Marsh-mellows

The marsh mellows you.

It slows you down. You can't paddle fast. Like it or not.

I always think, "Where is the way. How will I get through this stuff."

Then, the marsh slows me down and makes me think, "I should be careful and take my time."

It cleans the water for free. Birds and other living things like it too.

It's simple.

Let's keep it that way.

A marsh is magic. If you can, help protect one. They are trying to survive despite us. If you're a paddler, you already know that.

There are lots of great organizations out there working to protect the natural environment and our waterways.

Here's one, The Nature Conservancy of Canada

From the vantage point of a kayak, you really get to see the water. I like clean water. 

Happy paddles!
The BaffinPaddler

Location: Grass Creek Park marsh, 1000 Islands, St. Lawrence River, Kingston, Ontario, Canada

Rockfinders! Which kayak finds the most rocks?

Plastic Boreal Baffin (left) vs fiberglass Maelstrom Vaag 174 (right)

Eeny, meeny, miny, moe. Which kayak finds the most rocks?

Tag, you're it!

The fiberglass kayak will find the most rocks. Usually. It's a given.

So, when the wind is up, and the water levels are down, and rocks and shoals you've never seen before are peeking out, I go for plastic. My yellow Boreal Baffin.

Out on the water, I let the fiberglass kayak do all the work, "There's a rock here, more over here."

"Gee, I haven't come across one. I'm in plastic."

This is a quiet moment in a bay out of the wind where plastic found the way to shore without hitting a rock and fiberglass followed.

Sometimes plastic, the tanks that they are, are your best friends.

Plastic and fiberglass can co-exist. If you can keep up. Fiberglass usually waits for you or comes back for you (it has no choice - if you have the keys to the car). And sometimes, you may rescue fiberglass or vice-versa.

At times, you may wonder, "Why did I leave fiberglass at home!? I could be moving much faster!"

How many times have you heard, "You're in plastic. You go first!"

How many years have you gotten away with no Gelcoat repairs?

It's great having two kayaks, one in plastic, one in fiberglass. I love them both truly. My yellow plastic Boreal Baffin and my white and blue fiberglass Maelstrom Vital 166.

But, as soon as I bring out the fiberglass kayak at the end of the season, it will find the "repair rock!" Two years running!

Happy fall paddles without repairs!
The BaffinPaddler

Location: Lac Deschenes, Ottawa River, Aylmer, Quebec, Canada

Kayaking with kite surfers

When the wind is up the kite boarders come out to play.

How do we navigate this?

We look out for each other. I think we can make a run for it now.

The camera isn't crooked. The horizon really looks like this at a slant.

Happy fall paddles!
The BaffinPaddler

Location: Lac Deschenes, Ottawa River, Aylmer, Quebec, Canada

The power of Yoga. The power of Peace.

Lookout, Lac Monroe, Mont Tremblant, Quebec, Canada

The power of Yoga.

Yoga pose on Stand Up Paddleboard

The power of peace.

Yoga tree pose, beach, Lac Monroe, Mont Tremblant, Quebec, Canada, Fall

When you generate enough of it internally.

It radiates outward.

Lots of ways and places to find it.

St. Jovite, Quebec, Canada

And lots of ways to get there.

Cycling, flower gardens in Ottawa, Ontario, Canada

But this way, is a good way for me. I always seem to find it.

I like taking it with me wherever I go. And all the places that inspire me to do it. Sharing it with others is awesome.

It's great in the outdoors.

Or with views of the outdoors. My fav!

And this is what fills my mind when I do it. You can figure out what IT is.

It's something good. Wherever you take it. Enjoy your path. No one said IT was easy.

Happy trails!
The BaffinPaddler

SUP! Stand Up Paddleboarding. What's it all about?

Maybe you've been wondering too. You're out on the water in your canoe or kayak, and you see someone go by on a Stand Up Paddleboard.

As summer rolls on, you see more and more of these strange, happy, and peaceful creatures heading out on the water and you think, "Gee. That looks so weird! How can that be? I've got to try it too!"

So, I did.

Paddleboarding can be very social. "Hey, look! A full moon rising!"

It's great for groups. You can take over the lake.

It's easy to find a serene moment for yourself.

And luckily Paddle Boards come in different sizes. The one I'm sitting on is pretty wide. I could bring the dog and a cooler along on this one!

I'm not quite sure what I think about Stand Up Paddleboarding.

I kinda like it. Even when I'm standing up.

I'll be exploring it more.

And striking a few yoga poses on the board too. It's pretty cool.

But, unlike most, I'll be doing it wearing a PFD (life jacket) even though I'm a good swimmer and have good balance. No matter what you paddle, paddle safe.

Happy paddles!
The BaffinPaddler