I’m just going to come out and say it: This has not been a good summer for me. I usually complain about the weather not being just right for whatever summer activities I have planned. In the past few years, it’s been my health also getting in the way of plans. This year, I learned just how important an ankle is! (If you didn’t catch my earlier post, I severely sprained my ankle in mid-June and yes, I continue to have issues with it.) But I haven’t been completely out of action.
On a gray but calm morning a few weeks back, I managed to get Little Red out for a paddle on the South Saskatchewan River. I really like using the beach next to the powerboat ramp to launch so I headed downtown to the west end of the Broadway Bridge. I usually like to go upstream first so that I have an easier paddle back but lately, I’ve been preferring to go downstream first simply for the views. Despite not paddling much this year, I’ve definitely become a better kayaker and set myself a goal to reach the Prairie Lily boat launch.
The river is quite low even for this time of year so I had a little trouble pushing myself into the water but eventually, I was off and my first break came quickly when I ran into a whole mess of seagulls on a sandbar. (I don’t know what the actual collective noun is for seagulls and while I could Google it quite easily right now, I stand by my use of the word “mess” since that’s what birds always leave behind!) My smartphone didn’t quite get the kind of images I wanted of these feathered fowl but they do look at home in front of all the lovely downtown scenery.
So, under the University Bridge I went, where I was greeted with the site of the Shakespeare On The Saskatchewan tent. The water was a bit more calm on this side and the white tent and tree-lined river valley made for some interesting reflections on the water. I actually got a tad confused while looking at my photos post-paddle. In the distance, of course, was the Prairie Lily.
Several years – and blog posts – ago, I got the opportunity to take a ride on this adorable little riverboat which takes travelers from the former Mendel Art Gallery upstream past Riverlanding and back. The vessel looks like an old-fashioned steamer but is really just a regular gas-powered ferry. I personally love it and I can’t imagine Saskatoon without it.
From where I sat on the river as I came toward the ferry, it was hard not to conjure up images of pirates hopping aboard to steal money and jewels from wealthy boat riders. It was also very hard not to start humming the song, The Last Saskatchewan Pirate!
When I checked my watch, I realized that at least a half hour had gone by and I really should start paddling back. A couple of selfies and I turned back toward the University Bridge. One of my favorite Saskatoon views is seeing the Bessborough Hotel framed by the arches of the bridge and again, I had to stop to snap more photos.
It was a lovely paddle and my longest so far at just under an hour. Little Red is now 10 years old and I look forward to many more adventures with him!