White Water

Every summer we try to schedule at least one trip over to the Ottawa River to go white water rafting. It usually happens in August -- when the river level is low. That doesn't mean the rapids are small -- quite the opposite, in fact, because high water can 'smooth out' some of the rapids just through the sheer volume of water going over top of the rocks. What it means is that we usually run the Main Channel -- which finishes up over the Coliseum rapid, which is by any standards HUGE.
This year, the water levels were extraordinarily high, and we got to run the Middle Channel. That was a new experience for us!
We like to go with OWL -- partly because Dirk is a friend of Brian's, and they can spend a few minutes chatting. This year, they were discussing the new pontoon boat Dirk is adding to the OWL fleet. These boats pick you up after you've done the rapids, and bring you home, while serving up a steak dinner on the river.
We've also rafted with RiverRun and Wilderness Tours over the years, and we think they are all superb companies, offering great trips.
The Middle Channel has more rapids, and plenty of paddling. We were sharing our raft, with guide Heather (great job, Heather!!) and a family from Aylmer, Quebec, who were rafting for the first time. The father had recently retired from the police force, where he specialized in water rescue, so we had an added degree of security in our raft! Not that we needed it, nobody fell out, no rafts tipped. It did rain on us, but even so, a rainy day on the Ottawa River is better than a sunny day in the office. We were treated to sights of ospreys and herons -- for those who could let go long enough to look around. We don't know if Brian saw much of anything except River, since he as in the very front of the raft!!
It's a day trip from Bondi -- leaving about 8 a.m., and getting home about 10.30 p.m. Always keep your eyes open going through the Park. David came over the crest of a hill on the trip home to find a huge bull moose trotting down our lane. Wonderful to see, but not if it's on your front bumper! They are dark, and hard to see against the pavement, so you always have to drive with great care through Algonquin.
We pause both going and coming in Barry's Bay to pick up a coffee, and to check out the statue of the AVRO ARROW. The original test pilot for this magnificent, ground-breaking (air-breaking?) airplane, Janus Zurakowski, hailed from Bancroft.
We also pause in Wilno -- historic site of the first Polish settlement in Canada -- to admire the view from the church on the hill. It's a great trip, and one we look forward to all year.