Nat and her fam have been enjoying kayaking on the Ottawa River, near their home in Aylmer, Gatineau in the Outaouais region.
“Kayaking along the shore of the Ottawa river is both peaceful and exciting!” said Nat, Connexions Communications Coordinator. “During the day, we paddle-out a couple of kilometers from the shore, drop anchor and cast out our fishing line in the calmer currents, while watching the ducks swim and dive for food and the waterbirds fly by. From time to time, we’ll even spot some shorebirds walking in the tall grasses, and once we even saw a bald eagle nesting in a tall tree! When the kids get too hot, they simply jump overboard and enjoy the refreshing water. In the evenings, we turn-on our lights, and begin paddling up the quiet shoreline, watching the sun set beyond the hills.”
Highlights:
?App used to discover the different waterways in the Outaouais: All Trails
?️With more than 15,000 lakes and a dozen rivers in the Outaouais, there are a number of kayaking, canoing and even white water rafting activities you can try-out: Tourisme Outaouais
?If you have a Gatineau Access Card +(premium card), you can rent kayaks, and other equipment, for free: Centre de plein air Hélène-Larochelle at parc du Lac-Beauchamp, Centre de plein air du Lac-Leamy, Centre nautique de la Lièvre, Pavillon Robert-Middlemiss and Relais Plein Air at Parc des Cèdres.
?Canoeing and kayaking are low impact activities that improve cardiovascular fitness, increase muscle strength, particularly in the back, arms, shoulders and chest, and even in the torso and legs, and reduces the risk of wear-and-tear on joints and tissues.
?As you paddle down a river or lake, taking in the peaceful sites of the forest landscape around you, you are still enjoying the benefits of forest bathing! The term emerged in Japan in the 1980s as a physiological and psychological exercise called shinrin-yoku (“forest bathing” or “taking in the forest atmosphere”). The purpose: to immerse oneself in nature as an eco-antidote to burnout and to inspire individuals to reconnect with and protect our forests.
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