by Stephen Threlkeld
(A frequent participant)
Last year it was the Richard Dunning Trip, but some years it is the Richard and Elizabeth Dunning Trip. To me these are special trips in a number of ways. They are always in a beautiful location; last year it was the French River; this year it will be Temagami. They take place over five or six days. They are companionable, and last but not least they are leisurely. To he old fashioned, and I like to be old fashioned these days, they are gentlemen’s trips, leisurely and full of contentment, not that we don’t enjoy the company of the ladies. I like to be politically incorrect too. The world may change, but that doesn’t mean I have to (although it may cost). If not as a biologist, then as a human being I am well aware of the differences between males and females, differences that are the spice of life, as are most differences. Stupidly, many people believe that differences must imply that one is better than the other. Quite stupid and a non-sequitur.
Back to the trip. We leave one vehicle at the Key River Marina, and a few kilometres farther north, on Highway 69, put in at the Pickerel River. By about three o’clock in the afternoon (note the time) we are on our way paddling west down the river. As the trip took place in August last year and it is now May this year I must rely on a rather poor memory for details, but the highlights remain, a sign of a good trip.
We set up camp about five o’clock in the afternoon at a site on a wide part of the river, west of one of the islands we pass, facing east looking up the river. As it grew dark and the first stars began to twinkle, the moon slowly slid into sight over the river, directly in front of us, and above the island. The view in itself worth the annual membership in GLSKA. We often have lovely moonlit nights on the Dunnings’ trips; perhaps they plan it that way, it suddenly occurs to me, as I know Elizabeth has an interest in astronomy. Incidentally, the brightest stars you will ever see are to be seen in Georgian Bay. Since I first saw the stars over Georgian Bay I have believed this to be true, and after a recent trip around the world, Europe, Africa and Australia I know it to be true.
A great night’s sleep, after which we are up early enough, but not too early, and see the sun shining through misty fingers hovering over the water. We had two days like this, beautiful sunny days. Other than the weather, the only point that stands out in my mind about this part of the trip is the falls one must negotiate to move into Georgian Bay from the French River. Two of us unloaded and carried the kayaks down over the rocks and then reloaded, and two of us lined the boats down. While lining, I remember falling with a crack on the rocks – but no harm done. I did watch a large voyageur canoe, carrying about twelve people, negotiate the rapids successfully, and thought perhaps we should have tried it, but by then I was on the lower side of the rapids.
Once down the rapids we were in the open water of the Bay, paddling past the many islands. Do you ever wonder why you enjoy kayaking? Think about it. If you find an answer you will learn something about yourself, another little discovery (or perhaps a big one) in the great quest of life: who are you? Sometimes it is a discovery that will change your whole life, as it did for one of my friends, who gave up a successful career in science to become one of Canada’s most successful professional kayakers.
After two days of idyllic weather we had a day of cloud, and then we had rain, heavy rain. Camping on an island about a two-hour paddle from the mouth of the Key River, it kept me, at least, in my tent all day. Of course there were books to read and sleep to catch up with. And again the differences, from sun to heavy rain, the contrasts that enhance the enjoyment of both, at the time and in the memories. And it is the memories that make a five-day trip last much longer than five days.
The trip finishes up with what always seems to me a long and somewhat dreary paddle up the Key river to the marina and the one vehicle.
So how come this article now, nearly ten months after the event? Perhaps some of us take life too leisurely, or is the word lazy? I once won a public speaking contest. My topic? The Importance of Being Lazy.
