HUMAN CHRONICLES 13 Known as Canada’s Amazon, the meandering Big Creek in Norfolk County (Ontario, Canada) takes you through the marshes and thick vegetation of the Carolinian forest to the open waters close to Lake Erie. For first time kayakers this approx. 9 km paddling experience is ideal before getting into choppy waters The guides take you through the do’s and dont’s. For first-timers, instructions on how to hold the paddle, how to use your legs to control the rowing and the kayak, and what to do if you capsize proved invaluable. continued ... elsewhere. Our (my wife and I and two friends) journey included two hours of paddling on Big Creek, followed by a short break, and two more hours paddling into the Big Creek National Wildlife Area. An environmentalist at heart, a kayaker and teacher of nature by passion, Brian Craig took us on a four-hour journey that inspired this story. Before you jump in The guides take you through the do’s and dont’s. For firsttimers, instructions are given on how to hold the paddle, how to use your legs to control the rowing and the kayak, and what to do if you capsize proved invaluable. Standing in muddy waters and getting into the kayak was not as difficult as I thought. The $10* water shoes held my weight without any complaints. Two hours went by without a hitch. We were back at the starting point for a 15 minute break. The break and light lunch in the kayak under the shady trees also helped ease the cramps in my back. The second half of the expedition took us in the opposite direction to the open waters. My only regret was in not coating myself with enough bug spray. I was attracting a lot of flies, the biting ones. Public Facilities There are no washrooms at the launch location. Guests are welcome to use the washroom and other facilities at Long Point Eco-Adventures prior to the paddle on Big Creek. All our outdoor trips, if there are no public washrooms, are limited to two hours. For longer treks, facilities are a must. I have even researched tactics some of the eCommerce drivers use on their delivery routes. Guided Tours We were fortunate to have Brian Craig as one of our guides. He is as passionate as he is knowledgeable having worked with Environment Canada before. The group consisted of 10 kayakers plus the two guides. All of the Long Point Eco-
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