Post Review - Lock Camping

What can I say, phenomenal, the grounds are maintained by parks canada and the views are spectacular.  

They charge about 5 dollars for camping if you arrive by boat, didn't have one lock master ask for payment and would have paid instantly had they. Well worth it.

Some locks have firepits, though most don't  the few that do also provide firewood, nice.  

They all have ample picnic tables which make eating and relaxing so much better.

All have washroom access, while no showers they do have washrooms and sinks, much nicer for brushing teeth and cleaning up.  They all provide you with washroom lock code or key for after the lock closes. If you think you won't be at a lock by closing, any of the previous locks will call ahead and they will arrange to get washroom access ahead of time. 

The only downside, some are very difficult the get kayak out of the water, best to get out kayak and see where the best place to camp and take out is before locking through.  Ask the lockmaster, they have people going through all the time. They may even recommend the next lock.  Canoe docks are the best but very few locks have them, sometimes you have to get creative and you can count on a little work and sometimes a lot of frustration.  The lock staff were always willing to help if not busy.

There were almost always people around and very social, enjoyed very much.

Post Review - Items for next time

There are a few things that I would have brought if doing this again.  

Camera, only had my blackberry camera and quality is crap, so wish I had brought digital or even waterproof disposable ones, next time.

I would get a good waterproof deck bag to store stuff, didn't really need it but would have been handy. Saw one before I left and almost picked it up. Wish I did later.  Not a biggie.

Sail, oh yeah baby, I was in good wind and a sail would have been perfect and a lot of fun and a break from paddling.

Porable hammock, would have been sweet to setup and nap on a little island somewhere or at camp. 

There was room for the above items.

Post Review - Packing

Still surprised everything fit into that tiny little kayak. 

The key, smaller is better, easier to stuff small articles rather than large ones as they can fit to fill all available space.  When picking out your gear air on the side of compact, as an example, big bulky sleeping bag is just taking up space, get one that is compact ans can be compressed.
Have a specific packing plan and stick to it, know where everything is, pain to have to constantly go, now where is my stove now when you stop for lunch everyday.  I packed my kayak the exact same way every day and could easily find what I was looking for, also made packing kayak each day easier,  didn't have to think about where everything went.  Made all the difference. 

Once my nephew Kyle joined, I had to reorganize the gear across two kayaks, was annoying to have to go through 4 hatches just to find something and the next day I made sure I had a new packing plan for both. .

I carried a big canvas army bag, I used it to move gear from kayak to camp and back, meant I could make fewer trips, recommend carrying something similar, makes things easier and you don't have to walk back and forth a 100 times at the start and end of every day. 

Didn't pack too many things on the deck, rear deck I stored marine bumpers and spare paddle. Front deck I stored bilge pump and water bottles.  I also had a drypack bag I stored on front deck which contained electronics and wallet.   I would store hat and gloves on either deck with no rhyme or reason, just out of the way and I was fine.

Kept a little tuperware container in kayak which contained snacks for the day.

Post Review - Waterproof

Assume that everything at some point will get wet.  Make sure you have proper waterproofing for all gear, especially electronics, sleeping and clothing gear.  If you can afford it,  commercial dry bags are amazing and really provide good protection.   Double bag or ziplock everything that isn't. A little planning can save you a lot of hassle dealing with wet stuff

Bring a couple of white garbage bags to pack up wet or dirty laundry, don't mix with clean dry clothes, musty smell just sucks and doesn't go away unless you wash everything.

Waterproof paddlejacket is a must!  Rain and bad weather isn't an issue if you are dressed properly, dry and warm. Worth the cost.  

A good pair of water shoes, will be walking in water lots and a good pair of water shoes help. I went with water running shoes instead of sock type water shoes, they were perfect.

Do not forget a sponge, only way to get all the water out of kayak and hatches and good for cleaning your boat.

Get a mini umbrella and keep in kayak beside seat, great for those little storms that pass through or to get rain gear on without getting soaked, also good at camp when raining.

Post Review - Electronics

I had my ipod and 2 blackberry devices in a waterproof box. Worked great and never got wet, most times my cell phone was in my life jacket.    Having internet access and gps was great as was the ability to update this blog and keep in touch with people. Bring, just leave work at home, which I did.

Only used my ipod a few times paddling and not once at camp, could have done without. Definitely get waterproof headphones, got mine wet 4 times and glad they still work, for now. 

Vhf radio I only used to check weather forecast and typically did that in the morning and at night, didn't really check it during the day. Was nice to have.

Charging, the energizer mobile battery chargers are amazing, used them to charge devices for the entire 15 days and these things worked flawlessly.  Make sure you bring enough batteries but there are lots of places along the way to get more. I went through 20 or so.

Post Review - Clothing

Bring lots of quick drying shirts, long and short as well as quick drying shorts for paddling.  Be careful with anything cotton, stays wet for hours, doesn't dry easily and drains body heat when wet. 

Pack nice warm clothes for camp, you will want to be comfortable and after a long wet paddle, nothing feels better.  If you can, try and bring at least some respectable clothes for going out dinning, don't want stares sitting in nice restaurant.   Baseball cap works wonders. 

I found rolling clothing made them pack smaller and also helped with the wrinkle factor, don't mix dirty clothes with clean!  Everything will get musty. 

There are places along the way with coin operated laundry mats, I used the one at fenelon falls to make sure everything was clean. 

Bring a pair of paddle shoes and another pair for camp, wet shoes at night suck, I had sandles that I had for camp and paddled with them as well when other shoes were soaked, feet will prune up bad in wet shoes.  Get something with hard soles for paddling, you are pushing a lot with feet and without protection it's going to hurt after a bit.  Don't paddle barefoot, uncomfortable.

Bring one of those wide brim canvas hats like the guys on tv in the wild.  Wear while out on water, keeps the sun off and rain won't drip down neck or face,  drys quickly too.

I could take or leave paddle gloves, does offer protection but if wet then hands stay wet and they soften up and blister easier.   I rarely wore mine after the halfway point, keep hands dry as much as possible.

PFD was very comfortable and provides back support while kayaking, I only wish I got one with more and bigger pockets, when I buy my own, will make sure it has them.

Paddle jacket, paddle jacket, paddle jacket, it will rain and if you want to be dry and comfy, get one.  Worth it.  Make sure it had rubber wrist and neck clasps to keep the water out.

Post Review - General Stuff

Not specific enough to warrant it's own category so lumping these together. 

Sun Block, get it and use it, especially on overcast windy days where you don't notice how much sun you're getting. Paddled for two days feeling the effects of too much exposure to sun, not fun.

Lip balm, lips started to chap, have some available so you don't get cracked lips. 

Lighting, get a good headlamp, makes organizing in the tent at night so much easier, if you have to paddle at night you're going to need it anyway. Also had a handheld flashlight but rarely used it.   Bring solarcain just in case, helps if you need it.

First aid, thankfully only needed the bandaids, glad I had it with me though, only thing I added along the way was waterproof bandaids, helped with blisters that started to form,  prevented full on open blisters.   Whew.

Bugs, the only mosquito bite I got was dropping off the kayak at the end, bring good deet and pickup mosquito coils for the pesky ones that get into the tent.  Pick up a coil burner, like a little ashtray that you put the coil in the middle between two fireproof screens, worked wonders and you don't want to be burning tent down.   I didn't have an issue with mosquitoes, deer flies or blackflies, were almost non existent.   They were only out around dusk or early morning.