▼
Welcome to the heart of Canada's canoe country, where paddling connects us to a timeless tradition. I hope my photos of friends & family here inspire you to come paddle our yellow canoe.
Canoeing weaves together history, nature, and the enduring spirit of those who first navigated these waterways.
Each paddle stroke invites us on a meaningful journey.
Our canoe's timeless curves reflect the wisdom of the Anishinàbe Algonquin Nation, on whose homeland we paddle today.
These waters reconnect us with the landscape and spirit that have defined this region for millenia.
Paddling a tandem canoe is teamwork in motion.
It may call for a bit of patience and humour.
A shared purpose drives us forward.
International diplomacy can add to the joy.
Canoeing is partnership at its best.
One boat, endless possibilities.
With remarkable safety, comfort and freedom on the water, our yellow canoe carries everything we need for an adventure.
Gliding silently together, we stay close enough to whisper without disturbing wildlife.
Every new encounter brings wisdom & delight.
We share this planet with such amazing creatures.
Our canoe gives us front-row seats to nature's theater.
This floating classroom offers perspectives that textbooks just cannot teach.
Never any hurry, just harmony with the beauty all around us.
We choose paddling conditions in which our canoe can effortlessly & reliably be kept right-side up.
Either person can paddle while the other checks the weather, captures memories or simply enjoys the scenery.
An iconic canyon, just two hours from Canada's capital.
Waterfalls accessible only by paddle craft.
Breathtaking wilderness on the city's outskirts.
Hidden ribbons of calm water in our nearby countryside.
A quiet river meandering through greenbelt farmland.
Hidden suburban marshlands, minutes from home.
Discovering the city from a unique perspective.
Architecture takes on new dimensions from water level.
Cooling mist from urban waterfalls.
Finding shade beneath historic bridges.
Hidden gems invisible from street level.
Picture-perfect urban oases.
Waterside cafés.
World-famous landmarks without the crowds.
Spring through autumn, our canoe is ready for our next adventure.
And whether you're an astronaut from Canada,
or a doctor from Azerbaijan,
or a World Bank Scholar from Tanzania,
Our canoe welcomes you. 🌎
When we paddle a canoe together, everyone belongs and no one gets left behind.
Warmest greetings from Ottawa! Eric Volstad here—retired military test pilot and amateur canoe-evangelist. 😉
I studied mechanical and aerospace engineering and enjoyed a very rewarding 35-year career with Canada’s air force, flying search & rescue missions in the Arctic and humanitarian & peacekeeping missions overseas, commanding the VIP transport squadron for the Prime Minister and Governor-General here in Ottawa, teaching new pilots how to fly, and leading technically challenging and risky airborne test programs as the air force’s Senior Test Pilot.
So naturally, when I paddle our canoe, I paddle like a pilot!
Alysia—my better half—has been my paddling & adventure partner for more than half a lifetime now. ❤️
This has become our favourite way of experiencing the world around us.
Together, we're constantly discovering beautiful new places to paddle our canoe...
...here in Ontario...
...and beyond.
I always love meeting new friends from around the world, exploring the beautiful nature around Ottawa with them (particularly by canoe of course, and in the winter on snowshoes), and capturing all the fun with my camera. So let's connect—on LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram, or however you prefer—and make plans to paddle the yellow canoe together!
How to efficiently steer a canoe in a straight line, while propelling the craft forward? It's not intuitive. But even a first-time paddler can learn this on their very first outing, and it's worth the effort.
The most fun I had in my military career was in teaching good, safe, efficient flying technique to fledgling pilots. Same now, in my retirement, introducing my friends from around the world to canoeing.
Manoeuvring the canoe by sculling—safely and efficiently slicing the paddle alongside the hull with varying blade angles—is another fundamental technique that I love sharing with our friends.
Canoeing is not primarily about equipment, but we sure get a lot of joy paddling our Tripper canoe from Clipper Canoes of Abbotsford, British Columbia—the best canoe manufacturer in the world. We love its efficiency, manoeuvrability, and capacity.
It's made of tough and lightweight Kevlar® fabric—the stuff used in bulletproof vests. Low, comfortable molded seats lower our centre of gravity, greatly increasing stability. We only kneel when we paddle this big canoe solo.
The front seat adjusts fore and aft to help keep the canoe level with different occupant weights. A nicely carved wooden yoke allows one person to comfortably portage (carry) the canoe over all terrain.
Flotation tanks are molded into the bow and stern, but in almost 25 years of paddling this canoe we've never tipped it on the water.
The yellow gel coat adds a bit of weight but it's kept the canoe looking great all these years—so much so, that my photos of it have been chosen to adorn the pages of Clipper Canoes and Paddling Magazine.
Our 15 minutes of fame!
The enjoyment and safety of paddling decrease with increasing winds and wave heights. In aviation we use numbers to define such things and to set safe limits. So I read up on the subject, and built the world's first wave height calculator for canoeists!
Over the past two decades, living across Canada and in Germany, our beloved yellow canoe has allowed us to explore more than 200 amazing places in this uniquely beautiful way. Click here for our Google Map, for more details.
I always love meeting new friends from around the world, for great conversations and outdoor adventures. Please feel free to check out more of my photos, videos, adventure logs and career highlights, and connect through any or all of the means below!
