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Maiden voyage

by  Kalkrine
A self-supported trip created by Kalkrine

Trip Overview

Launched from the boat launch behind Helen’s old restaurant outside Osgoode. Went upriver not knowing what to expect from myself or the conditions.

Couldn’t have been better. Absolutely zero regrets on this purchase. I still love kayaking, but I now know am a SUPer at heart. This is the paddle sport for a swimmer.

Was on the water for probably just over an hour. Launched easily enough, but I was a bit shaky from the effort of pumping the thing up lol. It was a bit windier than when I had decided to go paddling an hour earlier too, but nothing too rough. Took a bit of time to let myself get some sea legs, but I stood up as soon as I was in clear waters away from the boat launch. Stood until I saw the first boat that would send a wake towards me, then took the leap.

I was mostly standing by the end of my tour. If the conditions were choppy, or incoming wakes, I’d only not take them standing if I was in weedy water I wouldn’t want to swim in, or they were going to be big enough I thought I might fall.

By the very end I took a really decent set of wakes probably about 1’ high at the first arc standing, with witnesses who gave thumbs up lol.

But I did get one wipeout; within sight of the boat launch on my return. Three or four seadoos came by, and I was cocky from the last standing wakes, I didn’t realize how unpredictable those wakes are. Blew right off backwards, felt the ankle strap coil spring, and heard a couple of the riders go “oooohhhh” lol.

Made a friend/enemy with a blue heron on the shoreline too. Not long after I started, I had my eyes on a deadhead, wondering if that’s what it was or if it was a turtle head, when I noticed the big heron about 30’ away. Let myself drift in a bit more, and we both craned (lol) our necks as she paced away, and I floated upriver. She ended up following me for a while, either that or hubby was sent on patrol. As I made my way back, I could see one (I only saw one at a time if there even was two) circling above where I had first seen her, right as I had hopped in the river again the nest must have been there


Safety Notes

Wore the boater kit fanny pack around my hips … I feel dirty. Not sure what the rules are about how those are transported.

Should go to a boat show if a free one comes up for safety gear I might find handy.

Gear Notes

Was the first time using any of this gear at all, except for my old dry bag.


My iSUP is the Weekender2 made by Retrospec, bought at Ottawa Valley Air Paddle. No complaints on the new ride! Easy set up, easy to carry, steer, all of it. She’s laying out in my basement now to dry

Wore the new life jacket, best fit for one I’ve ever had. It’s an Onyx “movent” adult XS/S. I had my full length solar swim shirt on for the paddle, so I don’t know what the friction would feel like in just a suit yet. When I jumped in though, it wasn’t popping up into my nose. Couldn’t believe it.

The friction from the life jacket against the felted area on the SUP is the only difficulty in terms of getting back onto the board.

Need to buy a throw bag, so I can get rid of the fanny pack.

Only issues I have with the gear so far are:

- the pump hose is cheap in that it has solid thread connections. Sometimes this results in the stiff pipe unthreading itself from either the SUP nozzle or the pump itself. Mindful positioning solves this, but even just putting the hose onto the threads of its partnering pump is very awkward.
- the paddle adjustable length slides too easily when in use. I need to tighten the clamp connection, but I’m not even sure if I can looking at the bolt.

Conditions

Breezy with large wind gusts at times. Would have been sunny and clear if not for the wildfire smoke haze. AQI was in the “unhealthy” range during this time, around 150.

Trip Details

  • Trip Dates: 6/7/2025
  • Sport/Activity: Stand Up Paddling
  • Skill Level: Beginner
  • Water Type: River/Creek (Up to Class II)

Trip Location