tIn spring we start our paddling season on the South Thompson and North Thompson Rivers.   The best launch is from Pioneer Park, but we also go to other launch sites to paddle different parts of the rivers.   With Valleyview Boat Launch closed for bank repairs, we went out to the Lafarge Bridge beach and paddled upstream in early April.

There is a good access road to a small beach where we can launch the boat to paddle upstream.

The river runs fast here and the north shore has extensive gravel bars so we launch and swing out into the main river channel.

The river looks calm to the east, but all parts of the river run quickly so it is hard paddling and slow progress upstream.   At times it is like “paddling on a treadmill.”

After an hour of paddling upstream, I turned the kayak for a gentle downstream return paddle.

Because of the current (and some wind), the downstream paddle was 3x faster than upstream, but distance is not the issue in the early season.   We just need to build up the core muscles and establish some endurance in preparation for 9 months of paddling.

At the end of the paddle,  as we approach the Lafarge Bridge, we swing over to the beach for an easy landing.

We often land at the Lafarge Bridge when we paddle downstream from Pritchard.   It is is much more enjoyable outing than battling the river upstream.    After all, the “treadmill” becomes tiresome after a while.