It Takes A (Kayaking) Village

Another blogpost about the adventures of motherhood and kayaking from guest-blogger, Lori Neufeld

Dan and I learnt very early on, even before Finley was born, that paddling as a family would require a lot more hands than just ours.  But we didn’t expect to have so much support from our families, friends and the paddling community.

Christine Haylock -My dear friend and the editor of my blog posts!  She's full of wisdom and encouragement.  Kayaking photo taken by Dan on the Kananaskis River.

Finley has some pretty great people to stay with when it’s an “adults only” day on the water and we’re grateful for the many hours that our parents, siblings, and others have spent caring for her.  But it’s been other kayakers that have surprised me the most by their patience and willingness to help whenever possible.  From rocking an upset newborn at paddling festivals, to unloading my gear while I get Finley out of the car; our paddling friends are always stepping up to the plate.  They’ve blessed us with all sorts of gifts, given up their own paddling time so I could get on the water, and continue to carpool with me, even if that means some extra work or an early curfew.  They’ve lugged strollers and diaper bags through airports, done laps around the pool with a toddler in tow, and one of my friends has even started his own, “get young mothers who paddle on the water” program;  I’m currently the only member.

Sierra Stinson -Auntie Sierra swears she's never having kids of her own, but she adores Finn and is always up for an adventure!  Kayaking photo by Hayley McKee at Pushbutton on the Ottawa River.

So what can you expect when you invite a new mom like me on your next paddling adventure?  Well, first off, THANK YOU!  Yes, my life is in chaos some days and I spend more time washing laundry then wearing it, but I still want to go kayaking!  I won’t always say yes, but I really appreciate your invite.  Secondly, when I get into the car and look like I’ve been up all night… I have been.  But give me an hour or so of peace and quiet and I’ll be good as new.  When we get to the put in and you notice that I’m taking far longer than everyone else to suit up, don’t worry.  My gear just doesn’t quite fit the same as it used to and I’ve got hip pads to adjust and clothing to work my way in to.  If this is a day that the little one is coming along, you’ve got a whole new set of challenges to work with.  Between extra clothing, carseats and piles of snacks, you’re losing at least 2-3 seats in your shuttle vehicle.  But there will be Goldfish crackers for all!  You might feel more like a Sherpa than a paddler and wonder why I packed so much stuff.  Trust me, it’s all necessary.  Throughout the day there will be many bouts of crying.  If I’m not stressing over it, you don’t need to either.  Kids are funny and mine talks about those tearful times with memories of laughter and joy.  And at the end of day, when you’re unstrapping my boat and I’m chasing my runaway toddler down the sidewalk, know that this might have been the only day this week that I’ll get to exercise, socialize, and enjoy my favourite hobby.  I’ve got another sleepless night ahead of me, but I’m more energized than ever.

Cathy Woods -An art teacher by day, Cathy is great with kids and has a passion for getting them outdoors.  Kayaking photo by Dan on the Kananaskis River.

Continuing to kayak during this stage of parenting has been a lot more work than I anticipated.  But it’s not impossible, especially with others who are so eager to help us.  So whether you’re one of our close paddling friends or support another kayaking mom, Dan and I salute you.  We’re beyond grateful for everyone supporting us on this journey.

Andy Hill -Andy was terrified to go near Finn when she was first born.  Now they're buddies!  Kayaking photo taken by Thomas Farren at Bus Eater on the Ottawa River.

Steven Walker -At only 18 years old, Steven paddles hard, he's the kindest and most helpful kid around (we're not sure how his mom got so lucky!) and he babysits for us on weekends!  Kayaking photo by Dan at Sturgeon Falls.

Judy Wilson -A true river mom, Judy's constantly checking in on me and helping out.  I don't know where I'd be without her!  Kayaking photo taken by John Woods at Fort Whyte Alive.

The Dynamic Duo: Bringing Family and Friends Together on the Water

Today, we welcome again, Guest Blogger, Lori Neufeld.

I knew we had to own a Jackson Dynamic Duo after paddling one for only a few minutes.  While the 12 foot boat may not seem practical for Manitoba rivers, we actually used the Duo a lot this summer.  With only a few mishaps and a lot of laughs, our family and friends got to experience kayaking either for the first time or in ways they had never thought possible.

Being a “Go Big or Stay Home” kind of season, Finley spent most of her time paddling the Duo at the beach.  It was during one of these days that my mom went kayaking for the first time and Finley's friends got to join us, too.  Who knew that a kayak could also serve as a daycare?

 

Finley and friends, Carter and Landon enjoying the water with "Cool-Mom", Lori.  Photo: Cheryl Falk

The Duo was our go-to boat for after work adventures on the rivers within the city.  The swifts and eddy lines were fun to experiment on and it was good practice for bigger water.  The Duo is stable, fast and very manoeuvrable, and it didn't take long for me to feel in control and confident while paddling it.  There's often a stigma about Winnipeg's rivers that they're dirty and dangerous, so many people stay away from them.  But thanks to the Duo, the proper safety equipment, and an experienced paddler in the stern, a number of people got to see our local rivers from a whole new perspective. 

 

Lori, Finley and Grandma, Marilyn.  Photo: Cheryl Falk

But it was the days that we took the Duo out to Sturgeon Falls that really stand out for me.  Dan and Finley happily watched from shore as my friends and I punched through giant foam piles and surfed the waves.  While I left the attempted airscrews to the boys, I thoroughly enjoyed carving back and forth.  Communication and feeling your partner's movements were key in getting the Duo to surf smoothly.  I loved those days on the water.

The Dynamic Duo bringing folks together on the water.  Photo: Lori Neufeld

Our Dynamic Duo brought people together this summer.  From experienced and sponsored boaters to newbies and toddlers, everyone who sat in the Duo came out smiling.  It was a fantastic teaching tool and I'm looking forward to introducing Finley to whitewater with this boat.  The Duo is really one of a kind and I glad we invested in one!

The Duo from Dan Neufeld on Vimeo.

Baby Steps - Kayaking with a 2 yr. old

We welcome back, guest blogger, kayaker and Mom, Lori Neufeld!

Mom, Lori and Finley checking out Cook's Creek photo: Dan Neufeld aka. Dad

Kayaking with my 2 year old has forced me to change my way of thinking.  Around here, high flows are crucial for good river runs and 60 000 cfs need to be pumping through Sturgeon Falls for great surfing.  But those levels aren't exactly toddler friendly.  So Dan and I searched high and low for the perfect paddling destination for Finley and we ended up finding it in a friend's backyard.  Cook's Creek is hard to spot on a map, but its shallow waters and slow moving current were ideal for introducing  Finley to kayaking outside.  Dan and I weren't sure how Finn would react to seal launching into the murky waters, but we were pleasantly surprised!

Dad, Dan and Finley photo: Lori Neufeld aka. Mom

We spent all morning paddling/drifting downstream and towing Finley back up.  A small restriction in the river provided enough current for Finn to get a taste of moving water and she asked to do it again over and over.  (see the video clip below)  I couldn't have asked for a better day with my family!  We've spent a number of days on the water with Finley since then.  One step at a time Finley's learning all the small, yet important elements of kayaking that I tend to take for granted.  She loves to rock the boat back and forth, practice low braces and get pushed from one person to another.  She watches us carefully and tries to mimic what we're doing.  Her Fun 1 and Werner Amigo are still a little big for her, but she's very stable in the boat and can easily reach over the sides to dip her blade in or stare at her reflection.

Father-daughter bonding on the "river" - love it!  photo: Lori Neufeld aka. Mom

As a working mom, I feel blessed every time I get out on the water.  But there's something extra special about going paddling with my family.  I will always be drawn to warm, sunny days at Sturgeon Falls surfing the big waves, but I look forward to spending more time on smaller rivers with mellow flows, watching Finley take her first strokes.

Cooks Creek Paddle from Dan Neufeld on Vimeo.

The Waiting Game - Guest Blogger, Lori Neufeld

Today we welcome back, guest blogger, Lori Neufeld from Winnipeg, MB.  I always look forward to Lori's posts.  A woman focused on balancing a busy life as a working Mom and wife, with her passion for paddling! Go Lori Go!!!

We're still happily married after a Duo swim at Sturgeon Falls!  Photo by Steven Walker

With an exceptionally cold winter and a late spring, the ice finally disappeared on the Winnipeg River towards the middle of May. I eagerly jumped in the car and headed for the waves the following morning; the first playboating session of the season was a great way to spend Mother's Day! But it's the beginning of July now and we're still wearing drysuits. The chilly waters and record breaking river levels have meant that the current is too fast and the banks too sketchy to be safe for beginners and kids, so I’m leaving my family at home while we wait for safer conditions. I'm eager to take Finley out with me, but her well-being comes first. So we continue to be patient.

Meanwhile, our new Dynamic Duo is proving to be an awesome learning tool. After a short lesson on eddy turns on the river near our house, Dan was feeling a lot more confident and stable. Despite me being a little small for the back seat, shimming up the hips and pulling the feet closer was super simple. Dan easily removed the foam foot blocks for added leg room up front. We rocked the Duo on the river run at Manitoba's annual Whitewater Festival, making for a lot of jealous spectators. Unfortunately, we couldn't get our “Dynamic Roll” in a whirlpool the following morning at Sturgeon Falls and we went for swim. For those of you who have paddled in Manitoba, you know that our rivers are WIDE, so a swim is never a quick endeavour. We decided after that day to mount a small electric pump in the Duo for quick bailing, making a self rescue possible. We haven't tested it out yet, but we're hoping it does the trick!

Dan and I running Farmer's Rapids on the Whitemouth River.  Photo by Judy Wilson

 MEC's Paddlefest was another great day on the water and I was thrilled to teach a class of 6-10 year olds. Thanks to the Parkland Paddling Club, the Manitoba Whitewater Club and Finley's Fun 1, we had enough tiny boats to outfit the group. The kids were all very proud to paddle a kayak that was made just for them and they all learned quickly. 

On land paddling practice at Paddlefest with Cathy Woods & Steven Walker.  Fort Whyte Alive, Winnipeg.  Photo by Jenni Halbert

Teaching a young group of paddlers at Paddlefest with Cathy Woods & Steven Walker.  Fort Whyte Alive, Winnipeg.  Photo by Dan Neufeld

I also had a blast running the Duo down the toboggan run with anyone who was willing to join me.

 

Lori (stern) and Cathy (bow) enjoying the toboggan run! 
Photo by Dan Neufeld

Sometimes it feels like we'll never actually get Finn out on the water, floating down the local gentle streams of Manitoba. But then I remind myself that she's only 2! and we have many more paddling days ahead of us. Kayaking as a family isn't an obligation, but a fun activity that I want to share with my husband and daughter when the time is right. Thankfully, these high water levels are a sure sign we are going to have a long season!

Lori and her daughter Finley at the MEC Paddlefest in Winnipeg.  Photo by

Paul Fields

Lori and her husband, Dan along with daughter Finley drive over an hour to enjoy their local playspot (minus a farm run-off ditch in Spring :).  Lori works with inner-city youth and Dan works for +Wilderness Supply.  Lori's favourite place to paddle - Sturgeon Falls, Manitoba.