The French River
We all enjoyed a hearty breakfast due to missing dinner the previous night and after a cold swim, packed up and put in. We then paddled the winding stretch of river down toward Five Finger Rapids. Protected from the wind and deep inside the French River Provincial Park boundaries, the morning was a very quiet and peaceful paddle.
Closer to the rapids, the river narrowed and wound around to the south and again to the east. As we approached Five Finger Rapids, the roar of the water and Steve and Dan’s previous brush with oblivion quickly told us that we would need to portage.
As we pulled the boats and the gear up on shore, we marveled at the expanse of the water as it rolled and crashed over the rocks down to the lake below. There seemed to be several smaller tributaries that joined the chute along it’s path adding to the cascade of white water before us.
We startled a small ermine or mink (or some relative of the weasel family), which quickly jumped into the rapids and over the falls, emerging unscathed with a small fish in it’s mouth at the bottom of the chute. We saw several of these animals fishing in and around the turbulent water, obviously quite at home in the rapids.
Some of us were beginning to show signs of overexposure to the sun despite our broad-brimmed hats and frequent sunscreen applications. All the same, we had developed the ability to complete a portage in a single pass, with one paddler carrying the boat and a pack, and the other taking the remaining packs and the paddles.
At the bottom of the portage, we put in and I decided to paddle a little upstream into some rougher water. Janet didn’t think it was a smart idea. I won’t soon forget the look on her face as we were promptly swamped and washed down the remainder of the river toward the main expanse of the French River.
September 30th, 2006 at 10:06
I hope I can visit this river one day!
November 20th, 2006 at 21:16
Reading about it I felt like I was with you (even started itching when you got swarmed). Great description of what sounds like an amazing Ontario destination. Thanks!
November 20th, 2006 at 21:28
if I go there in Scott’s canoe and with his optimism and sense of transience… I will go. For the meantime, I can surf here without insects.