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MVFN Fall Colours Paddle, September 30, 2018
On September 30th a group of MVFN members enjoyed a paddle along the mighty Ontario Mississippi from Pakenham to Blakeney. This annual fall colours paddle outing was led this year by Stan Holloway.
John Willis: “A small but mighty group. The weather cooperated – cool but no rain.”
NOTE: For a list of places to paddle in Lanark County, and a map, visit our Lanark County Canoe & Kayak Routes page here.
All photos below by John Willis
Annual MVFN Fall Colours Paddle
Sunday, September 30, 2018
Join us as we explore nature from the water’s edge on a paddle upstream along a beautiful section of the Mississippi River from Pakenham to the Blakeney Falls, revealing a hidden view of the Mississippi shoreline, quite different from what is seen from the highway!
This paddle will be led by Stan Holloway. The paddle is journey #17 described in MVFN’s Lanark County Canoe & Kayak Journeys Guide/Map.
photo by B. Boyd
Directions to meeting/launch site: From Almonte go north on Hwy 29 to Pakenham. After entering the village, pass Pakenham Public School and take the second right onto Jessie Street and then the second right off Jessie Street onto Margaret Street. Park at the fence near the beach.
Time: Arrive by 9:45 AM at the latest, so we can be on the water by 10 AM. We expect to be back by 3 PM.
Bring: Picnic lunch, water, hat, binoculars, insect repellent, sunscreen (yup, you’ll still need that on a sunny day on the water!). You must also be equipped with mandatory safety equipment including life jackets, extra paddle, bailer, whistle, flashlight and heaving line.
Pre-registration: You must pre-register for this event. Your MVFN registration should be up to date. To check your membership status contact the membership committee at . You may bring a friend or two, subject to the approval of the trip leader.
To register: please email Stan at: advising whether you will be canoeing or kayaking and leaving a return phone number. If you have a canoe and need a partner, or don’t have a canoe and would like to partner, please contact Stan.
In case of severe weather, this event will be cancelled. If in doubt, call Stan no later than 8:30 AM, at 613-797-5695, to confirm.
Sunday, August 26, 2018
Come and join us as we explore nature from the water’s edge on a paddle along our beloved Mississippi River. We will start at Fergusons Falls, all the while looking for various woodland and marshland birds. We will watch, in particular, for loons, ospreys, great blue herons, green herons, king birds and kingfishers. We will stop for lunch, possibly at Mal’s Campground where there are washrooms and a swimming beach, before heading back down river.
This paddle is Journey #3 in MVFN’s Guide “Lanark County Canoe & Kayak Journeys“.
Car Pooling: Meet at Union Hall on Wolf Grove Road for departure by 8:30 AM. Alternatively, meet at the launch site by 8:45 AM. The canoe launch site is at Fergusons Falls Community Hall, 1362 Fergusons Falls Road; departure 9:00 AM.
Bring: Picnic lunch, water, hat, binoculars, insect repellent, sunscreen, and swimming attire if you wish. You must also be equipped with mandatory life jackets, extra paddle, bailer, whistle, flashlight and buoyant heaving line.
Pre-registration: You must pre-register for this event. Your MVFN registration should be up to date (contact Elizabeth Veninga at if you are unsure of your membership status. NOTE: On-line membership registration is available at http://mvfn.ca/membership/).
To register please email Muriel and Dave Hanneson at advising whether you will be canoeing or kayaking; please leave a return phone number. If you have a canoe and need a partner, or don’t have a canoe and would like to partner, please contact Muriel or Dave at 613-256-6345 or
In case of severe weather, this event will be cancelled. If in doubt, call Muriel or Dave no later than 8:00 AM on Sunday, August 26 at 613-256-6345. Cell phone 613-799-1179.
Mississippi River paddle. photo Howard Robinson
NOTE: The following report and photos re. the August 26th MVFN day-trip paddle were sent in by Howard and Mary Robinson. View this post on our MVFN Facebook page and if you were on the trip, add, in the comments, any other nature observations you want to share.
Seven vessels (4 canoes and 3 kayaks) set out from the boat launch near the bridge at Country Road 15, paddling upstream on the Mississippi River towards Playfairville. The river was full and high; the day bright, sunny and not too hot. It was a perfect day for MVFN field naturalists to be out observing nature and the changing landscape from the water’s edge. We stopped for lunch in a soft maple woodland, then returned to our starting point enjoying an easier paddle travelling downstream with the current.
Below are the bird species seen or heard by some of the participants on the outing. Great Blue Herons were most plentiful and numerous Belted Kingfishers were rattling around on our journey.
Belted Kingfisher
Great Blue Heron
White-breasted Nuthatch
American Crow
Blue Jay
Black-capped Chickadee
Black Tern
Canada Goose
Eastern Wood-Pewee
Red-eyed Vireo
Eastern Phoebe
Common Loon
Bald Eagle
Turkey Vulture
Mourning Dove
Double-crested Cormorant
American Goldfinch
Ring-billed Gull
Red-breasted Nuthatch
Green Heron
Osprey
Pileated Woodpecker
~ Mary Robinson
Six of seven vessels in the group. photo Howard Robinson
Great Blue Heron perches: August 26th on the banks of Mississippi River. photo Howard Robinson
Beautiful day for paddling and exploring nature at the water’s edge. Photo Howard Robinson
