Out & About #903 | Thornbury BIA + Paddling in Heathcote

​I had always viewed myself as one with superb adaptability, and not for the reason of being "flexible" with whatever outcomes may arise, but rather that I'd possess the ability to solve whatever issues may unfold in a given moment, whether it be summoning from existing knowledge or outsourcing information in the quickest way possible. The recent transition has proven challenging in more ways than one, for it's brought along new work responsibilities, new colleagues, new team culture, and, most evidently, a new in-office schedule.
These changes may be insignificant in the grand scheme of my career, however they are nonetheless grueling to tackle all at once. When I finally settled into the general groove of things, my weekends would see relief once more.

With the heat wave having receded after a drizzling Friday evening, temperatures would revert to an acceptable level, restoring desires to venture into the great outdoors. A last-minute proposal for paddling was well received by the sleepy polar bear. As such, plans were solidified in just under 48 hours - bookings, itinerary, and reservations executed and comprehensively documented by yours truly.

We set out for Thornbury early Saturday morning, me belting my heart out to STAY and the sleepy polar bear tailgating the vehicle in front with every possible opportunity. It is with some degree of allayment that I declare steadier driving skills since the disconcerting drive of last year. That said, street names are still foreign and lane changes are still shaky.
I had planned for an optional break for indoor plumbing facilities at the halfway mark, though we ultimately bypassed this stop and headed straight for Thornbury. By the time we had realized, the closest McDonald's was already thirty minutes away and required backtracking.

A number of wind turbines were passed along the way.
"Why don't we have more of these?" asked the sleepy polar bear, as eyes were taken off the road for a split second - not that any road signs were read.  "They look nice."
I rolled my eyes, as aesthetics were hardly the reason for installation. "I don't think you can put these anywhere." I stated, matter-of-factly. "There are probably regulations that specify their proximity, and Canada has laws on land use. Some are restricted areas that can't be touched."

​Nearing the Thornbury Downtown BIA, we passed by a luxurious-looking mahogany building - Thornbury Craft Cider & Brew House. My eyes immediately illuminated at the sight of the brewery and patio setup.
"Did you want to eat here instead?"
"No." Brewhouses were simply too slow of a dining experience while on a schedule. But I responded instead with an answer that the sleepy polar bear could identify with better instead: "I don't like their stuff."
And it was true, for their cider had been average and Ladder Run had been blacklisted.

​Several street parking spots could be found along Bruce Street. I pointed to one just west of Good Grief Coffee Roasters, an establishment that had piqued my curiosity during the previous day's research phase. (Amazingly, we neither hit the curb nor scratched the vehicle before us.)

The coffee shop was fitted with a fairly modern design, with a garage-like entrance for ample ventilation, kitschy pink interior, contrasting table and chair combinations, and faux garlands suspended from the ceiling. Near the cashier was a shelf of branded merchandise (crewnecks, t-shirts, and even a pink baseball cap), along with whole bean coffee in packages of 250 g or 1 kg. Beyond offerings of coffee and tea, the café also carried bagels, donuts, and assorted baked goods - none of which were lunch-able items though, mind you.

​Upon our arrival, I could be spotted dashing towards the back of the shop, where a single washroom stall was located. It was pristine, exceptionally spacious (with even a changing table affixed to one wall), and adorned with similar furnishings as the café interior.
Afterwards, I marched past the condiment station and yet another merchandise shelf; this one was filled with household and wellness items unassociated with the Good Grief label.

​The Nitro Cold Brew was of greatest interest to me, however I restrained such desires to prevent anxieties surrounding washroom availability later on. A Lavender Latte with Vanilla was requested, but emerged as an iced concoction of Blue Matcha and milk, devoid of soothing, flowery undertones and, really, any distinct flavour in general. Admittedly, the hue was quite pleasant, and contrasted nicely against the warm lighting and pink tiling.

​My drink was received in a clear plastic cup bearing the Good Grief logo in sticker format. The straw, whose packaging had been labelled as "compostable", was, thankfully, not constructed of frail, bendy paper.

​I took to a small bag of the roaster's (presumably single origin) Ethiopia Birbes Kela for using in filter applications later at home. Though the roast has yet to be tested, I am anticipating a medium roast with bright, sparkly notes of citrus laced with a smidgen of sweetness.

​Out of need to maintain maximum laziness wherever possible, the sleepy polar bear hurriedly dumped my purchase into the trunk, damaging the paper bag in the process.

​Perusal for lunch items commenced as we departed from Good Grief. The sleepy polar bear gestured towards the dingy alternative of Ashanti, a compact establishment with broken door screen and disorganized array of questionable offerings. I was none too impressed with the suggestion, nor the musty odour of the indoor seating area itself.

When our opinions differed, I dove into Thornbury Bakery Café instead.

​My pick was equipped with ample indoor and outdoor seating, complimentary Wi-Fi, freshly-baked bread, and an expansive menu listing All-Day Breakfast and Lunch combos.

​I inquired of the possibility of a single Quiche, as opposed to the Quiche and Soup/Salad pairing. After some delay, a senior member of staff confirmed that the request was doable, and charged me a measly six dollars for the slice.

​The sleepy polar bear and I assimilated outside, displaying our respective choices gleefully. Across from me was a custom Grilled Cheese Sandwich with cheddar, tomato, pesto, and bacon. I was offered a bite of the compilation, towards which I offered a lukewarm reaction. Grilled slices of flaxseed-topped bread contributed a hearty, gratifying texture, though its slippery, lettuce-lacking interior was less to my liking. Moreover, pesto and cheddar often assume the last resort should mozzarella and mayo be available.

​My Quiche was contained in an insulated paper container, one usually intended for soups and sauces. Primarily comprised of steamed egg with hints of cheese and ham, the sleepy polar bear observed dubiously, insisting that famine would catch up to me quickly. At its edges was a somewhat buttery crust; on the underside was a thin layer of mostly damp pastry. Spinach was not to be found within the slice.

​With about twenty minutes remaining, we took to browsing the handful of local retailers in the vicinity. One store offered candy, souvenirs, and board games, while another vintage-looking apparel and home decor. The neighbourhood is quite inclusive of its younger clientele as well, for plushies and a children's reading nook were not to be exempt from the stores' selection(s).

Around 12:50 PM, we zipped towards Heathcote for our 1 PM booking. Since SUPing with my fellow July baby, I had been keen to revisit the experience. Without hesitation, I had ventured to the Free Spirit Tours website for options.

​Having completed the Nottawasaga River route previously, the natural choice was to opt for Beaver River. Two hours on the water seemed the perfect period for amateur paddlers such as ourselves.

Source: Free Spirit Tours (May 2023)

We pulled into the gravel lot at 1 PM sharp, just in time to witness paddlers from an earlier booking lug their boats off the riverbank.
Quickly glancing around, I confirmed that the shuttle was not on site. In the meantime, we readied ourselves with sunscreen, bug spray, and dry bags. Then, we approached two members of staff to notify them of our arrival. One donned sunglasses and a vibrant cyan-coloured t-shirt, while another a baseball cap and grass green t-shirt. The former verified submission of our waivers before leading us over to the cargo bed of the shuttle.

​Life jackets were provided, and our choice of rental would be assigned based on our experience level. As a first-time kayaker, the sleepy polar bear was bestowed a fairly wide, stable option.
It would be revealed shortly that I was the first SUP paddler of the season. My selection prompted a blu wave SUP being lifted into the cargo bed. The paddle would also be adjusted for my height, such that I could reach the top of the paddle with my arm extended but elbow slightly bent. Before departing, a briefer-than-brief orientation ensued:

• Chances of capsizing were low, given the stability of the kayak, but the sleepy polar bear was taught to invert the kayak to remove water before climbing back in
• Instead of straight strokes, Figure-7 strokes were used on the SUP as to direct water along the side of the board and encourage movement

Information provided was considerably less than the SUP lesson of 2021, thus I was incredibly thankful to have undergone that session. That said, it remains a mystery how much content has been retained since that point in time.

​Prior to departing, I confirmed the absence of forks in the river (ie. we wouldn't stray beyond the designated route) and the average duration of the trip: Two hours was the standard time, with any period extending beyond three hours alerting the staff for a safety parole.
We were cautioned twice that rapids would be present around the twenty minute-mark, at which point signage would remind paddlers to keep left. A stop sign would indicate the end of the route, marking the return to Free Spirit HQ.

With that, we hopped into the shuttle for a bumpy, dusty ride to Beaver River Access Point #2.

​Another group had just begun lowering themselves onto the river when we pulled up. Instead of paddling north (like us), they would head south, ducking underneath the extremely low overpass for Side Rd 19.

The Free Spirit Tours staff assisted us in bringing the kayak and SUP towards the river, confirmed we were alright to commence independently, then slowly departed.

Weather conditions were drastically different from last time: The skies were a pale azure with few to no clouds, winds slightly gusty, and sunshine in abundance. ​My initial fear of it being too chilly for shorts and a sleeveless top were revoked upon drifting onto the glimmering waters; the shaded sections were cool, while those without tree cover scorching at times.

Initial hiccups had me swerving from one side of the riverbank to the other. The sleepy polar bear watched (and jeered) from a distance, utterly amused. However, there were benefits to traversing in close proximity to the water's edge. Spotted flittering between the marshes were dragonflies! Some camouflaged into the mossy sections with their brassy beige bodies, while others were a distinct mix of black and green.
Most of the river was quite shallow, enabling us to easily observe the algae underneath. At countless occasions, I even spotted schools of teensy fish! They dodged my paddle with extreme swiftness before proceeding to swim in the opposite direction.

​Though being in proximity to such exciting wildlife had its perks, it also brought forth a slew of upper body bites that not even bug spray could defend against.

We would spend nearly forty minutes excitedly engaging with our surroundings, with me undertaking U-turns every so often to rectify my course. Just as with the previous experience, it was a wonderful sensation to be immersed in nature, even more so without the presence of other human beings.

Our first interaction with another group took place at the location of the rapids. Heeding the signage posted on a nearby tree trunk, we carefully maneuvered towards the left. A duo who had arrived before us warned us of the dangers. One of two ladies had capsized in her kayak and lost her paddle in the process; the other merely paddled about in wait of help to arrive.

Glancing over at the sleepy polar bear, we resolved to take on the challenge, however one at a time. Aligning my paddle to be parallel, allowed the current to grip onto the underside of the SUP and guide me along. I was spun 180 degrees and entered the rapids facing backwards. Without resisting the flow of the waters, I managed to avoid the lady standing on the side and emerge onto the other side of the rapids effortlessly.
​Turning back, I saw that the sleepy polar bear had lodged the kayak onto a piles of stones. After failed attempts to pry the kayak back into the water using the paddle - a terrible idea, I warned, as one forceful move could render one paddle-less for the trip back, the kayak was manually shifted back into the current before tracing the same path as I had. While the ladies before us had instilled some degree of wariness within me, reality was that the scene was much more enjoyable than it was nerve-wracking.

In the latter half of the route, we spotted more tiny fish, two eagles, blue-winged blackbirds, and three groups of Canada Geese, including two families with young geese. Unlike the excessively territorial breeds of the GTA, these birds appeared far less aggressive. Ducks were not observed during this paddling session.

Contrary to the staff's affirmation, we encountered a fork-like fixture along the river. My gut instinct was to keep to the left, for we had been adhering to that side for most of the trip. The river ran almost parallel to Beaver Valley Road, thus I deduced that staying relatively close to the series of hydro poles would guide us back correctly.
When the river started to curve and meander, I began to question my decision. Would there be enough time to backtrack if I was wrong? I wondered.

The countless turns along the way had me exhausted. Thankfully, having chosen the SUP option, I had the liberty of transitioning between seated, kneeling, and standing positions as I desired. Standing enabled a better view of my surroundings, especially when approaching underpasses for nearby roads. Kneeling provided improved stability, for it reduced the distance to my centre of gravity. Sitting enabled an almost kayak-like experience, with the exception of the long paddle; when rest was required, I could swivel onto one side of the board without difficulty and dip my toes into the water.

Meanwhile, the sleepy polar bear happily paddled away in the kayak, even accelerating to speeds beyond me. When being accused of advancing beyond a radius capable of holding conversation, I was informed: "I found a nice groove, so I kept going."

Paddling Route - Satellite View | Source: Google Maps, 2023

​True to the website details, we completed the trip in just over two hours. Having been transported to Beaver River Access #2 around 1:20-1:30 PM, we reached the ginormous stop sign around 4:10 PM.

​The shoreline was muddy, understandably so. Lugging our boats from the river required stealth in our steps. Known not for my gentle footsteps, I made my re-entry onto land with a resounding squelch. "Oh no." was overheard behind me, followed by a shared fit of laughter filling the air.

Paddling Route - Map View | Source: Google Maps, 2023

Back at Free Spirit HQ, staff assisted in returning our equipment, and inquired of the experience. We responded positively, especially when asked about the rapids section. The sleepy polar bear hosed off bare feet, while I inspected the grounds for items of interest. Within the immediate vicinity was a portable washroom, more kayaks, and a container of snowshoes - one of their outdoor activities offered in the winter.

Read Part 2 HERE !