Jordan Harbour Kayaking with Angela!

Kayaking is one of my favourite things to do in life - EVER! It's even more enjoyable though when you are able to share it with a friend. I was very fortunate to be able to share this wonderful activity with a very wonderful friend of mine - Angela! We went to a place that was close to home and great for her first time out - Jordan Harbour. The launch is very nice and you can unload your kayak steps from the waters edge.
Here are some photos:

Angela at the Launch

Angela - Getting Ready to Go!

Heading Out on a Beautiful Day!

Our trip started off on a bad note when Angela slipped on the slime at the boat launch and hurt her ankle. Ouch, it looked so sore, but she was a trooper and we headed out anyway. Here are some more photos of our time out:

Turtles on a Log

Awesome Day Kayaking!

Cormorants

Blue Heron

While we were out kayaking, a train went over the bridge. It's pretty cool when the timing is right and you happen to be kayaking under the bridge when a train passes above. As for wildlife encounters, we seen turtles, cormorants and a blue heron. Not bad for a couple hours on the water!

Train Passing Over the Bridge

Freight Train

It was a great time out on the water shared with a wonderful friend. We encountered some wildlife while out on the water and as a bonus, a freight train passing overhead. Jordan Harbour is nice place to launch for a quick trip out. You can pass under the railway bridge and kayak through the marshes where you may see otters, swans and other birds. Alternately, you can head out into Lake Ontario and explore the shoreline heading East towards Charles Daley Park or West towards Beamsville. Lots of options all starting at this cool little conservation area!
Happy Paddling!

Upper Niagara River Kayak Fishing Trip

Early September we spent a day out kayak fishing on the upper Niagara River. We launched at Black Creek along the parkway. There was plenty of parking and the launch facilities were nice too. After launching, we headed up river for a few kilometres then drifted back.  The weather was perfect! I was amazed at the clarity of the water. Dave caught a couple nice bass. As for wildlife, only a tree full of what I believe were cormorants.  I'm hoping to get back out on the upper Niagara and the lower Niagara as well. Here are some photos:

Black Creek launch

Upper Niagara River

Beautiful day on the water!

Cormorants?

Dave's bass

Reeds in the current

A perfect day kayaking!

Bridge at Black Creek

Heading in

Welland River\E.C Brown Kayak Trip

There's a beautiful little conservation area located along the Welland River - E.C Brown. It provides a very nice place to launch into the Welland River East of Hwy 24. Usually I launch at Wellandport, but I decided in June 2012 to take a morning kayak trip out and launch here. There are no washroom facilities but the launch is very good. I kayaked a total of 13 km that morning towards Welland. There were a couple boats out fishing and some small planes flew over me to land at the airport. For a little while the river runs parallel to a road with some traffic so I wouldn't classify it as a nice quiet nature paddle, but it was a fun morning out. Here are some photos:

Welland River

O'Reilly's Bridge

Modern Art

Beautiful Scenery

Welland River

Airplane!

Airplane Along the Welland River

End of Kayak Stats

Very Nice Launch

O'Reilly's Bridge

Lake Ontario Kayaking May 2012

Here are some photos of one our Lake Ontario kayaking trips in May 2012. Our launch point was at Jordan Harbour Conservation Area. There's lots of parking there and the launch is pretty nice. So far, no cost to get in or park. We went about 3 km then had to turn around as the weather got a little rough. It was a fun time out though. In total we went about 6 km. We would have stayed out longer if the weather had cooperated. 

Beautiful Lake Ontario

Dave Fishing

Leaving Jordan Harbour

Under the highway bridge

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Launch at Jordan Harbour CA

Heading Back