Canoeing Skills – Page 5

Trip Details for Sept. 7 & 9th!

To date, no one has volunteered to organize either the Sept. 7 or 9th canoe trips, therefore they will be cancelled.

We also need a trip organizer and tower for the Sept. 16th trip (Grand River – Otterbein-Freeport). This is a Thursday Easy Breezy trip. Contact Carol Marion for the trip package that Anne has left with her.

Trip Schedule {link}

Volunteers Needed!

Trip Reminder for This Week (Aug 24 & 26) +Time Correction

Trips for this week are:
Tuesday, August24th – Grand River – Petrocan to Glenn Morris -$6. (meeting time correction- see trip specifics).
Thursday, August 26th – Stratford Lake (Easy Breezy) – $6.

For more details and trip specifics, please see here {link}

Don’t forget to contact Anne Woolner at 519-743-2277 to save your spot for either trip. Please note that the meeting time for the Tuesday trip is 8:30 a.m., NOT 8:00 a.m. If you are going to be late or have to cancel, let Anne know asap.

Remember to check your email first thing Tuesday/Thursday morning before you head out in case of cancellation!

Make sure to bring lots of water, sunscreen and snacks/lunch.

Please note that there is construction on Weber St. between Northfield and King St. and the traffic is one way. To access Dutton Dr., you must come in from Northfield Dr. or Parkside Ave.

Make sure your trip money is prepared in advance and in an envelope with the amount and your name on it. There will be no change.
Don’t forget to bring your own masks and hand sanitizer.

What to bring on a canoe trip {link}

ATTENTION: We still need people to volunteer to organize trips beginning next week as Anne and Frank will be away on vacation. You can see what’s on the shedule here.

Canoe Trip Details for Aug 24 & 26!(UPDATE)

In this blog post, you will find the trip details for the upcoming week. Please read carefully. If you decide to participate, please follow the directions below, including contacting the Trip Organizer directly as indicated to save your spot. If you sign up, but end up changing your mind, please let the Trip Organizer know before trip day so your spot can be filled and we don’t end up waiting for you!

**UPDATE**

Trip: Grand River – Petrocan to Glenn Morris
Date: August 24th
Time: Meet at the shed at 8:30 a.m. for a 8:45 a.m. departure
Trip Organizer: Anne Woolner – 519-743-2277 or email annewoolner@hotmail.com
Tower: Armand Martin
Details: This is another club favourite! Some moving water and plenty of opportunity to practice river reading skills so you don’t get stuck if water levels are low!
Skill Level: Everyone welcome! There are sections with moving water that that require knowing your strokes!
Shuttle: Yes
Trip Fee: $6

For a quick review on “reading the river”, there is a section in the OSSCC Handbook on pg. 22 that talks about reading water which we learned in our intermediate training prior to covid. There are hard copies of the manual available for sale at the shed for $10 per copy for those who want a printed version. It is well worth the cost! Just ask the Trip Organizer.

Trip: Stratford Lake
Date: August 26th
Time: Meet at the shed at 9:00 a.m. for a 9:15 a.m. departure
Trip Organizer: Anne Woolner – 519-743-2277 or email annewoolner@hotmail.com
Tower: TBD
Details: Easy Breezy – Open to all members. This is an easy flat water paddle. Good time to practice strokes and have fun in a beautiful setting.
Skill Level: Basic training required!
Shuttle: Yes
Trip Fee: $6

Canoe Trip Times and Pre-Trip Measures
What to Bring on a Canoe Excursion
What to do on Canoe Day

TRIP CANCELLATIONS FYI
We have been having wacky weather these last few weeks with constant threats of thunderstorms/lightning which have contributed to trip cancellations. Trips will only be cancelled if there are thunderstorms/lightning imminent during our paddle time (we have paddled in the rain if there is no lightning danger). We will also cancel if not enough people sign up for a trip, no one volunteers to organize a particular trip, and if no one volunteers to tow. Let’s hope next week brings good paddling weather.

Help! We need Trip Organizers to organize and lead trips for both the Tuesday and Thursday outings, especially the ones that are blank in September on the Trip Schedule. We’ve added some of our favourite trips to the schedule, so if you can, consider volunteering or team up with a friend to help organize and lead. If we don’t get anyone to lead these trips, they will be cancelled and the season will be over. For a successful season, we need everyone to help out in some capacity.
Contact Anne Woolner at annewoolner@hotmail.com or call 519-743-2277 to sign up. If you want to know what organizing a trip entails, we have a trip organizing section on the Blog to help you out to make it as easy as possible!

Upcoming Trips for the Rest of August!

August 24th – Grand River-Petrocan to Glen Morris (Evan & Jane Jenkins-Trip Organizers

August 26th – Stratford Lake (Anne Woolner-Trip Organizer)

August 31st – Saugeen #1 -Trip Organizer wanted!

Trip Organizers and towers are required for Sept. 2 until Sept 21. Call Anne Woolner today at 519-743-2277 to help out so these trips won’t be cancelled!

Check out the schedule for more details.

Warning: Giant Hogweed is Sprouting! #3

Last year, we printed a warning about “Giant Hogweed” at the start of our canoeing season. See here.

This year, for those of you who are hiking in rural areas, possibly near rivers and lakes, there is a good reason to watch out for these plants as they start their growing season. This may also be helpful for those of you who have cottages or like to camp near rivers or lakes.

The following warning is being sent out via email to other groups. Since we make many stops along the shoreline on both rivers and lakes during our canoe trips and we may encounter giant hogweed, it seems like a good time to share:

The giant hogweed plants have sprouted. They are presently a good contrast against the background of winter-dead and they a are larger than the other plants around.

Please check your riverside properties from the water edge to a place just above the high water lines from the last seven years.

If you find any, they can be dug with a shovel and turned over so the sun can scorch them. It is only necessary to cut the root off at 4” to 6” below the soil.

Please report any new findings with GPS coordinates and a photo to gianthogweed@rogers.com so that we can map the spread.

More info is available at the Facebook group Giant Hogweed Mitigation Project.

Pass this reminder on to all of your riverside neighbours.

Together we can keep the shorelines welcoming.

[pdf id=3051]

Warning: Giant Hogweed is Sprouting!

Last year, we printed a warning about “Giant Hogweed” at the start of our canoeing season. See here.

The giant hogweed plants have sprouted. They are presently a good contrast against the background of winter-dead and they a are larger than the other plants around.

Please check your riverside properties from the water edge to a place just above the high water lines from the last seven years.

If you find any, they can be dug with a shovel and turned over so the sun can scorch them. It is only necessary to cut the root off at 4” to 6” below the soil.

Please report any new findings with GPS coordinates and a photo to gianthogweed@rogers.com so that we can map the spread.

More info is available at the Facebook group Giant Hogweed Mitigation Project.

Pass this reminder on to all of your riverside neighbours.

Together we can keep the shorelines welcoming.

[pdf id=3051]

River Technique Review

Tandem Front Ferry

REFRESHER TRAINING {Photos}

The May 8th Refresher training went very well. We all met our new trainer, Beth Jones and found her to be very knowledgeable, professional and engaging. I’m sure all of us learned something new, were able to correct bad habits or try a new maneuver, and hopefully have a “light bulb” moment. The training was a good start to the season! The Basic and Intermediate training is sure to be just as good:)

Though the weather was somewhat chilly, it was a lovely day and nice to be on the water. I’m happy to say that no one dumped!!

Here are some photos of our trip from Glen Morris to Birley Gates:

One thing that Beth talked about during her initial briefing was dressing for the weather. With this cooler weather, not many of us want to get our feet wet and be stuck with cold feet while in the canoe. Beth suggested neoprene socks that you can actually wear with your water sandals. Here are some places to check them out:

SAIL Canada – $27.99

SPORTCHECK – $20.97 OR $27.99

MEC – $15.00

AMAZON.CA – $28.98

The price range is wide, so do your research if you decide to get a pair. Hopefully the weather will soon be warm enough where they won’t be needed!

CANOE TRIP PROTOCOLS {Please read!!}

**Updated for 2019**

Hello All,

As we start our river training and canoe trips next week, this post is a gentle reminder about canoe trip protocols that need to be reiterated due to several incidents that happened last year…..

1. Unless otherwise stated, meeting times for our canoe trips are outlined on our web page under OSSCC Rules and in the OSSCC Handbook and Club Rules:

Tuesdays:

8:30 am for shorter trips

8:00 am for longer trips

Thursdays:

9:00 am

Details about trips will be provided by the Trip Organizers prior to each trip. They will be posted on the Blog. Check the schedule to see who they are and contact them directly if you have any questions. Email addresses can be found on the membership list.

MARK YOUR CALENDARS posts outline trips and club events that are coming up and will be posted on a monthly basis so you can check your schedules and prepare accordingly. General trip info is on the schedule.

2. Meet at the shed for canoe trips. This is important because:
3. Check the schedule/blog regularly in case there is a rescheduled or trip change!

4. Membership List. Everyone should have one by now. (refer to April 19th email which also included attachment and a special password to access updated versions on the Blog- it is NOT your login password!) Please check it out to make sure the info is correct, particularly your cell phone number. If you see a mistake, let us know at info@oldsaltsclub.com!

5. Please be on time! This is especially important for longer trips like the Beaver River, Saugeen River and Nottawasaga River trips. The sooner we can get organized at the shed ( sign in/pay, organize canoes, partners, transportation), the sooner we get to these locations and be on the river!

Should you anticipate being late for any trip due to unforeseen circumstances, please contact the Trip Organizers to let them know. (This happened last year when there was a big traffic jam on the expressway in which several of our members were stuck…..it happens!) Make sure you have the Trip Organizer’s phone number(s) on you just in case:)

5. When on the river, stay between the “Lead” and “Sweep” canoes! For safety’s sake, don’t rush down the river, keep some space between your canoe and the one in front of you, and don’t get so far ahead of the last (sweep) canoe that you can’t see them. (They have the first aid kit should it be required) Why not take the opportunity to practice some maneuvers learned during training?

Finally, have fun! There are some wonderful trips planned this season:) Pictures are also welcome!! Hope to see you there!!!

OSSCC End of Season Fireside Get Together !