INSTRUCTION: PADI Open Water Certification: Hotel Cozumel & Resort, Cozumel Is., QR, MEXICO

A Spectacular Reef

Friends Heather & Randy introduced us to this spot. We first met them on a trip to CUBA a couple of years ago. They've been to this resort more than a dozen times and they say the diving is spectacular ... they were truthful! The resort is quiet and clean, food is good, the staff are friendly and costs are reasonable. I completed my PADI Open Water Certification here at an on-site dive shop. The Cozumel Reef is one of the healthiest remaining reefs in the world. There's a nice drive around the mostly undeveloped, east coastline of Cozumel Island and walking from the resort into nearby San Miguel is easily done ... restaurants that feature authentic Mexican cuisine & local wines, friendly locals, some shops and bars, a waterfront area, ferry service to nearby Playa del Carmen.

Canoeing the Thirty-Mile / Yukon Rivers, YT, CANADA: Lake Laberge > Dawson City

For the Fascinating CANADIAN History

LOGISTICS (YT, CANADA)

Designation: THIRTY MILE is a Canadian Heritage River
Canadian Heritage Rivers: YUKON (Thirty-Mile)

Van Shuttle: With UP NORTH Adventures from Whitehorse > Deep Creek, Lake Laberge

Water Taxi: With Up North from Deep Creek > (near the start of the) Thirty Mile River

Tandem Canoe: Lower Lake Laberge > Dawson City - CII, 11 days, 608 kms

Van Shuttle: With Up North from Dawson City > Whitehorse
Event: 38th Wedding Anniversary
DVD Available: Get copy from Store

View Thirty Mile / Yukon River(s) in a larger map

Madeira Beach, FL, USA

Our PLAN

We’ll drive from Tim’s Lake to Toronto, where we’ll overnight. An early morning flight on Sunday will take us to Orlando, FLORIDA and from there we’ll drive a rental car to Madeira Beach. It’s about a 2 hour trip. 

Las Vegas, NV, USA

Girls ONLY!

Synopsis: Helen and Jan, flew to Las Vegas, wandered around some, dined some and gambled some, saw some shows, lost some and won some ... I was told ... connected with Stella, apparently hiked some (here's the proof) and then flew home.

Excerpt from KANOE TRIPPING Journal ... 

" Keith gave Jan a trip to Las Vegas for her birthday (we won't say which one). Since Keith doesn't gamble and 'what happens in Vegas stays in Vegas', I decided to tag along. In addition, I had accumulated $1200 in winnings over the previous 2 years, so I had some mad money to spend. I also brought some of Mom's ashes along to spread around - she did love Vegas! "

Las Vegas, NV, USA Photography

Canoeing the South Nahanni / Liard Rivers, Nahanni National Park, NT, CANADA: Rabbitkettle Lake > Nahanni Butte

If You're a Paddler, It's on YOUR List!

LOGISTICS (ON, CANADA)

Designation(s): SOUTH NAHANNI is a Canadian Heritage River, World Heritage Site
Canadian Heritage Rivers: SOUTH NAHANNI
Park: Nahanni National Park

Private Vehicle: Tim's Lake > Toronto

By Air: Toronto > Edmonton, AB > Yellowknife, NT > Ft. Simpson, NT

Air Charter: With pilot Jaques Harvey of South Nahanni Airways from Ft. Simpson > Rabbitkettle Lake, Nahanni National Park

Outfitter: Blackfeather Wilderness Adventures 

Guides: Paul Scriver, Andrew Pichora

Mandatory Portage(s): (1) Rabbitkettle Lk. > SOUTH NAHANNI R. (2) Around Virginia Falls

Tandem Canoe: SOUTH NAHANNI R. > Nahanni Butte, NT - CIII+, 13 days, 337 kms

Max. River Speed: 23 km/hr (gps)

Water Taxi: On the LIARD River from Nahanni Butte > Lindberg's Landing 

Van Shuttle: Lindberg's Landing > Ft. Simpson

By Air: Ft. Simpson > Yellowknife > Edmonton > Toronto

Private Vehicle: Toronto > Tim's Lake
DVD Available: Get copy from Store

View South Nahanni / Liard River(s), NT, CANADA in a larger map

Canoeing in Conroy Marsh, ON, CANADA

A Day Trip with Friends

LOGISTICS 

Shuttle: Black Donald Lake > Silgrey Rustic Resort, Boulter

Put-In: Conroy Rapids, York River

Tandem Canoe: Conroy Marsh - FW, day trip, 16 km

Take-Out: Burnt Bridge Road where it crosses the Little Mississippi River

Gerry's cousin and husband own White Pine Lodge on Black Donald Lake. We all gathered there, spent a night in the cabins and did a day trip into the Marsh ... pleasant paddling and just 'way too many laffs'!

FRANCE / GERMANY / SWITZERLAND

FIRST Adventure in EUROPE

Wikipedia: FRANCE

Wikipedia: GERMANY

Wikipedia: SWITZERLAND

 

LOGISTICS

Hosts: Monsheim, GERMANY with Edith & Rainer Bals, Schopfeim, GERMANY with Cornelia, Deiter & Felix Raps and Laax, SWITZERLAND with Deiter Raps

Air Travel: Air Canada from Montreal > Paris, FRANCE

Train: Paris > Mannheim, GERMANY

Private Vehicle: Mannheim > Monsheim & surrounding area

Train: Monsheim > Schopfeim

Private Vehicle: Schopfeim & surrounding area > Laax, SWITZERLAND > Basel

Train: Basel > Mannheim, GERMANY

Private Vehicle: Mannheim > Monsheim > Frankfurt

Air Travel: Air Canada from Frankfurt > Montreal, CANADA

Places: Paris  Versailles  Mannheim  Monsheim  Speyer  Ludwigshafen  Worms  Bacarach  St. Goar Braubach  Annweiker  Kallstadt  Schopfeim  Basel  Frohnd  Zell  Goetheanum  Freiburg  Ottmarsheim Haut-Koenigsbourg  Riquewihr  Luzerne  Laax Chur  Falera  Frankfurt

Background: We first met our German hosts on last year's Wind / Peel Rivers canoe trip in Yukon. They invited us to visit them ... it would be a convenient way to introduce us to a small region of Europe they said ... and, they certainly were not mistaken. Wonderful hosts and great tour guides ... we had a blast! The majority of our accommodation was in private suites at their homes and each shared us for part of the trip.

Canoeing the Rhine River, GERMANY: Bacharach > St. Gore

Castles & Class I+

LOGISTICS (GERMANY)

Private Vehicle: Monsheim > Bacharach

Shuttle Vehicle: Bacharach > St. Gore

Tandem Canoe: Bacharach > St. Gore - CI+, day trip, 16 km

Private Vehicle:  St. Gore > Monsheim

View Rhine River, GERMANY in a larger map

Hiking the East Coast Trail, NL, CANADA

We'll Return for More of the ECT!

LOGISTICS

Private Vehicle: Tim's Lake > Kanata & overnight at J & K's.

Airport Shuttle: J drove us to Ottawa International Airport and stored our truck 

Air Travel: Porter Air from Ottawa, ON > Halifax, NS > St. John's, NL & return trip

Trail Accommodations / Hosts: (1) Points East, Pouch Cove / Elkie proprietor

                                                  (2) Harbour House, Petty Harbour

                                                  (3) Brown Rabbit Cabins, Tors Cove Pond / Isa & Bill proprietors

Synopsis: We hiked with a group of eight, some old friends and some new. We spent some time in St. John's before hiking the trail and then a couple of days in Trinity at the end of the trip before returning home. Our accommodations were all good, any shuttle arrangements to and from trailheads worked out, the weather co-operated, we ate some good food, drank the local beers and absorbed a small bit of Newfoundland & Labrador culture.

East Coast Trail Photography

Canoeing in Algonquin PP, ON, CANADA: Rock/Louisa Lks. Loop

Old Friends on an Old Route

LOGISTICS 

Private Vehicles: Tims Lake & Ottawa > Algonquin PP and return

Put-In: Rock Lake

Tandem Canoe: Rock Lk > Pen Lk > Clydegale Lk > Pen Lk > Galipo R > Welcome Lk >

                            Harry Lk > Rence Lk > Frank Lk > Florence Lk > Louisa Lk > Rock Lk

Distance: 45 kms

Portages: (8) 16.7 kms

Take-Out: Rock Lake

Excerpt from KANOE TRIPPERS Adventure Journal:

'It isn't often that we get an opportunity to relive our life experiences from a previous time and place. This canoe trip gave me that chance. '

KAYAKING: Cabonga Reservoir, La Verendyre PP, PQ, CANADA

Double Blades

LOGISTICS 

Private Vehicles: From our homes > Le Domaine, La Verendyre and return.

Put-In: Cabonga 5

Tandem Kayak: Cabonga 5 > Site 25-228 > (3) nights @ Site 25-208 > (2) nights @ Site 25-232 > Cabonga 5

Distance: 94.85 kms (gps)

Portages: (2) 0.13 kms (gps)

Take-Out: Cabonga 5

View Larger Map

Crossroads Guitar Festival, Chicago, IL, USA

FIRST Really BIG Music Concert

LOGISTICS

Private Vehicle: Tim's Lake > Windsor, ON > Chicago, IL, USA > Austinburg, OH > Niagara Falls, ON, CANADA > Tim's Lake 

Excerpt From KANOE TRIPPING Journal:

I don't usually write up an Adventure Journal entry for entertainers, but this venue was different for us. The first time we've attended a large stadium 12 hour outdoor concert. The line-up of musicians was amazing, the sound quality and general organization at Toyota Park in Bridgeview, Illinois was superb, food quality was fair, food pricing was exorbitant, the heat and humidity were oppressive ...  12 hours went by too quickly ... this festival was an outstanding musical event!!!

Crossroads Guitar Festival Photography

Sandals Royal Hicacos, Veradero, CUBA

 

Diving The 'Bay of Pigs'

Synopsis: This was our third trip to CUBA and our most enjoyable. We found the time went faster on this adventure than in any other 'southern' country we've visited. Unlike our first trip to CUBA, in 2005, we didn't do much travelling around this time - most days were spent laying around the pools, reading and walking along the beach. 

Canoeing the Takhini / Wind / Peel Rivers, YT, CANADA: McClusky Creek > Taco Bar

Helen's Choice for BEST River Trip EVER

LOGISTICS (YT, CANADA)

Van Shuttle: Whitehorse > Mayo

Air Charter: With pilot Ernie of Black Sheep Aviation from Mayo > McClusky Lake

Outfitter: Adventure Tours Yukon Wild

Guide: Georg Saure

Mandatory Portage: McClusky Lk. > put-in on McClusky Creek

Tandem Canoe: McClusky Creek, WIND R.  > Taco Bar, PEEL R. - CII+, 16 days, 270 kms

Air Charter: With pilot Ernie of Blacksheep Airways from Taco Bar > Mayo 

Van Shuttle: Mayo > Whitehorse
DVD Available: Get copy from Store

View Takhini / WIND / PEEL in a larger map

Bear Man

I was sitting outside the Yukon Visitor’s Center in Whitehorse. We were waiting to watch a Bear Awareness video and I noticed a man stuffing clothing under his shirt. 

I tried not to be too obvious but my eyes were drawn to him. 

The Geography Student

Location: Yukon Territory, Canada - We're at the Mt Logan viewpoint about 50 kms north of Kluane Lake on the Alcan Highway, 150 kms south of the USA / Canada border.

The Alcan is the original name for the Alaska Highway and I prefer it. Mount Logan is the highest mountain in Canada and the second-highest peak in North America. The mountain was named after Sir William Edmond Logan, a Canadian geologist and founder of the Geological Survey of Canada.  Mount Logan is located within Kluane National Park and Reserve in southwestern Yukon. 

Super Club Breezes, Paradise Island, BAHAMAS

Wikipedia: BAHAMAS

We were here for a brief stay only, April 20 - 23.

It's always difficult to get a truly realistic feel for anywhere, with such a brief stay, but, in general, we found this region of New Providence & Paradise Islands to be clean, well-cared for, expensive, quiet and safe. Locals are friendly and polite and ther isn't the presence of obnoxious panhandlers and street vendors that are so often encountered in other Caribbean countries. We did notice a couple of timeshare salespeople along the beach and in Nassau but they were mostly 'soft selling'. There appears to be a lot of new residential, commercial and tourist development and also some renovations of older resorts and properties. 

INSTRUCTION: PADI SCUBA Certification: Henry Morgan Resort, Roatan Is., HONDURAS

FIRST Time SCUBA Diving

 

Wikipedia: HONDURAS

Why didn't someone tell me about this 30 years ago? I would have started diving then! It's like being in a giant fish-tank ... what a natural high! 

Canoeing in Wabakimi PP, ON, CANADA

The WORLD"S Largest Wilderness Canoeing Region ... and Gerry caught fish every day!

LOGISTICS 
Private Vehicles: All our homes to Armstrong, ON

First Night's Accommodation:
Air Charter: Air Mattice
Planes: Single Turbo Otter & Beaver
Pilot(s): Don Elliot, unknown
Tandem Flatwater Tripping Canoe(s): some CI+, high water, some travel on the Allan Water & Caribou rivers
Paddlers: Karen, Gerry, Heather, Fred, Helen, Dann
DVD Available: Get copy from Store

We booked an air charter with Mattice Lake Outfitters and flew into Granite Lake. Flight time was 08:45 am. First time in a single-engine Turbo Otter for both of us. We found out at the end of the trip that this plane was built in 1956. The two Beavers used by Mattice Lake Outfitters are built in 1951 and 1953. All aircraft are in fine shape.  The flight in was about ½ an hour.  Staff load all the gear and secure the boats to the aircraft pontoons. We’re with Fred & Heather and Karen & Gerry will fly in one of the Beavers. The flight in gave us a good aerial perspective of the type of terrain we’ll be paddling through over the next 2 weeks …… the Northern Boreal. Gear and boats were offloaded on the water – a first for me. Thankfully we had calm conditions.

Canoeing in Frontenac PP, ON, CANADA

Jan & Keith's FIRST Canoe Camping Trip

LOGISTICS 

Private Vehicles: A short, approximately 10 km drive from home to the park.

Tandem Tripping Canoe(s): lake paddling, no portages

Frontenac PP Photography