Hi all.
Yesterday a few of us drove to Valleyfield, where one can find in the back of a shopping mall an amazing whitewater park, complete with great slalom course, glassy surf wave, gentle but retentive hole... All this in almost impossibly clear St-Lawrence water, where one can see every rock and aquatic plant at the bottom, courtesy of zebra mussels.
And... a rather peculiar put-in for those looking for excitement. Launch off the top of the concrete casing of one of two giant pipes bringing in all the water, falling straight down into the water rushing out. I estimate kayak speeds near city speed limits... All survived it upright, those who flipped only did so in the boils of the slackwater below. Our brave Richard spent some quality time in the recirculating Room of Doom on the side though, we had to help him climb up to the lawn of the adjacent appartment building.
A very good destination for beginners and experts alike, be prepared to paddle and have sore shoulders afterwards!
--C.
