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Bow. Wow.
PHOTO: JONATHAN PRATT
[ From the editor ]
Grabbing Canoeing by the Tail
W
10
EARLY SUMMER 2010
Her doleful puppy-dog eyes caught my at-
tention through the steel bars in spite of the chaotic howls and barks of the other prison- ers. Te little, one-year-old chocolate lab- husky mix with the sparkling eyes begged, “Take me home.” Leash in hand, I became a first time dog
owner with no idea what to expect. Tree days later, I was made fully aware of my new circumstances when I came home to a shred- ded mess of magazines, a feathery cloud of gutted down pillows and several well-scat- tered clusters of yellow polyurethane foam from…my couch! But that wasn’t all she was going to
hat I’m about to say might come as a shock, but as the editor of Canoeroots
magazine, I must be completely upfront and honest with my readers. So, here’s my con- fession. I’m a recovering sea kayaker. I had blissfully completed another sum-
mer as a sea kayak guide on Lake Superior when I met, on a cool September morning at a northern Ontario animal shelter, the little fur ball that would change the course of my paddling career.
change. Most canoeists can say their love of the
single blade came from family canoe trips into the interiors of Algonquin Provincial Park or summer camp. In this issue’s Base- camp column, Canoeroots publisher Scott MacGregor learns the true joy of canoeing from his son on a trip down the Petawawa River. But for me, my love of canoeing came from my dog, Tess. My passion at the time was definitely sea
kayaking and I was determined to share it with her. So I set down a comfortable mat in
the rear hatch of my 17-foot kayak. I load- ed her into the boat and paddled away—I thought that she would sit still. Instead, she precariously balanced herself
on top of the kayak, ignoring my commands: “Sit down! Tessie, SIT DOWN!” It wasn’t until she saw a flock of ducks tak-
ing flight that the kayak rolled and we both plunged into the frigid water of Superior. It was at that moment, as her claws dug
into my arms like the talons of a frightened parrot, that I learned she couldn’t swim. A month later, I sold my yellow Current De- signs and bought a red Nova Craft Prospec- tor. And a doggie PFD. Tat was seven years ago. After numerous
canoe trips, I don’t regret the trade one bit. Te only thing I wish I had done sooner was read this issue’s feature article, “Ruffin’ It,” in which dog paddler Kevin Callan gives his top tips on canoeing with your dog. It would have saved me (and Tess) some initial frustration. I still sea kayak…a bit, but don’t worry, I’m
over it. And Tess wags her tail when I bring out her dog PFD and has learned many times over to sit perfectly still in the canoe, except when she sees ducks. —Stephanie Park
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