NEV Winter 2020

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Albert’s map showing the route taken on the winter kayaking trip.Iwish I’d known this duringan April round-trip paddleto Nottawasaga Islandyears ago. On that day,the forecast called for 30 to35 km winds, gusting to 55km after 2 p.m. So two of us,experienced paddlers, setout about 11:30 a.m. fromshore, one km south of theisland in Georgian Bay. Thiswas an easy paddle, and weestimated it would be a 25- or30-minute round trip. Then,halfway around NottawasagaIsland, the wind picked upwith metre-high waves,and our short paddle lastedmore than 50 minutes.We returned momentsbefore the winds gusted above50 km. While my partner wasmounting her kayak onto theroof of her van, the wind liftedher boat off, which couldhave knocked her down if Ihadn’t been there. The kayakhad not been tied down.Lesson learned. No harm.But it definitely changedthe way I plan a paddle, andthe healthy respect I havefor weather, and water.Life-Saving EquipmentMid-fall to mid-springrequires a dry suit if you wantto stay alive. A wet suit? It’sgreat for summer but in latefall, winter and spring thecold water trapped betweensuit and body quickly inviteshypothermia; it’s like wearinga freezer. A dry suit onlyexposes your head from thetop of your neck, and yourhands from the end of yourwrists. My dry suit has a built-in hood, and I wear waterresistant, windproof Merinogloves, topped with neoprenemitts, and on my feetneoprene boots. Underneath,fast-drying warm clothes.Simple and life-saving.In 3- to 9-degrees Celsiustemperatures, I team up withan experienced paddler,someone like me who knowshow to perform an assistedrescue, so we can help oneanother. Below 3 degrees,there’s no paddling for me,as hands, deck lines, seakayak deck and everythingelse ices instantly withfreezing spray. I love beingon water but I have limits.Standard equipment onmy PFD (personal flotationdevice) is a marine radio,strobe light, whistle, waterknife, carabiner, and twopower bars stuffed in onepocket and 500 mm ofcoconut water in the other.Around my waist is a towropebelt to assist the otherpaddler or clip to my kayak.If paddling further thanhalf a km from shore, Icarry a flare pistol withfour cartridges. In winter,a flare pistol or hand flaresare essential for signallingan emergency. Mirrorswork too, but a flare shouts:“Emergency! Send Help Now!”Paddling is not acrapshoot; it’s about yourlife and those who careabout you. And everything isdecided at the water’s edge.If it doesn’t feel or look right,find a safer spot or go home.There is always another day,22 Niagara Escarpment Views • Winter 2020-21
Albert checking the GoPro cameraon his kayak after landing at Watts Knoll.The Blue Mountains of the Escarpmentcan be seen in the distance.On Guilfoyle Reef with Albert’s friend lookingback at The Blue Mountains on the horizon.winter 2020-21 • Niagara Escarpment Views 23
Page 1 and 2: winter 2020-21 (DeCeMBer, JAnUArY,
Page 3 and 4: WINTER 2020-21 (DECEMBER, JANUARY,
Page 5 and 6: view from the editor’s desK nPrep
Page 7 and 8: Find out how to claim your25% Rebat
Page 9 and 10: n gazetteChris Miller AwardedAmembe
Page 11 and 12: Paul and Brenda, business partners
Page 13 and 14: Weights and scale for precision bak
Page 15 and 16: Painted Rocks.Friendship Rocks.Kind
Page 17 and 18: Stone Edge EstateBed & Breakfast, G
Page 19 and 20: Not a rock, but a tile with a good
Page 21: To The Lighthouse: Author Albert Be
Page 25 and 26: TWOLOCATIONSTOSERVE YOU!Apples are
Page 27 and 28: EscarpmentBiosphereConservancyDisco
Page 29 and 30: Owen Sound seen from 8th Street Bri
Page 31 and 32: This photo was shot as the sun was
Page 33 and 34: I love this photo of the HerringGul
Page 35 and 36: Thank You!Ranked “Highest in Inve
Page 37 and 38: Iam a professionalphotographer and
Page 39 and 40: Chapter of SlagFor winter reading,
Page 41 and 42: oday is his second time tothe Badla
Page 43 and 44: junkman?” he says.Slag’s gaze d
Page 45 and 46: these are. In our housewe’re so m
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Page 49 and 50: communitY marKet nHaltonHamiltonNia
Page 51 and 52: NIAGARA: VINELAND ▼Picnic lunches
Page 53 and 54: A girl’s-sized dress representsth
Page 55 and 56: THE SEASON OF GIVINGƒGREAT HOLIDAY

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