I began paddling at the age of 11 (a very long time ago).
A few highlights include:
Several year of Marathon Canoe racing in the Maritime Provinces and later in British Columbia and a bit in Ontario.
Forming the Atlantic Kayak Association in 1999, a recreational group of kayakers/ canoeists in Atlantic Canada. WE had skills nights where we would teach and learn together and we also had weekly paddle outings and a number of overnight paddling adventures.
A pair of solo sea kayak trips in 2000, paddling from the Quebec/ New Brunswick border to the New Brunswick/ Nova Scotia border. And weeks later, from the New Brunswick border with the state of Maine, up the Bay of Fundy and right into downtown Moncton New Brunswick via the tidal waters of the Petitcodiac River.
A ultramarathon paddling attempt at longest distance paddles inn 24 hours. Due to an elbow injury, I cam up short but still managed 275 km in roughly 24 hours on the water.
2004 Solo Canoe Expedition of roughly 6000 km, starting in Kitimat BC on the northwest coast and ending i Montreal Quebec just over 6 months later.
2006 Yukon River Quest
2007 Circumnavigation of Vancouver Island and the setting of a new solo speed record for fastest circumnavigation.
2008...formed the Superior Kayak and Canoe Club in Thunder Bay, Ontario. A recreational group of paddlers for practicing skills, learning from one another and getting out for regular trips and finding paddling partners.
2010. Another Circumnavigation of Vancouver Island by sea kayak, reclaiming the speed record after my first record was broken in 2008 by Sean Morley.
Paddle Building. I began building paddles, as a hobby, back in 2005. By 2009 however, it had become a true passion and I was building up to 150-200 paddles per year.
Countless other smaller paddling trips in northwestern Ontario with my partner Diane and our dogs Sandpaper and Plaid.
Sidenote....ended the paddle building back in 2022.
2024....a return to building custom canoe and kayak paddles starting in the Spring, roughly a week from the time that I am typing his entry.
