2017 Ottawa Outdoor and Adventure Show

Note: this post is from spring 2017

The Outdoor Show was disappointing this year. Not that I begrudge the hunters and fishers their sport. But having them as part of the show this year meant that most of the floor space was taken up with boats with big motors, a whole corner of just fishing rods, another large section of ATV's and even some guns. Really, I can't blame the organizers. Those sportsmen spend a LOT more money than the average backcountry camper.

We got to see Kevin Callan and Becky Mason give their presentations. She talked about the making of her father's famous movie, "Paddle to the Sea". She had one of the carved "Paddles" that was used in the filming.

Image taken from the internet

Kevin talked about his canoeing/drinking trip in Scotland. They paddled down a river that had a bunch of distilling plants nearby. It sounded like a hoot, except for the time of year meant the sun set very early and they even had to run some rapids in the dark. Scary! The link below goes to his videos about the trip.

Click on this link to see his videos about the trip

I bought a pair of wool socks. L.T. finally bought some of the dried meat from the vendor we see every year. I got an inflatable pillow from Eureka! But that's about it.

We walked around each area at least three times. It's surprising that the Algonquin Park outfitters are a no show. You'd think they'd use the event to promote their services.

There was one canoe manufacturer. He had a sweet small canoe that L.T. could use for solo tripping. But he's not ready to commit to storing a second canoe in his backyard just yet. Here are the details anyways. It's a Pilot, 12' long weighing 42 pounds made out of kevlar/carbon with ash trip. It was originally designed to fit on the side of a float plane. It claims to be stable and easy to paddle. Check out a video on the Pilot here. In Ottawa you can get one through Expedition Toys.

Eureka! has a new version of its bug shelter. The new one is a one-piece version. Our is two pieces, the tarp and the net shelter that clips in. I really thought L.T. would be interested in buying the new one, a larger one that what we have already. He could then take it on trips of more than 2 people. He's gone out with 4 before. But on second thought, we really like the way the two-piece version works and if he does want a bigger one, he can get that one eventually. They do make the two-piece version in the 2 sizes.

L.T. splurged on a slice of chocolate peanut fudge for $10. I decided to make him a batch for our first camping trip. No charge.

L.T. eyed up a new saw. There's nothing wrong with his saw. But this one looked lighter and it set up a lot quicker. He didn't buy it though, and he sort of wished he had as we perused the aisles of MEC the next weekend.

And to end on a positive note, here are a few pictures from previous shows:(there was no pool this year either)

2016 Ottawa Outdoor and Adventure Show

The Ottawa Outdoor and Adventure show was held on March 19 and 20, 2016 at the EY Centre near the airport. The baby show was next door at the same time. There were strollers!

Here's the link: http://www.adventureottawa.ca/

We attended on Saturday. There were a few new companies participating this year. Eddie Bauer was there and offered 40% off the clothing they were displaying, a lot was really nice stuff. If they didn't have your size there, they'd take the order and honour the discount.

Eureka! had a bigger display this year. They weren't embedded with the Scouts, but right next to them. They were giving a healthy discount from their MSRP. They even had our bug tent on display.

BIG tent (not bug tent)

LT was tempted by some different air mattresses that we'd never seen before. The prices were really good, but he didn't bite. We're looking for a better solution for the hammock tents we'll both be using this summer.

I stopped by the La Verendrye canoe camping booth to look at their maps. I bought some fudge ($10 a slab!), I tested the salami at D&D Meats, I chatted with a scout leader about "Mike" (their stuffed fisher), I took a free fire starter from Qwik Wick, and I got a discount coupon from World of Maps for a book I had to pick up later that day I had on order. Bonus!

The Canadian Canoe Museum had a nice booth. They are promoting the build of a new museum in Peterborough.

We watched Becky Mason in the pool, she had a lovely blue canoe her husband had refinished for her, she can turn on a dime. 

She's talking about how to choose your paddle size

Around one corner this guy greeted us:

Parks Canada's Mascot

We went to listen to Kevin Callan's talk. They had less than half the number of seats they had last year and there were a lot of people standing, us included.

Wally Schaber was doing his talk beforehand with no microphone or video displays. He had propped up his tablet with his slide show. He's the author we heard on February 13th in Old Chelsea.

Wally's book

By the time Kevin was on, they had figured out the microphone, and he ended up setting his laptop on a table so people could see. They got the video display working for the next speakers after him.

He talked about Algonquin Park

LT wanted to get a couple of autographs on his paddle. He'd prepped the paddle and had left it in the car. After checking with Becky, he went and got the paddle, she was happy to sign it.

Then he asked Kevin, but I didn't get a picture of that. Here are pictures of the paddle with the autographs. He plans on putting a protective layer over the autographs before using the paddle again.

Another paddling season is almost here and this show is the harbinger of that! I can hardly wait. 

Romancing the Canoe - Happy Valentine's Day!

As the lake waters are firmly frozen and the rivers that openly flow look fearfully cold, on the coldest day of the year so far, last night we were off to an event in Old Chelsea, Quebec, to listen to people talk about canoeing. Such a Canadian thing to do on a romantic holiday!

Here's a link to the event poster: Romancing the Canoe

It was organized by Becky Mason and Reid McLachlan in support of an artists' co-operative in Chelsea, La Fab. It was a sold-out event and people were gathering in the church well before we got there 45 minutes early. We got great seats, it's a small venue, so most seats were pretty good. They had some beer and wine for sale in a side room and everyone seemed to know everyone else.

Eventually it got started and after a lovely introduction by Becky, Wally Schaber spoke first. He talked about his book, The Last of the Wild Rivers, which is about the Du Moine River that runs into the Ottawa above Des Joachims. He had slides with various pictures from his book. He's been in the outdoor business for his whole life. He started Black Feather Wilderness Adventures that did excursions and canoe rentals on the river. He also founded Trailhead here in Ottawa. When he sold the business in 2012, the Du Moine portion of the business was abandoned by the new owners and the Wolf Lake Algonquin First Nations has taken it up to run as their own business now. As it should be.

The main point of his talk is that we need to ensure we keep the Du Moine River and watershed as it is now, the last wild river. By wild river he means that there are no hydro dams, no real access by extensive roadways, no development of hotels, or other attractions and that all people who come to visit the river, do so with respect and appreciation for this wilderness and the Algonquin people that have lived here for centuries. 

He talked about the history of the river as well as told some tales of current trips on the river.

Wally's book

There was a musical interlude after which door prizes were drawn (great prizes too, although I went home only with books and signatures).

Roy MacGregor also talks about the Du Moine River in his book. He touched upon a lot of the stuff he wrote about canoes in his book. 

Roy's book

Roy talked about how he was involved with CBC on a panel to determine what the seven wonders of Canada were a few years back. His submission was that the canoe was one of Canada's seven wonders. You can find them all over the country, there's no geographical limitation. At first the panel wasn't receptive, then it became much more so afterwards. It won a place in the top seven.

He talked about a story in Canadian history that we rarely hear about. It was an excursion organized by the British to rescue one of their own who was ruling in Kartoum. The Nile excursion entailed sending Canadian voyageurs who would paddle up the treacherous Nile to resuce this man. It was quite the story with a sad ending. He was killed several days before the excursion would have reached him and in the end all was for naught. It's a colourful story, well told.

He mentioned the friendship between Becky's father, Bill and Pierre Trudeau, also in the book. Canoeing cuts across everyone in our culture, it can be enjoyed by all. 

We enjoy our time in nature, canoeing the rivers and lakes, walking in the forests, listening to the loons and the wind through the trees. It's wonderful to add some depth to those feelings, by hearing about the past of the great spaces we enjoy today, and the people that were there before us.

This was a well organized event, heartily enjoyed by all. We all walked out eager to get back in the water again. Although sitting in our frozen cars waiting for them to warm up on such a frigid night, we knew it wouldn't be that soon.

Happy Valentine's Day!