You’re going to canoe how far? What will Dylan do in the canoe? Do you know you are crazy? Truth be told, even this nature girl was a bit nervous about completing the Moose River Bow Trip with a three-year old. I worried about everything that could possibly go wrong: Dylan being bored in the canoe for 7 hours a day; tipping over the boat; the mostly cloudy with probable showers forecast for the week; and even getting lost. I called my Dad, who was joining us on our adventure, the day before the trip to share the weather forecast and my reservations. He didn’t offer the “out” I was hoping for, only saying, “You’re worrying too much. Plan it out. We’ll adjust as we go along. Step out of your comfort zone.” I planned, I packed, and I prayed!
Torrential downpours greeted us as we drove over the Jackman city line where we spent the night before our journey. When I mentioned that this might be a “sign”, my husband laughed and said it was a sign: a sign to pack rain gear. Falling asleep that night, I wondered what in the world we were doing and again rehashed all of the potential blunders that might occur along the river and my plan for keeping Dylan safe and happy.
The next three days were magical (and sunny). Dylan wore his “floatie vest” (life jacket) and sat in the front of the canoe on a cushion with his backpack that he had packed himself. It’s contents included a net, a few favorite super hero figurines, three books about things he thought he might see on the trip (bugs, pirates, and space ships!), a magnifying glass, his water bottle, and several snacks. Our family spoke freely and openly about everything silly and serious, had quiet, reflective moments floating down the river, and laughed a lot. We saw wildlife up close in its natural habitat: dragonflies, butterflies, a beaver making a dam, frogs, kingfishers, otters, and a moose swimming in the middle of a lake. Dylan’s favorite part was riding down the rapids. After each trip down, he would shriek out loud and beg to go down the “river’s waterslide” again. Each day we spent 6 – 8 hours paddling along, stopping to eat lunch on the sandbars, taking refreshing swims, and finding the best place to set up camp for the night. The trip went smoothly and when it didn’t, we adjusted. Whenever Dylan asked to get out and explore we did. We let him get his own snacks, try to catch fish with his net, paddle an oar, and take pictures of his favorite parts. When the rapids were too fast we walked him around on land and went down the rips adults only. We took an extra day to complete the trip.
Along the river, I shed my worry and fears, and my family had the time of our lives! By sharing this story, I hope to share my lessons learned along the Moose River:
1. Step outside of your comfort zone every now and then. Surprise yourself!
2. Spend less time worrying and more time enjoying.
3. Things don’t need to go perfectly to be wonderful. Plan it out and adjust as needed.
If you are new to canoeing and want to try it out with your children, check out the Scarborough Marsh Audubon Center http://www.maineaudubon.org/explore/centers/marsh.shtml for canoe rentals & guided tours. The website http://familyfun.go.com/vacations/great-vacations/outdoor-adventures/paddle-pushers-713770/ and the book Cradle to Canoe: Camping and Canoeing with Children by Debra & Rolf Kraiker are both great resources to browse through. Happy Travels!
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