You and your kayak

You and your kayak . . . or one you borrowed for kayak camping.

It's bigger than your tent. I hope so, or the tent won't fit in one of the hatches.

The places you take it.

The places it takes you.

It's pretty amazing.

The memories last forever.

And . . . after a trip, we forget about all the work it was to get there, to plan and pack, and other stuff like bugs or things that bug you.

A great place to be . . . is a place you can take a kayak.

Happy trip planning! Winter is a great time to plan or take off on a trip.

The BaffinPaddler

Snowshoeing Hot Spots

There are some places that make you love snowshoeing. I call them Snowshoeing Hot Spots. I'm starting a list of snowshoe trails and spots I like. Some are flat and open. Some are steep and make me climb and hang onto ropes. Others make me duck under trees.

The views vary. All are awesome. Dense snow-laden forests, frozen lakes, open fields, and mountain trails and ridges.

Maybe you're like me and others I know who used to say, "Snowshoeing!? How boring! I'd rather ski!"

I'm a convert. Someone turned me onto snowshoeing. Thanks! I love it! And now, I'm doing the same. Turning others onto it. There are more and more of us on the snowshoe trails. Thankfully. We need friends to help tromp down all that snow and mark the trails. Breaking new trail is hard work in heavy snow!

It's amazing to witness the change in someone who once said, "Snowshoeing! How boring!"

Now I'm saying, "Hey, wait for me!",  in more and more places. Snowshoe converts are leaving me in the dust. But at least they wait for me along the way.

I still love skiing, but, there are days when I'm cross-country skiing and thinking, "I'd rather be snowshoeing." There are lots of Snowshoe Hot Spots. Here's to finding as many as we can.

Winter sports are great. Enjoy.

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:

Snowshoeing Hot Spots in the 1000 Islands, Ontario

Happy trails! Stay warm and safe.
The BaffinPaddler

Snowshoe to yoga: Mont Tremblant, Quebec, Canada

 When we reached the La Roche lookout overlooking Lac Monroe in Mont Tremblant National Park (Parc National du Mont Tremblant) after an hour and a half trek up the La Roche Trail in snowshoes, I said, "I'm going to do a little yoga up here."

A small group of snowshoers from New York State in the U.S. were up there too having a lunch break. They laughed, "Yoga in snowshoes?" It's a funny joke, right. But I wasn't kidding.

It is possible to strike a few yoga poses without removing the snowshoes. But, when it's -16 to -19 Celsius, the cameraman has to snap quickly before the fingers and the camera lens and battery freezes.

It's awesome! Snowshoeing and yoga. Both are powerful for body, mind, and soul. Combining the two, even better. One complements the other. I love my snowshoes. I love yoga. I love great views. You can have it all. It's my first snowshoe to yoga, but not my last.

Enjoy your winter snowshoes and yoga sessions in awe-inspiring spots with a view.

Happy trails!
The BaffinPaddler

Kayak Mancala

This is what I call it anyway: Kayak Mancala. What is Kayak Mancala?

It's simple! Kayak to an island or beach of your choice, and make yourself an awesome Mancala game out of what you find on the beach.

Don't know the Mancala game? 

I didn't either a few years ago. Then, my Mom gave me a store-bought board game one Christmas. Thanks Mom! The game board is made of wood, and comes with 48 glass stones.

I love playing Mancala outdoors, usually in the summer, with my store-bought game or by making my own Mancala game on a beach. You can find a beach somewhere year round.

I spend a lot of time on beaches with my kayak looking at rocks and pebbles.

One day, sitting around on a beach, I said, "OK, it's time to do something with these pebbles besides just sit here and look at them."

I grabbed a big stick and started drawing my own Mancala game board in the sand. 

My paddle partner asked, "What are you doing now!?"

Me: "Gather 48 pebbles and I'll show you!"

Paddle partner: "Do I really have to do this?"

Me: . . . silent, still drawing in the sand.

Paddle partner: . . . busy gathering granite pebbles.
 
The outcome

I built the game in the sand, taught the paddle partner how to play Mancala, and . . . the paddle partner beat me each game. Seems winning is fun.

Me: "Do we have to play this again?!"

Paddle partner: "Come on, one more game!"

If you want to know how to play Beach Mancala and make your own game, my next story is up on The Great Waterway, a cool Ontario Tourism website, where I'm a regular blogger.

 How to play Beach Mancala, by Peggy Varner, The BaffinPaddler

You don't need a kayak to play Beach Mancala. But to play Kayak Mancala, you do!

Enjoy the great, ancient game of Mancala anywhere, anytime, especially at the beach. I hope you're spending some time at a beach or two this winter! Especially if you live in a northern clime. Winter is so long and cold in the North!

Happy New Year. May this new year be one of your best!
The BaffinPaddler