A canoe trip along the Red Deer River might not be the first thing that comes to mind when considering plans in the middle of December.
Yet when recently faced with above seasonal weather, Bob Mastin decided to embark on a breathtaking late afternoon excursion down the river on Tuesday, Dec. 12, less than two weeks before Christmas.
"In the sun it looked like July and felt like October," he recently told the Round Up.
"It was quite an epic trip."
Carefully considering his options, Mastin said there was enough ice along the river's banks near his home located close to the Garrington Bridge that he for safety's sake instead decided to go a little farther downstream, launching out from the Dickson Dam for a roughly eight-kilometre trek that took almost an hour and a half.
"It was a gorgeous day — there wasn't a scrap of ice anywhere," said Mastin, adding temperatures peaked as high as what felt like 12 degrees.
"You couldn't have scripted a nicer day."
Accompanying him was Sundre-area resident Jim McAllister, who recently retired from a career in finance and also has extensive experience teaching people how to canoe and kayak in controlled settings, such as the Sundre Aquaplex as well as on rivers like the Red Deer.
"We took our time and took pictures."
Among the numerous sights observed along the way were about a dozen eagles, a beaver dam, a lone fisherman as well as a massive, seemingly all but endless flock of ducks. At one point coming around a bend in the river, the sun's crystal clear reflection bouncing off of the water's surface resembled shimmering diamonds, he said.
"It was just phenomenal the way the sun was lighting up those scenes."
Having travelled some of the region's rivers and estuaries before, Mastin unreservedly expressed a preference for peacefully paddling along in a canoe over roaring by in a powerboat.
"You see a lot more wildlife," he said, adding motorized watercraft tend to move too quickly and that plenty of sights are missed along the way.
A similar opportunity presented itself last year when during the third week of November the weather was warm enough to accommodate a canoe trip with some other friends, he said.
"I didn't think I was going to get to do anything like that this year — the weather was harsher in November."
But with conditions suddenly turning around earlier this month, he without hesitation decided to go for it. Although he has in the past done some canoe trips in October, he had before last year never gone that far into November, "and certainly never in December."
Whether hiking out in the West Country to see free-roaming horses or riding down the river, we are fortunate to be in such close proximity to have the opportunity to absorb the natural splendor of our surroundings, he said.
"We're lucky to live in such a beautiful area."
Although not the most experienced with canoes, Mastin said he has thoroughly enjoyed every chance he has had to go on such trips.
"When life gets stressful, these opportunities provide more of a balance."
In this day and age, many people — himself included — oftentimes find much of their days consumed by sitting in front of the computer, he said, adding spending time outdoors can provide an important means to mentally unwind and recharge.
"We're lucky to live in a spot where we can do that."
