Canoe The North has a brand new two hour movie called Our First Canoe Trip Without Him | Whispers of the Woods…
It’s amazing how canoe trips, and the people and animals you share them with, stay with you forever.
I didn’t fully realize it when we lost our Newfoundland, Hugo. But looking back, he was tied to almost every canoe trip I’ve ever been on. He wasn’t just along for the ride, he was part of how I saw canoeing. Part of the experience. A huge part of our family.
Losing him broke my heart.
For a long time I couldn’t think about canoe trips without him coming to mind. That winter was the hardest of my life, and honestly it’s still not easy to look back on.
When spring finally came around, Ashley and I decided to bring a new pup into our lives, Walter.
He’s been a handful at times, but he’s also been an incredible addition to our family and maybe exactly what I needed.
When the ice came off in northwestern Ontario it felt like it was time to head back out. Back into the woods. Back to something familiar.
This was Walter’s first trip. And hopefully the start of hundreds, maybe thousands, of nights spent out in the backcountry with him.
There’s a quiet kind of healing that comes from time in the wilderness. This trip reminded me of that. It was also a really special one. I had one of the most incredible wildlife encounters I’ve ever experienced, something I’m not sure I’ll ever see again.
I hope you enjoy the film. Canoe season is almost here, even if this winter doesn’t seem like it wants to let go. We’ve got some big plans this year and we’ll likely be out there more than we’re posting, but hopefully we come back with some films that are worth the wait. We’ve also got a pretty big backlog of footage, so maybe we’ll get caught up once the puppy training settles down a bit. Safe travels to everyone this season. And give your dog a pat on the head for us. Hugo, we still miss you buddy. Wish you were there ❤️
