Cross Canada Canoe Expedition
Across Canada By Canoe
Rob / 28.04.2004
Joe O’Blenis is about to set off on a paddle across Canada. He’s going coast to coast, across a continent - 9000 kilometers, from the Pacific Ocean in northern British Columbia all the way to the waters of the Atlantic Ocean along Canada’s Maritime Provinces. He’ll be on his own in a solo canoe, but wherever possible will be sending back news of his progress to SleepMonsters.Joe has 27 years of paddling experience behind him, including solo tours of up to 1000 km, but this trip is his biggest challenge. He’ll be crossing 4 time zones and 8 provinces in a trip which will last 6 to 7 months! Here’s what he had to say about the trip.
“In early May I will launch from northern British Columbia in a Clipper Sea 1 canoe supplied by Clipper Canoes. The idea has been on my mind for a number of years now and finally, after many months of planning, I’m set to go! Many thanks got to my sponsors, without whom this trip would not be happening.�
“My route will consist of coastal paddling along the world-famous BC Inside Passage before heading inland on a 50-kilometer portage to an immense series of rivers north of Tweedsmuir Provincial Park. By way of the Nechako River, I’ll eventually come out on the Fraser River for some UPRIVER paddling enroute to Williston Lake and eventually the small town of Hudson Hope. This is the beginning of the Peace River, which I will paddle down all the way to Lake Athabasca in northeast Alberta, just below the Northwest Territories!�
“From here, I’ll head up the Athabasca River, turning onto the Clearwater River at Fort McMurray for more upriver paddling enroute to the 19 kilometer Methye Portage. This will take me into the waters of the mighty Churchill River that I will follow for over 1000 kilometers all the way across Saskatchewan. Another portage will take me over a watershed and onto the Saskatchewan River as I head into the province of Manitoba.�
“In Manitoba, I’ll paddle the length of Lake Winnipeg, the 8th largest freshwater Lake in the world before heading up the Winnipeg River into the province of Ontario. Eventually I’ll paddle the north shore of Lake Superior, the largest lake in the world by surface area. After Superior, it is onto Lake Huron’s Georgian Bay. Up the French River, across Lake Nippissing, down the Mattawa River, down the Ottawa River and into the St. Lawrence River on my way to the waters of the North Atlantic.�See All Event Posts
