Have you seen Google Trekker?

Have any of you seen this big blue ball bounding around on trails, crawling through caves, and making its way around other nooks and crannies that a car, bike, trolley, or even a snowmobile can't reach?

Google Trekker has been making its rounds across the world. And recently, it was spotted in Canada's 1000 Islands National Park.

Hello world! For three days, from August 20-22, 2013, Google Trekker visited the 1000 Islands National Park of Canada.

The views from Google Trekker around the world gives me chills of the best kind. It sure beats traditional Street View!

What is Google Trekker?

Google Trekker is a backpack-mounted, sophisticated camera system that captures 360-degree panoramic images. It weighs about 40 lbs and is worn by a Google operator who can leave the street and go anywhere a person can hike. It’s Google Maps Street View gone wild – I mean off-road.

Google Trekker needed a boat to get to the 1000 Islands trails on Camelot, McDonald, Mermaid, Beau Rivage islands, and more. I don't think you'd want to haul that 40 lbs pack and camera on a kayak!

For more information and pictures about Google Trekker in the 1000 Islands, my next story is up on The Great Waterway, a cool Ontario Tourism website where I've been a regular blogger for three years:

Google Trekker in the 1000 Islands National Park

Happy trails!
The BaffinPaddler

Credits: Special thanks to Parks Canada for providing me with information and images about Google Trekker in the 1000 Islands and other Canadian national parks and historic sites, and for answering my questions. Sophie Borcoman, is the Visitor Experience Manager for the 1000 Islands National Park of Canada and is the spokesperson for the Parks Canada project with Google in the 1000 Islands. Images courtesy of Parks Canada.

When one sport informs another . . . where's your center?

I love this question. I began thinking about it while cycling. I haven't cycled very much this summer, but why do I feel so strong and have so much cardio despite the heat and humidity?

Why do I feel more balanced? Why do my standing yoga poses (on land and in the studio) feel so much easier and grounded? I can hold them longer in comfort and relaxation.

Nothing hurts. My muscles are long and lean.

The only thing I did differently this year from past years was lots of SUP (Stand up Paddleboard). What I call "simple SUP". Just paddleboarding at a relaxed easy pace for an hour (or two) several times a week. Even 30 minutes feels good if that's all you've got time for, or if a thunderstorm rolls in and you have to get off the water.

The results of simple SUP, something I find just plain fun and easy, are amazing.

When one sport or practice informs another, they are complements to each other. Athletes call it cross-training.

When one sport or activity informs another, and improves your performance and feels good . . . where's your center?

It's in balance! There's harmony and good flow in your body and mind.

Enjoy the many benefits of SUP (Stand up Paddleboard)!
Happy trails.
I wish you a safe, peaceful, and happy Labor Day holiday.
The BaffinPaddler

SUP junkies unite

I'll admit, I've become a SUP (Stand up Paddleboard) junkie. I tried it last year for the first time in a group SUP lesson on a lake. This year we own two SUP boards, and I have introduced it to numerous people. So far, they all take to it within minutes.

I love to watch a new SUPer get on and listen to their reaction during the first trial, "Oui. C'est agreable comme sport!", "I like it!", "It's fun!", "It's tippy! I'm scared!".  Then watch how quickly their balance and confidence improves in 15-30 minutes. And the smile grows bigger. Both for me and for them.

These are all things I've said and felt too. It's normal to feel off balance at first.

But, it's worth giving this emerging sport a try. While you're having fun, you're also getting toned with a good low-impact, core and cardio workout. And, all the little twitch muscles (muscle fibres) you never knew you had, are engaged as well. You may feel some of them the next day or so. There's so much you can do with a SUP. You hardly feel like you're working out, unless you're pushing it for speed in a race, or surfing hard with it.

SUP yoga has become popular. But I still prefer yoga on solid ground. It is hard to ground yourself into the Earth, when it's a few feet under water!

I even introduced SUP to the family dog. Now, I don't have the board to myself any more. She loves it too and jumps on the board before I even get on. When I try to sneak out by myself, the dog runs down the dock and whines for me to come back and get her. All 45 pounds of her. The extra weight on the board (she rides in front) gives me a good workout, and she is good company.

Our dog, a Border Collie, Australian Shepherd mix is smart, highly trainable, and has good balance. The soft steady beat of the SUP paddle and the gentle glide of the board on flat calm water relaxes and fascinates her. Waves, wakes, wind, and the ripple of the water make her curious and surprised and test her balance, just like mine. She may stand, sit or lay down on the board, or jump off for a swim - but, only when I invite her, or if we lose our balance and fall off. She wears a doggie PFD.

It's a lot of fun to SUP with friends, family, and even the dog. Or alone. I find that after about 15 minutes of SUP paddling, whatever I was hanging on to in my body and mind starts to let go. I can feel it. It's awesome.

The SUP crowd is quickly growing around the world. As a fan of outdoor sports, paddling, and yoga, it's more than perfect for me in the heat and calm of summer.

I just wish the ducks didn't like it too!

Enjoy the SUP, but please also respect the dangers that can come with any paddle sport and stay safe. Don't launch from docks and rocky shorelines standing up. I've seen this far too many times. And, I do wear a PFD (life jacket). Most people don't.

My next story is up about SUP on The Great Waterway, a cool Ontario tourism website where I'm a regular blogger, if you'd like to check it out.

Find your beach. Bring your SUP!

Happy paddle trails!
The BaffinPaddler

Have you camped in an oTENTik yet . . . ?

This is the best picture I could get from my kayak of the new oTENTik at Mallorytown Landing (Ontario, Canada) after a good day's paddle in the 1000 Islands. The beautiful sunshine and glare from the clear water in the St. Lawrence River kept getting in my way. It's a happy and welcome problem!

oTENTiks are exclusive to Parks Canada, new for 2013, and found in numerous awesome parks across Canada. In the summer of 2013, Thousand Islands National Park installed some oTENTik tents (a cross between a cabin and a tent) on the popular islands of Camelot, Gordon, and McDonald, and one on the mainland waterfront at beautiful Mallorytown Landing.

I tested the Mallorytown Landing oTENTik this August. Two thumbs up!

For more information about the new oTENTiks and images of Mallorytown Landing, my next story is up on The Great Waterway, a cool Ontario tourism website where I'm a regular blogger. 

What I like about the cool new oTENTik at Mallorytown Landing in the 1000 Islands

Special thanks to the people at Parks Canada and Thousand Islands National Park for their awesome help and service. I really like the new oTENTiks and had a great trip in the region.

Happy trails!
The BaffinPaddler

Do you like backcountry cycling routes?

I like urban cycles, but I especially enjoy a backcountry cycling route where I can get away from urban sprawl. Most cyclists do. 

I tested one of the Township of Rideau Lakes cycling routes in Delta, Ontario, Canada. It was refreshing! I hope you like open road and the sight of peaceful cows grazing in endless fields of green pasture, and a few more interesting sights along the way. 

For more information and images of the cycling route, my next story is up on The Great Waterway, a cool Ontario tourism website where I'm a regular blogger. 

Backcountry Biking, Route 8, Rideau Lakes, Ontario

Enjoy the road with your bike! It just feels good

Happy trails.

The BaffinPaddler

Favourite day paddles - Narrows Lock to the village of Westport, Ontario, Canada

Upper Rideau Lake

Here's one of my favourite paddles to share with a friend or a group!  An 18 km (11.2 mile) round-trip day paddle crossing Upper Rideau Lake from Narrows Lock, part of the historic Rideau Canal, to the charming village of Westport, Ontario (Canada).

It’s an easy, uncomplicated route with open water and an awesome beach to stop at for a swim in clear, cool water along the way at Foley Mountain. Narrows Lock and Westport are both very kayak friendly. Two thumbs up!

Westport Harbor, kayak friendly dock

In Westport you can picnic along the shore or head over a footbridge into the village for a choice of restaurants, ice cream, bakery goods, chocolate, shops, and supplies.

For trip details and more images about this paddle route, my next story is up on The Great Waterway, a cool Ontario tourism website where I'm a regular blogger.

Kayaking Narrows Lock to Westport on Upper Rideau Lake. Two Thumbs Up!

Kayak friendly launch near Narrows Lock, Upper Rideau Lake, Ontario, Canada

Happy paddles!
The BaffinPaddler

Old dock or snapping turtles?

My paddle partner said, "I need to take a break ashore somewhere. Oh look. There's an old dock over there. Maybe I can climb out."

Me: "OK, I'll wait out here in the middle of the creek!"

Paddle partner: "Come over here with your camera! It's not an old dock. Look! It's a bunch of snapping turtles on a fallen log!"

Oh joy. Do I have to? There's a little current in the creek pushing me one way, and the wind is blowing 25 km/hr with 40 km/hr wind gusts pushing me the other way, and all I've got is a little hand-held snap'n'shoot camera with only a 3X zoom, and you want me to get a picture of this without scaring them all off the log if I get too close!

I did this for you turtle loving friends and almost lost my paddle.

Snapping turtles on fallen log, Lyndhurst Creek, Lower Beverley Lake, Delta, Ontario, Canada

My quick drift and shoot plan worked out, and the turtles stayed on the log while I cursed that I don't yet have a GoPro camera, and that I forgot my paddle leash on such a windy day. 

The pictures turned out fairly well for all the trouble they were to get. I've never seen this many snapping turtles in one place before. 

And notice the hierarchy for the best real estate. The bigger turtles are on the bigger end of the log with the best sun. Turtle size diminishes as the log narrows and disappears into the marsh grasses with less sun.

Depending on the image and the angle of the photos, I count 35 to 40 turtles. You can click on an image to enlarge it. The images are scaled down from the originals. 

Lyndhurst Creek, Lower Beverley Lake, Delta, Ontario, Canada

And the turtle stories continue. 

People keep making me stop and look at snapping turtles. I never notice them, or seem to care if I do, but they keep showing up and catching my attention one way or another.

I recently passed by a large female snapper laying her eggs and burying them next to a bike path route near a river where I was cycling. I cycled right past her, and someone said, "Hey, look . . . !"

Snapping turtle laying eggs, bike path, Moira River, Belleville, Ontario, Canada

I've got more pictures and a short video of this snapper laying her eggs in early June, and a cycling story of the bike route along the Moira River in Belleville, Ontario that I'll publish later.

One of my most popular BaffinPaddler posts is Turtles! People are interested in seeing snapping turtles and learning more about them. So, all this turtle stuff is for you. 

And, if you are a paddler, a swimmer, or a fisherman spending time in the same waters and shorelines as snappers, it's good to be aware, as they can get very big, and can deliver a nasty bite if surprised or bothered. They also like to steal your bait or small catch.

I keep learning more about snapping turtles, and I keep thinking, "There are a hell-of-a-lotta snapping turtles out there in rivers, creeks, and lakes. This turtle probably just laid about 50 eggs!" 

Happy trails!

The BaffinPaddler

Leaky Gul Knee High Paddle Boots

Recently, I did a post on how to keep your paddle boots from getting smelly. I'm surprised to see it has been a pretty popular post in my web stats reports. Even though it isn't the most alluring or pretty paddle topic, it is an important one. We're always wearing some kind of paddle bootie or boot. Most of us have many different types of paddle boots and booties for different conditions.

I also promised I'd call out the well-known maker (brand) of my knee high paddle boots because they leaked like a sieve at the soles from day one. I bought them brand new several years ago.

Brand new, my Gul knee high paddle boots leaked badly all around the rubber sole, filling my foot with water as soon as I stepped into even a few inches of water. The boots were useless and left my feet sitting in a pool of water. There are no holes in the boots. They were not left out in hot sun all day and they've never set foot in salty oceans, just lakes and rivers. The problem is the seal around the soles. 

When I went back to the paddle shop right after I bought them and said, "These boots leak like crazy", the store said, "Yeah, sometimes that happens. There's this goop you can use to put a waterproof seal around the soles."

The "goop" (a waterproofing sealant/glue in a tube) cost me $8. It was extremely toxic to work with, even outside with lots of fresh air. It was difficult and sticky to apply, made my brand new boots look awful, and the "goop" started to turn yellow and peel off the first paddle season. The glue didn't last and didn't stick well. The boots were leaky again. How can you return boots that are messed up with all this ugly "goop" around the soles?

With knee high boots, you can't easily remove them to evacuate the water inside the feet like you can with short ankle-high paddle booties. Short ankle booties are mostly good-weather summer booties and you've always got water in them unless you launch from dry docks all the time.

The reason we buy knee high boots is to keep our feet dry and warm when we step into several inches of cold water and paddle in colder climes! They also protect our feet and legs from unfriendly shorelines, scratchy plants, and biting bugs.

So I contacted Gul about the leaky boot problem. 

I asked Gul to compensate me for these boots, or to give me an equivalent exchange of gear. I think that's fair.

They are Gul paddle boots. Or, at least, that's what the "Gul" logo on them seems to indicate. But the people from Gul looked at the photos of the boots and politely said, "They don't even look like our boots. How old are they?"

I bought them several years ago. Because they leaked, I didn't wear them. They sat in my gear bag.

When Gul responded that sometimes stores sell off old stock, I responded, "Do you put best before stickers on your products like food? How am I supposed to know how old the gear is in the store when I'm buying it brand new?"

I should have returned the leaky paddle boots right after purchasing them. They shouldn't have leaked brand new. I shouldn't have been asked to apply goop to correct the problem with the leaky soles. That's the job of the manufacturer and the brand.

A paddle friend wears knee high paddle boots of a different brand and remarked, "My boots don't leak."

I'll be buying another brand of knee high paddle boots that don't leak. So buyer beware. I have other Gul products that function well, but not these boots. It's a name we think we can trust, but like so many companies, if the product is dysfunctional, you're on your own.

I'm disappointed and surprised by the poor performance and the response of the brand.

You may want to ask the store where you purchase your products before you buy, "Do these paddle boots leak at the soles? If they do, can I return them?"

If the store says, "Ummm, I don't know, or They can't be returned . . . " You'll know what to say, "Thanks. I'll be shopping elsewhere!"

Now my leaky Gul knee high paddle boots are only good for use as gardening boots on days when the grass is not wet and the ground is not muddy!

Happy paddle trails with boots that don't leak. Warm, dry feet are the best when conditions are cold or mucky. I paddle spring, summer, and fall in Canada's cool, cold, crisp waters and in other places where I really appreciate the protection and insulation of a good paddle boot.

Here's the link to the post on How to keep your paddle boots from getting smelly.

And . . . happy 4th of July, Independence Day!
The BaffinPaddler

The real journey . . . My Job

It isn't my job to travel around the world to the most amazing places. That would be too easy. There are too many of them to name. They are too easy to find in all the travel guides. Especially beaches!

My job is to find what's there wherever I end up.

Here's one story where I literally saw the light in the dark.

Laying in bed in the middle of the night in a little rental cabin on Lower Beverley Lake in Delta, Ontario, Canada, I tossed and turned, “How am I going to write a story about beaches in this destination? There is only one small public beach at Lower Beverley Lake Park. It's May, the water is still cold, it's raining on and off, and the wind is blowing 25 km/hr with 40 km/hr wind gusts. This is not even good beach weather!”

The cabin's Daddy Long Legs Spider, nestled in the corner of the bathroom ceiling, didn't seem to be making any progress with his job either. I knew he wouldn't move from that spot, so he was the only cabin spider allowed to stay.

The cabin clock ticked.

That day, I had barely gotten through breakfast because taking pictures of what arrived or passed by our cabin window was way more interesting than ham and eggs.

Then it hit me before dawn broke. Your beaches story is right in front of you, you idiot! This cabin is on a little wild beach. There's a lot going on right here, and it's pretty awesome. What's your definition of a beach? Did you forget that this is a beach too? Amazing things are right outside your door.

Even the moon was full that night and peeking through the rain clouds. The cabin heron, a regular visitor, was keeping watch on the little point to the right.

How lucky can you be?

My next story with more images and information is up on The Great Waterway, a cool Ontario tourism website where I'm a regular blogger, if you'd like to check it out and see more of what was at the beach.

Beaches – Lower Beverely Lake, Delta, Ontario

Happy trails!
The BaffinPaddler

Kayak camping at Newboro lockstation on the historic Rideau Canal

You never know where your pivotal moments will be with you and your kayak. Newboro is one of mine.

There is something special about kayak camping. Having your kayak so near is comforting. Living with it and traveling from place to place in it on an expansive historic waterway like the Rideau Canal in Ontario, Canada, is a compelling experience. You really feel like a paddler. And you are!

The motor boaters along the route look at you in wonder. “How do you survive in such a small craft with hardly any space to haul stuff?” Others remark, “Ah, it's such a romantic notion.”  They sometimes think out loud and ask themselves if they could do it too when they see how small our tents are. Then they shake their heads, “I don't think so!”

It makes me laugh, because I'm thinking the same thing!

Spending time with my sea kayak, a little tent, and a couple of paddle buddies in this inspiring location was somehow a pivotal moment for me. A moment, several years ago, when I felt like I really became the BaffinPaddler blogger and a real paddler, not just someone who paddles around. It's interesting how the water and a kayak can help you find where you need to go.

Kayak camping is a great balancing act. You learn to live with less. You learn to appreciate all the everyday luxuries you usually take for granted. You also learn that you packed too much stuff and managed to get it into your kayak! You deserve a medal.

For more information about kayak camping at Newboro Lake and lockstation number 36 on the Rideau Canal system, my next story is up on The Great Waterway, a cool Ontario Tourism website where I'm a regular blogger, if you'd like to check it out.

Kayak camping at Newboro - Let me linger a little longer . . . 

Happy trails!
The BaffinPaddler

Find your favourite beach - large or small: Sandbanks, Grass Creek, Joel Stone and more!

Summer is coming to Canada. I say that because some lucky places around the globe have summer-like weather year round, so going to the beach is no big deal.

But in Canada, when summer finally arrives, we think BEACH! We want to find the nearest beach, or plan a trip to one we haven't discovered yet.

I've got beaches on the mind too. It's so nice to start setting foot (or paddle booties) on soft sand instead of snow and ice.

I'll be writing a few stories about beaches I've visited for The Great Waterway, a cool Ontario tourism website, where I've been a regular blogger for the past 3 years.

My next story is up on The Great Waterway if you'd like to check it out:

Top Ten Beaches: Sandbanks, Grass Creek, Joel Stone and more!

For my full story list on The Great Waterway, you'll find it here:

The BaffinPaddler on The Great Waterway

Enjoy your time at the beach!
The BaffinPaddler

I can't stand the rain . . .

There are so many ways to bide your time . . . in a kayak.

Paddling in the rain is one of them.

Although, most people stay indoors and moan, "I can't stand the rain", rain can be pretty pleasant in a kayak. Especially if you are dressed for it and the wind is light.

Kayakers have amphibian traits. We live on land and water, and are unable to sever our ties with aquatic habitats. But, we are warm blooded and need gear to survive in some of those habitats.

Paddling in the rain one day, that soulful 70's song by Ann Peebles kept running through my head, "I can't stand the rain, against my window . . . bringing back sweet memories . . .

I must have been feeling what all the people hiding indoors from the rain were thinking, "I can't stand the rain . . . " 

"I can't stand the rain" was written when Ann and her band couldn't get out to a show one night because there was a big thunder storm and it was pouring rain. One of the guys in her band said, "Man! I just can't stand this rain!" And they wrote this soulful song. It was recorded in 1973, and released in 1974.

Lyrics
I can't stand the rain
Against my window
Bringing back sweet memories
Hey window pane
Do you remember
How sweet it used to be
When we were together
Every thing was so grand
Now that we've parted
I just can't stand the rain
Against my window
Bringing back sweet memories
I can't stand the rain
Against my window
Because he's not here with me
Hey window pane
Tell me, do you remember
How sweet it used to be
But like a window, you ain't got nothing to say
Hey rain, get off my window

But let's change some of the words to: "I can't stand the rain . . . bringing back sweet memories . . . of paddling in the rain."

Well hey window pane, let's get out and paddle when it rains!

I like paddling in the rain.

But notice, I did not say kayak camping in the rain, or packing up my gear in the rain! That is true misery and it doesn't bring back any sweet memories.

Rain, rain. Can you stand it?

.

Enjoy singing in the rain. You'll likely have the water to yourself so you can be off key without worry!
The BaffinPaddler

Man's best friend . . . the dog or the kayak?

Now there's one heck of a question that I don't have an answer for.

Put the two together, and it's awesome.

They all look good in orange too: Man, dog, kayak.

The water is still very cold in Canada. Dogs get cold quickly on the back of an open kayak or in a canoe after they've jumped, or fallen from the boat into the cold water in spring and get wet. Add a light wind. Even though the day is warm and sunny, and despite a well-fitting life jacket, the dog still gets the shivers within 10-15 minutes sitting or laying on the back deck of a sit-on-top fishing kayak or inside a canoe.

Stay warm and safe, and remember the doggie too. We don't go far or stay long on the water with the dog unless the water is warm and so is the day.

In spring and fall in Canada, the dog is better off running into the water and swimming back and forth along the shore where she can get out, shake off, and run around to warm up.

Happy spring paddles!
The BaffinPaddler

Yoga with tulips in Canada's National Capital Region

Every year I do a tulip run in May. If you live in the National Capital Region of Canada, you can't miss The Canadian Tulip Festival. It's spectacular! There are beautiful tulip gardens in bloom all over the region on both sides of the Ottawa River.

The Canadian Tulip Festival is held every year in May in Ottawa, Canada. The festival is probably the world's largest tulip festival, with over one million tulips planted throughout the city in impressively large gardens.

But the tulip gardens also extend all over the National Capital Region, from Ottawa, Ontario to Gatineau, Quebec in public and private gardens.

Hundreds of thousands of tourists and locals visit the National Capital Region's tulip gardens each year.

Large displays of tulips are planted throughout the city. The largest tulip gardens are found in Commissioners Park on the shores of Dow's Lake, along the Rideau Canal in Ottawa, and in Jacques Cartier Park next to the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Quebec.

And this is where I got inspired, at Jacques Cartier Park, to climb up on a rock on a hill overlooking a large tulip garden of pink and white and lavender, to strike a yoga tree pose. A pose of peace and harmony, as are tulips a symbol of peace, harmony, and friendship. Although, I visited the tulip gardens on Mother's Day, May 12 this year with a 40 km/hr wind blowing. It was not easy standing on one leg! But a very powerful feeling with a view like this. Whoa!

I hope you can appreciate these images of tulips and Canada's Parliament buildings along the rapids of the Ottawa River.

With all the building scaffoldling and massive building cranes polluting the cityscape, it takes a lot of creative wrangling to shoot these scenes without their annoying interference. I don't use Photoshop.

How did tulips become so popular and such a tradition in Canada's National Capital Region?

In 1945, the Dutch royal family sent 100,000 tulip bulbs to Ottawa to show their gratitude for Canadians having sheltered Princess Juliana and her daughters for three years during the Nazi occupation of the Netherlands, during the Second World War.

In the years that followed this original gift from the Dutch, Ottawa became famous for its tulips and in 1953, the first Canadian Tulip Festival was organized. The tulip festival literally kept growing and growing, with more and more tulips being planted.

The stunning displays of colourful, and massive tulip gardens in the city also inspires residents, who plant their own personal tulip gardens, making the National Capital Region incredibly beautiful in May.

Here's my little tulip garden.

 And let's not forget the region's beautiful Cherry Blossoms.

And other blossoming trees.

Enjoy the best of spring.

Namaste.
The BaffinPaddler