The kayaks, canoes and paddleboards have been pulled out of storage and are ready to help area paddlers commune with the tranquil Châteauguay River.
Both the OBV SCABRIC and Kayak Safari are now fully open for the season in Sainte-Martine and Huntingdon.
In appreciation of water month, the OBV SCABRIC announced the details of its summer program on June 8 from its rental location along the riverbank at Léveillé Park.
Once again this year, the watershed management organization will be partnering with Kayak Safari to offer point-to-point river descents as well as bike-kayak outings that allow participants to discover the river from different vantage points. These excursions will take place on July 11, August 2, 15 and 16, as well as September 6 and 7. Registration for this activity is now open online via the scabric.ca website.
This is the third year that the bike-kayak excursions will be available. “We now have a finished product that lets people explore our beautiful farmland, thanks to a lovely bicycle path that winds through the fields right up to the point where we switch from bikes to kayaks to paddle downstream to the starting point,” said SCABRIC director Geneviève Audet.
“We want to make the river accessible,” she explained, noting that in collaboration with the municipality of Sainte-Martine, their collection of canoes, kayaks, double kayaks, and paddleboard will be available to rent on an hourly, daily or longer-term basis from June 20 to August 23. Rentals will then be available on weekend only throughout the month of September.
Audet noted the SCABRIC is still accepting entries for its annual “I Love My River” photo contest up until June 22. The winner will be announced during the organization’s annual Grand Splash event on July 12.
The SCABRIC’s complete calendar of activities and summer program is available on the organization’s website.
In Huntingdon, kayakers and paddleboarders have already been spotted floating down the peaceful section of the Châteauguay River between Elgin and Huntingdon. Owner Adam Beare noted that as more water enthusiasts turn to inflatable paddleboards the rental market has slowed. Kayaking is still very popular, and the shuttle service offered by Kayak Safari remains a big draw for those renting kayaks as well as those who bring their own.
Kayak Safari is celebrating its 25th anniversary this season and is offering a 25 per cent discount for outings booked during the first 25 days of the season, which will end on June 23. The local business was also featured as part of the MRC du Haut-Saint-Laurent’s video series highlighting the region’s best tourism attractions.
More information on Kayak Safari can be found online at Kayaksafari.ca.