BORDEN-CARLETON, P.E.I. - There’s laughter and chatter as a rainbow of kayaks, canoes and paddle boards dip into the Northumberland Strait and move away from the harbour near the Marine Railway Park in Borden-Carleton, with a single stroke on a hot Saturday afternoon.
“I’ve been a lifelong paddling enthusiast, and this seemed like an excellent opportunity to get out and see the P.E.I. coastline,” commented Andrew Russell, Canadian Olympian sprint canoer and one of the instructors for the day.
Paddlers soaked in the shoreline of P.E.I. from a whole new perspective as they left their carbon footprints behind in a white wake, while they glided past red cliffs, sand dunes and pastoral landscapes.
“For me exercise is very meditative and being on the ocean is like that extra element where you leave all your stress behind and give yourself that little hiatus from the world,” continued Russell, who travelled from Dartmouth N.S. to attend ‘Sea the Coast, P.E.I.’s Premiere Paddle Festival,’ for the day.
The three-day festival gives novice and experienced paddlers alike the chance to ride the ocean waves or, drift down the peaceful Tryon River for six kilometres.
“Our ultimate goal is to create a tourism event (that aligns with the provincial tourism strategy) to encourage off-Islanders to visit P.E.I. during the soft season and discover the coast from a whole new perspective,” explained Peggy Miles, tourism development manager.
The festival included paddle workshops, tasting Island cuisine, live entertainment, storytelling and music featuring award-winning acts such as Dylan Menzie (contestant on the television show ‘The Launch’) and the Amanda Jackson Band.
“We have a strong cultural component, so we’ve been working with a team from Lennox Island. On Friday we had a Mi’kmaq drum circle and dancing, and then on Saturday morning we had a smudging ceremony with an elder, followed by artisan demonstrations,” added Miles, who acknowledged there’s a growth for authentic Indigenous experiences.
Miles thanked all partners and sponsors of the festival, as well as all participants that came from far and wide.
“We have people from Ottawa, the U.S.A, Nova Scotia, to name but a few places,” she said.
Daniel Bondt, aged 74, from Emyvale P.E.I., was among them. He dipped his toes into kayaking 10 years ago after retirement from farming.
“My main reason to kayak is to escape the noise. Everywhere you go there are cars, trucks, tractors, and I like to get away from it all by finding peace and quiet out on the water,” shared Bondt, who brought his own gear.
“When you kayak you see so many shades of green, reds and blues,” he continued. “There’s always a different experience out on the water, whether its wildlife encounters or amazing scenery.”
With an infectious smile, Russell concluded, “It’s humbling learning how to handle the waves.”
For more information on the festival that ran Friday 22-24, visit www.seathecoastpaddlefest.com.
