Tuesday, May 27, 2014

New Canoe!

After purchasing a new canoe way back in February, we finally got the call from the canoe store on Saturday morning to say that our canoe was all made and ready for pick up!  My husband and I have really been looking forward to making a day trip up to the Algonquin Highlands to pick up our canoe ever since we heard the ice was off the lakes.  The weekend weather couldn't have been better either ... hot! with a strong refreshing breeze.  I think our summer weather has finally arrived. 
 
 
Early Sunday morning, just the two of us got in the truck and headed north.  It's a three-hour drive to Algonquin Park, and the canoe store is just outside the park.  We made it there in good time and stopped for a little treat at the famous Robinson's General Store in Dorset.  We were amazed at how empty the highway was, and how empty the store was.  We've never been in this area before July normally, so we were well ahead of summer crowds.  If you've never been to Robinson's General Store, it's worth stopping at if you're in the area. 
 
Finally at the Swift canoe store, which is part of Algonquin Outfitters, our lovely new canoe was ready and waiting for us.  We quickly took it out for a paddle on Oxtongue River to make sure all was good, and then strapped it down to the top of the truck to head into Algonquin Park.


We decided to paddle around Cache Lake since it was rather windy and I didn't want to be on a big lake in this unfamiliar canoe.  Our old canoe was very long and very stable, and I never felt unsafe in it.  But it was rather hard to paddle in a strong wind because it was so big.  We soon found little things different about this new canoe.

 

 It doesn't sit in the water as deeply as our old canoe, so when the strong wind hit us, it had a tendency to skim sideways across the water.
 
 
It's very light (35 lbs) and when we sat it on the ground, the wind started blowing it across the ground!  Never had that trouble with our 65 lb canoe.  But the new canoe is much easier to lift, and much easier to handle in the water.  We really powered along so quickly, and felt like we were ten years younger ;)
 
 
It was nice to get back on the water again.  The lake water was freezing!!  But it felt good with the sun beating down on us and then to put your hand in the water was so refreshing.
 
 
We saw a few pairs of loons on the water too, and this pair followed along with us for a while.  We didn't see any babies yet, but we often see babies later in the summer, riding on the mother loon's back.
 
 
We were going to stop at a very tiny island (in the background in the photo below), but we had our shoes and socks on (usually we're bare foot with sandals), and there was no way to get onto the island without taking off our shoes, so we decided to just continue on.
 
 
We really couldn't have asked for a better day to return to the park and paddle around for a bit.  The deciduous trees were still not full in leaf yet, but I'm sure this week, all the leaves will be unfurled again. 
 
 
After about an hour's paddle, we headed back to the truck and strapped our little beauty back on top ready for home.
 
 
We stopped in at Canoe Lake's Portage Store to enjoy a delicious Backpacker's Burger and chocolate milk shake ... MMMMmmmm!  We sat with a view of the lake and docks below us.  So odd not to see the docks teaming with people heading into the backcountry for camping.  But there was a lovely breeze blowing through the windows while we ate.  The drive home was nice and quiet and we even made a stop at a gardening centre just outside the park.  Lots of fun things there, but very pricey, so we left empty handed.  We'll stop there again in the summertime, and then I'll remember to take a few photos of it.
 
 
That's all for today!  I haven't been around everyone's blogs much the last little while ... the weather has improved so much that I hate to waste a moment indoors!  Today started off really hot, but our afternoon has alternated between fierce sun and thunderstorms, so I decided to hop on the computer for a bit.
 
Thanks for stopping by!
 
Wendy

19 comments:

  1. Your canoe is a beauty! What a glorious part of the world you live in and how lovely for you to be able to enjoy it's beauty and splendour canoeing in all that sunshine. May there be many more sunny and warm days to enjoy your canoe!!

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  2. Oh wow Wendy!!! How exciting!! So glad that you got to go and collect it and to go for a paddle. I hope that you get to use it lots over the summer and I look forward to seeing what you get up to and where you go! xx

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  3. What a gorgeous place. Congratulations on your new canoe. Happy Paddling!

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  4. I'm so happy for you. You must be thrilled to have your new canoe finally. That looks like a gorgeous place to go paddling. Thanks for sharing. :)

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  5. Wow - what a beautiful place to go canoeing! LOVING those Loon photos!!

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  6. Now that is what I am talking about pal! That canoe is a beauty and I always love these posts when you hit the great outdoors as it gets me pumped for the season! How awesome that your new canoe glides like that...it was meant to be! Your photos are gorgeous and your time on the lake sounds like heaven! Wishing you good things Wendy! Nicole xoxo

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  7. What a wonderful post Wendy, and I'm so glad your new beauty has turned out to be as good, if not better than, you hoped for! What a lovely trip you had and so nice that you didn't have to fight through crowds of people and so were able to really take your time on your first paddle out again. Even the weather was laid on for you! Here's to a summer filled with such times - enjoy! Hugs, Joy xo

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  8. Hello Wendy,

    How exciting a new canoe, and what perfect scenery and weather for your first outing, I am so envious sitting her in the UK with rain, and more rain. Wonderful stunning pictures I look forward to seeing more of them during the Summer.

    Happy canoeing!!!!

    luv
    irene
    xxxx

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  9. Well it sounds like you should head up early every year. I love a 'no crowds' day trip. It must have been wonderful to have the place to yourself, especially since it sounds like it turned into a date with your husband.

    Spotted our first goldfinch at our new feeder yesterday. It was a female and today she brought her man and he's gorgeous. The two of them spent most of the day at the feeder - well I am assuming it is the same two birds :-) I am not sure the hummers will ever find my feeder though.

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  10. just awesome! enjoyed the photos too

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  11. What an amazing part of the world you live in! :) x

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  12. Yippee! - to warm weather and new canoes. I love the shots of the loons; they're one of my favourite birds. We often hear them calling here, but since we're not on the lake it's not as often that we get to see them. So beautiful.

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  13. Such an amazing place, I'm glad you had such a great first outing.

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  14. Congrats on your new canoe! It sounds terrific, and I think you are really going to appreciate the fact it weighs so much less than your old canoe. Happy paddling!

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  15. Congratulations Wendy how lovely to have your new canoe at last. Your trip sounded perfect, lovely and peaceful and the lake looks so pretty with the wildlife. You are going to have a great summer how exciting. :) xxx

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  16. Oh my lovely Friend what a fabulous day you both had, thank you for sharing it with us all. I love your new canoe, have been in one myself but am sure I would love it as much as you do. The lake is absolutely stunning, a real feast for the eyes Wendy, no wonder you love living in the region so much, I can well understand it. It is always such a pleasure to come and visit you, so much to see and so many interesting things to learn from you. Have a wonderful week my dear Friend, sending you loves and hugs
    Dorothyxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

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  17. what a beautiful place to canoe. I went canoeing all the time when I was growing up. It's so peaceful. I haven't seen a loon since then. They're really beautiful. Glad you had a good time!

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  18. I think you're going to get a lot of use from your canoe, especially in the Algonquin area that is so beautiful.
    Enjoy!

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  19. Wow Wendy! What a wonderful description - words and pictues - I could almost hear the water and feel its coolness!
    So fab to hear you've been outdoors so much - it seems like yesterday we were looking at your buried patio!
    Looking forward to hearing lots more adventures in your canoe!
    Ali x

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Thanks so much for leaving a comment, it's nice to know when you've stopped by! :)

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