Kayaking under the June New Moon

KWBT Summer of Love

Love of kayaking, that is. June 20 will be 2020’s longest day of the year, so let’s spend it kayaking! And with the new moon that weekend, any clear skies at night will provide a great show.

This will be my first kayak trip of the year, so it’s going to be a training session. Think wet-exits and re-entries, self-rescues and assisted rescues. Newbies, this one’s for you. Canoeing will also work well on this trip, and canoe and kayak rentals are locally available. The trip begins with a kayak training session Friday evening.

We’ll be paddling in Point Pelee National Park. We won’t be camping there because the Park doesn’t have a campground, so we’ll be staying at a nearby campground on Lake Erie.

This is the southernmost part of Canada’s mainland, and a birder’s paradise. Birds are everywhere here - you should wear a hat! The Park has recorded close to 400 species, most migrating through and using the point of land as a rest stop before flying over Lake Erie. Bird migration was the reason Point Pelee became a national park in 1918.

On Saturday we’ll be paddling in the protected marshlands of Pt Pelee NP, and on Sunday we’ll do a half-day paddle up Sturgeon Creek.

Further trip details and an organizing spreadsheet will be sent by email, which will assist in ride-sharing, sorting out gear, and arranging for sub-grouping to comply with provincial restrictions in force at the time. No pets on this trip, thanks.

Your RSVP puts you on the Waitlist. I’ll contact you to discuss your experience level and related details. If you’re in, you e-transfer me the the $25 (or $35 option) camping fee and I change your RSVP to ‘Going’. If something comes up and you can’t attend, I'll arrange for a replacement. This event is not ‘first come, first served’ - I wish to balance the mix of experienced and inexperienced kayakers.

Your RSVP indicates your agreement with the terms of the Co-Participant Understanding at https://www.meetup.com/KW-Backcountry/messages/boards/thread/52807358

There's always someone to lend a hand on KWBT Meetups, but you are responsible for your own transportation, food, gear, personal safety and COVID risk. You can DM me with any questions through this Meetup app.

Mike