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