The Verdict

About 2 1/2 months ago I was finally able to get an MRI to ascertain the cause of my back pain. It turns out that I fractured 2 of my vertebrae (l4 and l5) at the base of my spine, and as such I’ve been unable to do any real exercise since receiving this diagnosis a few months ago. I’m now still waiting on treatment or recommendation as to what I should do next, the only medical advice given has been rest it. Orthopaedic surgeon appointment June 20th, it really is a joke considering I actually broke it almost 14 months previously and this is the first specialist I’m able to see.

Post Canada…

The Ottawa was far to much fun, and after 2 months of paddling and a back that seems insistent on making any playboating painful with no signs of recovery I returned to the UK in July. Unfortunately I never managed to get the funds for a trip to Uganada so have spent the last near 2 months at home going for an occasional session on Great Britain’s finest whitewater… (really?)

Heres the video from my time on the Ottawa, short and sweeeet. Hoping to head back there next summer for a high water season if I’m lucky!

End of exams – Trip to Niagara Falls + Moving to the Ottawa

So exams fininshed around April 20th, and with 10days before I planned to leave Toronto in search of kayaking for my final 2 months, a few of us headed to Niagara Falls for a day. This was a really worthwhile trip, and if anyone is out around the area I really recommend going. At first I was concerned the falls themselves might be really touristy and whilst decent might be just another standard thing to do whilst I was here. Thankfully I was wrong, the falls were really spectacular, and even the town itself which is known to be like a tacky version of Blackpool, was still decent. Note – ‘Baconator’ burgers from Wendys probably reduce lifespan considerably. Didn’t end up going on maid of the mist, which would have just added to the experience, but it was good enough just being able to stand a few meters away from the lip of such a spectacular landmark.

View of both Falls

Standing right next to the edge

Went out a few more times in Toronto, then headed out to the Petawawa last weekend for the hell or high water river race, followed on Sunday by heading to the Ottawa for some surfing at garberator, a nice big playwave on the main channel.

Lovers rapid on the Petawawa

Photos of the Ottawa to follow soon. Since moving to Esprit rafting I’ve managed to get myself a great setup for the next 2 months, it’s going to be a great time!

Photos from the Salmon River, 3/04

All Photos by Scott Parker. More from the day at http://www.scottparker50.ca/recent_pics/index.htm

About to enter the first hole...

Punching through the foam pile

Over the lip

Getting the line

Sticking to it

Lining Up

Pulling through

Final month of lectures

As expected, waters rose to biblicale levels a few weeks ago, and my first day out paddling was spent driving round looking for places to paddle that werent so high it was either A) deadly or B) pointlessly boring.  Finally on the second day we found Credit, about 45mins from Toronto, a good re-cap into bigger water with some long nice wave trains.

Work continued, but as did paddling. With my boat arriving and river levels dropping from the epic levels 2 weeks before, we headed out to do Beaver Creek, a nice Class 3 with some interesting rapids, expecially as the first rapid, double drop, possibly approaching a grade 4 in higher water was the hardest on the river and the first moving water my boat had seen. An accidental bow stall when attempting to punch the 2nd hole off an 8ft drop instantly gave me the feel for it, and I havent looked back since. I did have an interesting experience with a sharp rock, shallow water and almost (but thankfully not) my face. At least the helmet didnt break…

With river levels still dropping, I got out twice last weekend, the Moira (very shallow) and  the Salmon River were both fairly relaxed rivers with a few more interesting rapids. Photos to follow. Its raining and even thundering as I write this, something that hasnt happened in a long while, hopefully there will be something running this weekend. Though with exams on Monday and Wednseday I should probably revise.

Lectures in Toronto ended as of Good Friday, it’s certainly gone far too quickly. The last few weeks have been extremely busy with work and I’m currently preparing for the next 2 weeks of exams when I will finish on April 19th. Im currently looking into accommodation options for the next 2 months, with a cottage at the get-in for the Ottawa being preferable. Shall have to see how that goes.

Kayaking is about to begin!

So after weeks of pool sessions, the weather sounds like its about to turn! Due to the fact the rivers have been frozen the past few months its been really frustrating, but forecast says its raining this weekend so should hopefully be out.

Weekend before last I headed out to the Toronto Outdoor Show to:

1) Purchase some kit – I’m proud of my new PFD. On special at about £85 from a company called Salus – http://salusmarine.com/product/darwinex.html It actually has a maple leaf embroidered on the reverse, YES!

2) Investigate into paddling the Ottawa in May/June – No really certainties yet, but it will definetly happen, spoke to numerous rafting and kayaking companies about it and I’m currently networking to try and sort it out. (Also looking into kayaking the White Nile in Uganda in July/August once im back, finance depending)

In other news, Ive finally bought a boat, Wavesport Project 45, 2nd hand from the US, getting it shipped here (via Bufallo on the border). Should have it in about a week. Actually cant wait to get it – its going to be better than christmas when its here…

Obviously an amazing playboat. ALLLRIIIGHHTTT!

Ive just got round to painting my helmet, something I said I’d do almost a year ago. Might look abit untidy up close but im pleased with it, wont notice it on the river anyway! It also has my name in big letters on the back, just in case I can’t remember who I am.  Hoping the paint doesnt chip off the first time I use it…

Custom designed Shred-Ready!

Got some video clips off Tom Wade a while ago showing some playboating on the Dee back in Christmas in a Pyranha Burn, put them into one clip:

Thats enough for now. Will post more regularly from now on hopefully!

Reading Week Trip to Montreal

So, during reading week, a few of us from co-op decided it would be great to spend a few days in Montreal, a piece of French-Canada thats is just so much different to the life I’d got used to in Toronto. After a 6 hour bus journey to Ottawa, then a further 2 hours from Ottawa to Montreal we arrived at around 10.30pm on friday evening. Tiring. Started off the excursion with some fantastic ‘poutine’ – they make it best in Montreal (it’s essentially fries, cheese curds and gravy), I proceeded to have this for the 2 nights afterwards aswell. For some weird reason the normal poutin was called ‘The Vladamir’ – no idea why!

Saturday we went to a awesome crepe house, then walked through the city to the St. Lawrence river for some ice skating. Montreal was much more like a European city, with buildings that were older than a century.

Montreal City

Was reassuring that despite not skating for about 10 years, I managed to get the hang of it… sort of.

Ice Skating on the St. Lawrence

We then got some more food on saturday evening, watched some of the Olympics and headed to a few French bars for some beers and live music, where we ‘acquired’ a horn from Le Carnival de Quebec – this has since become invaluable, particularly in the celebrations after Canada beat the US in the hockey! (Patriotism and street-celebrating was brilliant)

They sounded really good!

Ships on the frozen St. Lawrence

Headed to the science museum on one of the wharfs on the St. Lawrence River (to give an idea of the rivers size, check that photo above!) on the Sunday for some fun with all the ‘hands on’ activity exhibits which was hilarious. After moving a ball with the power of the mind, finding out how we would look at age 75, and creating a giant bubble around ourselves, we deserved some food. More poutine and alcohol were certainly called for.

Headed back Monday afternoon with a huge dent in my finances but after a great weekend, and had to endure the 8 hours back by greyhound. (Yes, people in North America use racing dogs to travel long distances…)