Big Creek (3rd. Concession Rd, Access #3) to Long Point Provincial Park (Intermediate Training Required)
Date:August 20
Time: Meet at the Shed at 8:00 am.
Trip Leader: TBA Tower: Bruce Burkhart
Trip Fee: $15
Trip Details: Big Creek is a watercourse in Norfolk County, Ontario. It is approximately 60 kms long (we are doing a section of it). It empties into Lake Erie at Port Rowan, at Long Point. Its watershed covers 730 square kilometres. It is called the “Canadian Amazon” as it meanders through the heavily lush canopy of the Carolinian forests of Norfolk County to Long Point. This is a longer trip that does require maneuvering skills and stamina. Approximately a 3 hour paddle
Shuttle: Yes
Carpooling: Please make car pooling arrangements before we meet on Tuesday morning. If you carpool, please reimburse your driver ($5-10 would be appropriate for this trip). If you drive in a different car each way, please reimburse both drivers.
Remember to Bring: Emergency Contact Card, lunch, water, hat, sunscreen, insect repellent, PFD, and proper foot wear- no flip flops or crocs
To Register: Please contact Anne Woolner annewoolner@hotmail.com 519-743-2277 to register for this trip, and advise if you paddle stern or bow. You will receive a confirmation email. If you don’t receive confirmation by Monday night, please contact the trip leader to make sure you are on the list.
NOTE: If youchange your mind or are unable to make it for some reason, please let the Trip Leader know asap as this will affect number of canoes required, partners, etc
Please check your email the morning of the trip in case of cancellation.
If you missed any of our recent meetings ( SpringRegistration Meeting, Orientation/Dryland Training), or haven’t canoed with us in a while, please read this post carefully… (Best viewed on the Blog to see diagrams & illustrations) You may want to bookmark this page for future reference. More resource links are listed on the bottom of this page
How to sign up for a canoe trip
Information will go out to the membership in the form of a blog post/email notification. Make sure that you read and follow the instructions carefully. Respond to the person listed in the email. DO NOT REPLY to the email notification…..it will go to an unmonitored email box!
Once the canoe season starts, emails will be sent out regularly for both Tuesday and Thursday trips. They will be headed by different logos so you will see the difference (illustrated below). Information will be included that will tell you what you need to know (as seen in diagram below):
Diagram #1 – Information that will be included in blog posts/email notifications including different trip images as indicated in diagram
It is our protocol to call or email the Trip Leader to register for your chosen trip rather than just show up at the shed. This helps the Trip Leader know who is expected so they can organize accordingly in advance of the trip. E.g. confirming towers, car-toppers, etc.
Make sure you have the skill level, training and stamina required for the trip you register for. (If you don’t have intermediate training, don’t sign up for a Tuesday trip that requires intermediate training. If you don’t have the stamina or strength, don’t sign up for an all-day trip)
All members are expected tomeet at the shed on canoe day at the designated time to check in, pay fees, choose partners and arrange shuttles.
If you end up not being able to make the trip or are going to be late, let the Trip Leader know asap so the group doesn’t end up waiting for you or is left wondering where you are on trip day.
Show up for the trip with the exact amount for the trip fee (there will be no change available and we don’t do IOUs).
DO NOT make other plans for canoe day. We do not guarantee our return time and will not make alternative plans to accommodate you!
So What Happens Next?
Names of members who register for a trip are noted on a Trip sheet. When you arrive at the shed, you will check in and pay your trip fee.
Trip fees are $8<100 km and $15>100 km. The amount will be noted on the email notification.
Trips can be cancelled due to: 1)excessive rain/thunder/lightning,
2)dangerous water/flow rates, 3)if there is no Trip Leader or no Tower, and 4)if not enough people sign up (<8) and no one wants to car top.
This will be at the discretion of the Trip Leader.
If a trip is cancelled, the Trip Leader will notify those who have signed up for the trip that day. Please check your emails before you leave home.
If there are odd numbers, someone will have to use the kayak.
If fewer than 20 people sign up (but more than 13), up to 3 vehicles will need to car top canoes. Anyone who car-tops an OSSCC canoe for this reason will get their trip fee refunded.
Diagram #2 – Newly updated Trip sheet for 2022
If more than 20 people sign up, both trailers will be used and 2 towers will be required.
Non-member guests are allowed at the discretion of the Trip Leader, but it will depend on the skill level required for a particular trip.
When you come out on a canoe trip, please come prepared! (Read email about the trip carefully)
Dress for the weather (don’twear jeans or cotton)
Make sure you bring a waterproof dry bag with a change of clothes (see here for more details on what to bring). You will be thankful you did should you happen to get wet!
Help out where you can so we can all enjoy our day! (see here for what to do on canoe day)
Review your strokes…what they are and what they do (see here)
If you have a favourite trip, consider leading it. Check out the trip shedule. There are lots of trips that still need trip leaders. If you didn’t make it out to the training, see here for an overview on what is involved and/or contact Anne Woolner at annewoolner@hotmail.com.
Remember: We are not in a hurry….this isn’t a race…..canoeing is supposed to be fun!
Membership Registration Meeting
March 23, 2023
1:00 – 3:00 p.m.
Rim Park, Century Room (2nd flr)
Enter via “A” entrance
2001 University Ave. E.
Waterloo, ON N2J 4A8
AGENDA
1:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
*Membership registration.
*Sign up for training.
*Sign up to be a tower and/or trip leader
*Meet & greet!
1:30 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.
*Welcome & introductions -Bruce Williams
*Membership – Jaye Kuntz
*Training – Lynn Warmington
*Trip Schedule – Anne Woolner
*Upcoming Social Events – Brenda Welch
*Bondi Retreat – Anne Woolner
*New Trip Ideas – Michael De Andrade
2:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
*Continue with membership registration.
*Continue with training sign up.
*Sign up to be a tower and/or trip leader
*Sign up for Paradise Lake Fun Day – Brenda Welch will be available to answer questions!
*Anne Woolner will be available to answer questions about Bondi and to solicit interest.
*Michael De Andrade will be available to to talk about and answer questions about proposed new trip ideas
*Meet & Greet!
For more information, see here and here (In case you missed it!)
If you don’t plan on joining the club this season, please let us know with a quick email to info@oldsaltsclub.com and we will remove you from the mailing list.
Refreshments will be served courtesy of our Social Committee.
Spring is just around the corner (though it may not look like it right now), so it won’t be long now before we are back on the water……but first we have to get past membership registration!
For those of you who may have missed it, our Membership Registration Meeting is coming up next week on Thursday, March 23rd.
For those of you who can’t make the meeting, you can mail your registration form and fees to:Old Salts Seniors Canoe Club, 55 Northfield Dr. East Suite 242, Waterloo, ON N2K 3T6by April 7that the latest. Training starts the following week beginning with pool training. If you have any questions or concerns about membership registration, contact the Membership Coordinator, Jaye Kuntz at info@oldsaltsclub.com or 519-574-8840. An agenda will be posted early next week.
Fees are as follows:
Membership Renewals: $50
Pool Training: $20
Basic Canoe Training: $65 (2 days)
Intermediate Canoe Training: $70 (2 days)
Refresher Canoe Training: $40 (1 day)
Dates & details for training can be found here.If you have questions or concerns about training, contact our Training Coordinator, Lynn Warmington at lynnwarmington1@gmail.com or 519-400-0388
If you don’t plan on joining the club this season, please let us know with a quick email to info@oldsaltsclub.com and we will remove you from the mailing list.
Trip: Grand River: Petrocan to Birley Gates Date: Tuesday, Sept 13th, 2022 Time: Please meet at the shed by 8:30 a.m. Trip Leader(s): Anne Woolner Tower: Frank Kuntz. Details: This is a repeat of a favourite paddle with lots of interesting adventures along the way. This is a longer paddle (about 4 hours) so it requires more stamina. Skill Level: Intermediate training required. Shuttle: Yes. Trip Fee:$8. Exact amount please!
Please contact Anne Woolner at 519-743-2277 OR annewoolner@hotmail.com if you plan on joining us to save your spot for this trip. (Please indicate in your email whether you are bow or stern or both.) You will receive a confirmation email from the trip leader to confirm your spot. If you don’t receive an email by Monday night, call Anne to confirm that you are on the list.
If you change your mind or are unable to make it for some reason, please let the Trip Leader know asap as this will affect number of canoes required, assigning partners, etc. and won’t leave the rest of the group waiting for you.
Carpooling and Shuttle: Please make car pooling arrangements before we meet on Tuesday morning. If you carpool, please reimburse your driver (at least $5.00 would be appropriate for this trip). If you drive in a different car each way, please reimburse both drivers. This is a 30 minute drive and the shuttle is about 15 minutes each way.
Please note: Construction has started for the next 7 weeks at Weber and Albert Street and continues further on Weber Street near St. David’s school. The ONLY way to enter Dutton Drive is by turning off of Parkside on to Weber Street. The signs says ‘local traffic only! Albert and Weber Street is closed and you cannot drive either way on Weber Street ~ from King Street to Dutton Drive.
There was an error in the email link in the original trip notification for Aug. 23rd that has been corrected. Please contact Michael De Andrade at 519-716-5067 or mdeanrade@hotmail.com if you plan on joining us to save your spot for this trip. For trip details, please see the previous blog post.
The trip scheduled for Aug. 25th is on the Grand River from West Montrose to Kaufman’s Flats. Robin Heaver has volunteered to lead this trip. However, for this trip to happen we need a tower. Contact Robin @905-220-6301 or rgrheaver@gmail.com if you can assist.
Trip: Grand River: Petrocan to Birley Gates Date: Tuesday, Aug 23rd, 2022 Time: Please meet at the shed by 8:30 a.m. Trip Leader(s): Michael De Andrade Tower: Michael De Andrade Details: This is a club favourite that is a longer paddle with lots of adventure along the river where we can practice river reading and other maneuvers learned in our lessons. (This is the section where we did our intermediate training.) Skill Level: Intermediate training required. Shuttle: Yes. Trip Fee:$8. Exact amount please!
Please contact Michael De Andrade at 519-716-5067 or mdeanrade@hotmail.com if you plan on joining us to save your spot for this trip. (Please indicate in your email whether you are bow of stern or both.) You will receive a confirmation email from the trip leader to confirm your spot. If you don’t receive an email by Monday night, call Michael to confirm you that you are on the list.
If you change your mind or are unable to make it for some reason, please let the Trip Leader know asap as this will affect number of canoes required, assigning partners, etc. and won’t leave the rest of the group waiting for you.
Please note: Construction has started for the next 7 weeks at Weber and Albert Street and continues further on Weber Street near St. David’s school. The ONLY way to enter Dutton Drive is by turning off of Parkside on to Weber Street. The signs says ‘local traffic only! Albert and Weber Street is closed and you cannot drive either way on Weber Street ~ from King Street to Dutton Drive.
Trip: Saugeen River: Access 10 – 13) Date: Tuesday, Aug 16th, 2022 Time: Please meet at the Wing 404 shed by 8:00 a.m. Trip Leader(s): Anne Woolner Tower: TBD Details: This is a favourite paddle with lots of interesting adventures along the way. We follow this with a swim at Port Elgin and then supper at the Queens Hotel. Bring lunch, water, hat, sunscreen, PFD, bathing suit and towel and money for supper (if you are staying). Notes: Please make car pooling arrangements before we meet on Tuesday morning. The membership list can be found here if you need contact information. In light the increasing price of gas, we highly encourage people to carpool and share gas costs. If you carpool, please remember to contribute gas money to your driver. A $7minimumto $10+ would be appropriate for this trip (270k there and back). Skill Level: Intermediate training required. Lots of opportunity to practice river reading skills. Shuttle: Yes. This is a 2 hour and 135 k. drive each way. Shuttle is 15 k. and 15 minutes each way. Trip Fee:$12. Exact amount please! No envelopes necessary!
Please contact Anne Woolner 519-743-2277 annewoolner@hotmail.com if you plan on joining us to save your spot for this trip. You will receive a confirmation email from the trip leader to confirm your spot. If you don’t receive an email by Monday night, call Anne to confirm you that you are on the list as sometimes emails go into “junk mail“.
If you change your mind or are unable to make it for some reason, please let the Trip Leader know asap as this will affect the number of canoes required and assigning partners, which could result in odd numbers!
Royal City Park, Speed River (Easy Breezy) – Thur. Aug 18th (this is being added to the schedule from a previous cancellation)
Petrocan to Birley Gates, Grand River – Tues. Aug 23rd (this is rescheduled from a previous cancellation)
Trip: Grand River: Brant Park to Erie (Brantford) Date: Tuesday, Aug 9th, 2022 Time: Please meet at the Wing 404 shed by 8:30 a.m. Trip Leader(s): Anne Woolner Tower: Frank Kuntz Details: This is a very interesting trip down the Grand through Brantford with some challenges along the way. Come prepared with sunscreen, a hat, PFD, lunch, water and an adventuresome attitude. Skill Level: Intermediate training required. Shuttle: Yes. It is less than an hour drive to Put-in with a 12 minute (each way) shuttle. Trip Fee:$8. Exact amount please!
Please contact Anne Woolner 519-743-2277 annewoolner@hotmail.com if you plan on joining us to save your spot for this trip. You will receive a confirmation email on Monday from the trip leader to confirm your spot. If you don’t receive an email by Monday night, call Anne to confirm you that you are on the list as sometimes emails go into “junk mail”.
If you change your mind or are unable to make it for some reason, please let the Trip Leader know asap as this will affect the number of canoes required and assigning partners, which could result in odd numbers!
Saugeen #3 – Tues. Aug 16th
Moonlight Paddle on the Nith (Easy Breezy)- Thurs. Aug 11th
Royal City Park, Speed River (Easy Breezy) – Thur. Aug 18th (this is being added to the schedule from a previous cancellation)
Petrocan to Birley Gates, Grand River – Tues. Aug 23rd (this is rescheduled from a previous cancellation)
There have been some grumblings about how many trips have been cancelled this season. This has been an unusual season so far, so to address this, please note that:
Lack of participants – if not enough people sign up, (<8), it is not feasible to take the trailer. By the same token, if people aren’t willing or able to car top the canoes, there can be no trip. Also, if people suddenly bow out at the last minute, it affects the number of participants, how many canoes are required and could create problems with setting up partners especially if it creates an odd number………..someone will have to be in the kayak!
Water levels/River Flow – Unfortunately, this has been a very dry summer and water levels/river flows have been affected in all the rivers we canoe. We, as a club, have no control over this as it becomes a safety issue if people have to constantly get out of their canoes. Hopefully, this will be corrected after a few good rains as we advance into August!
Trip Leaders – Many thanks to the members who have volunteered to lead trips this year, including two new members. Although leading a trip is not a difficult task, it does take time to organize. Not all members who have volunteered to lead trips, are able to or have the experience to plan alternative trips at the last minute, especially if they don’t know the river or lake. As well, with the water levels/river flows the way they currently are, there aren’t too many alternative choices available. Please note that trip leaders are in short supply, especially for EASY BREEZY trips.
Towers – We have a shortage of towers who are available to tow at a moment’s notice. If a leader can’t find someone to tow for a particular trip, there is a problem, particularly for EASY BREEZY trips. If no one can car top, there is a problem. If you are able to tow, please check to see if you are on the list. If you aren’t and are able to tow, please contact Anne Woolner 519-743-2277 annewoolner@hotmail.com to have your name added to the towing list.[link]. If you are on the list and can’t tow anymore, please also contact Anne to remove your name from the list.
The trip scheduled for Aug. 25th is on the Grand River from West Montrose to Kaufman’s Flats. Robin Heaver has volunteered to lead this trip. However, for this trip to happen we need a tower. Contact Robin @905-220-6301 or 
