| Kayaking in the fall can be one of the best times to be | | | | The Nith can be run any where between New |
| on the river or lake, but extra caution should be taken. | | | | Hamburg and Paris, the distance between most |
| In the fall the nights are cool and this cools the water | | | | bridges is about two hours. A great section for novice |
| and the days are short so the water does not have | | | | paddlers is the bridge at Drumbo rd. (county rd 29), or |
| time to warm up. | | | | the one just down stream on Blenheim rd down to the |
| When I paddle in the fall and spring I bring an extra set | | | | First or second bridge in Canning. The put out for the |
| of close in a waterproof bag, and I always wear a | | | | first bridge is on the left side just after the bridge, the |
| P.F.D. just in case I get wet. Even if the water is not | | | | second is on the right side about 100 ft. upstream from |
| cold enough to cause hypothermia, it can make for | | | | the bridge. Even the two bridges in Canning that are |
| uncomfortable trip if you happen to get wet. | | | | only one minute apart by vehicle, is almost an hour on |
| That being said kayaking or canoeing in the fall can be | | | | the river. The bridge in Richwood (County rd 5) to the |
| one of the best times to be out on the water. The | | | | second bridge in Canning is about two hours. My wife |
| water levels are usually at a good level with the fall | | | | likes this section because there are no big rapids, and it |
| rains and the ground not taking in much water the | | | | is pretty easy going, but there is still lots of nature to |
| rivers have a steady flow of water coming out of | | | | see. |
| streams and field runoff. | | | | My favorite section is from the down stream bridge in |
| You have many options when it comes to where to | | | | Canning to Optimist Park in the south end of Paris on |
| go kayaking in the fall in S.W.O. such as The Grand | | | | the Grand River. Mostly because it is a real easy put in |
| River, Big Creek (Long Point), Black Creek (Port | | | | and put out (short carry to vehicle), it is a beautiful |
| Dover), some I have written about in other articles. In | | | | section of the river, and there are some nice rapids as |
| my opinion the best place for fall kayaking in S.W.O. is | | | | you come into Paris. I will put my kayak skirt on for this |
| the Nith River. | | | | section when the water is cold. It takes four to five |
| The reasons I think this is the best place for fall | | | | hours to do this section. You can cut it in half by putting |
| kayaking in S.W.O. is because of it's location, the water | | | | in at the Puttown rd bridge (lower downstream side). |
| level, and the wind factor. The Niths' central location | | | | When you first get in at Canning the house you go |
| makes it easy to get to. Starting in New Hamburg it is | | | | past on the right just past the bridge is the Gretzky |
| close to Kitcener and Waterloo. Passing through Ayr it | | | | homestead where Walter Gretzky grew up. Wayne |
| is close to Cambridge, finally ending at the Grand River | | | | use to play on the frozen water of the Nith river when |
| in Paris. | | | | he was a boy visiting his Grandparents. |
| Even though there are some deep holes on the Nith, | | | | As you leave Canning that will be the last you see of |
| for the most part you are never in more than a foot or | | | | houses for a few hours, and you get the feeling you |
| two of water.If for some reason you do end up in the | | | | are much further away from civilization than you are.If |
| water, you should be able to stand up and walk to | | | | you don't make a lot of noise you may even see deer, |
| shore. This is where that extra set of cloths come in. | | | | beaver or fox.My last trip down the Nith on Nov.14Th I |
| Finally the wind factor. Many people do not think about | | | | had just got done taking a picture as I floated down |
| the wind when they are heading out for a day on the | | | | the river, I was putting my camera in my pocket when |
| water. On a river like the Grand that runs pretty much | | | | I looked up to see a three point buck had just walked |
| in a straight S.W. direction, and you get a head wind | | | | out down stream form me. I'm not sure if he saw me |
| blowing up the river at you it can make for a very | | | | but he didn't seem to care. I got a great picture and the |
| difficult trip.A few years ago while paddling on the | | | | deer just walked on out the other side and into the |
| Grand with some friends there was a woman with | | | | field. |
| two small children in a canoe and it was very windy, | | | | As you come into Paris there are three sets of rapids |
| and with no one to paddle in the front she was getting | | | | that you should take care as you go through them. |
| blown all over the river. She was having a very hard | | | | You may have to do some maneuvering to get |
| time keeping the canoe straight. Luckily a six man raft | | | | through them, try not to get sideways. As you carry |
| came by and two guys got in the canoe and the | | | | on down under the two foot bridges that cross over |
| woman and kids got in the raft. | | | | the river, it turns to the left and enters the Grand River |
| The Nith has a lot of high banks and a lot of twist and | | | | below the Paris Dam, from here it is a short trip under |
| turn. Even on a windy day on the Nith you will only be | | | | the high level bridge to Optimist Park on the right side |
| in the wind until you get around the next bend. It is best | | | | after the houses end. |
| if the wind is coming out of the west. | | | | |