now to book and reserve your spot.

GAZEBOS & SCREENED-IN PORCH

A screened gazebo or porch is a great way to get outside and still have some cover and relief from those pesky mosquito's, why not have your own little private spot where you can go to get away from it all.

PRIVACY SCREENING

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SPOTLIGHT: WHITEWATER RAFTING IN THE CITY

EE TE FRTIMA ES

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Whitewater rafting in the heart of Ottawa A SUMMER ADVENTURE CLOSE TO HOME

From the sweep of the river, the Ottawa looks as majestic as when Champlain viewed it four centuries ago. And now you can see it with rapids and all.

Not since the voyageurs could you get a group together and enjoy the waves leading to the back of the Parliament buildings.

Now you can, and you'll love every second of it.

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This trip has everything. Fun, education and just enough excitement to be thrilled at the end of the run. It's perfect for adventure seekers, families, schools and corporate groups.

It all begins at Britannia where you jump in the raft and practise what to do under the direction of an Ottawa City Rafting tour guide.

Then, after honing your skills on the flatwater with the current pulling you along, you graduate to paddling through the Deschenes Rapids.

Lucky for you, the guide will choose the level of difficulty by moving right or left at the top of the rapid. This is the key to how the Ottawa City Rafting team can offer both family and adventure rafting on the same trip.

Looking back upstream you can savor the experience and size of the rapid you just challenged. Then it's time to relax as your guide keeps the

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raft in the current letting you float along listening and learning as they explain the history of the Ottawa river.

You can start to see Parliament Hill in the distance as it seems to rise magically as you paddle along.

The cost is $69 for adults and $49 for children. And ensure your children meet the guideliness so they can enjoy the entire trip.

If you search the internet you'll see terrific reviews from people who have gone already. And it's no wonder Ottawa City Rafting just won the Ottawa Tourism New Business Award for 2015.

Rafting close to home. Nothing better. ď Ž

OTTAWA CITY RAFTING ADVENTURE WHAT: Rafting trips depart four times daily: 9 a.m., noon, 3 p.m. and 6 p.m., from Britannia Beach at Ron Kolbus Centre. Rafts are taken out at Lemieux Island with a return trip to Britannia by shuttle bus. All ages (six to 65 and over), rafters must weigh at least 50 pounds.

INFO: Register at least 45 minutes prior to your departure time.

RESERVATIONS: Contact the team at: OttawaCityRafting.com 1-844-688-7238

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OWL Rafting on the Ottawa River

Kids + Energy + Rainy Days = Monkey Around Play & Learn Centre!

800-461-7238 owlrafting.com

Parents know the weather doesn't always cooperate, so when the kids need a place to run and jump and the skies are grey, Monkey Around is the place to play!

• Indoor play centre FOR MORE INFORMATION! • Licensed daycare (613) 422-5138 • Summer and PD day camps www.MonkeyAroundOttawa.com • Birthday parties 1650 Queensdale Ave, Ottawa • Group events

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• 4 piece bath w/ tub+shower • full kitchen w/ fridge+stove • spacious living room w/ large stone fireplace • great for family or romantic getaway • loft bedroom suitable for family • private dock on Mink Lake

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Photo: BORCA Photo: Trevor Lush

Our adventure playground has 2.4 million hectares of breathtaking wilderness combined with small town charm and authentic Ottawa Valley hospitality.

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