A long time ago, I paddled the Mississippi from Pakenham to highway 17. I mostly remember farmer’s fields and shoreline erosion. But that was 30 years ago with the kids (i.e. before I was into iNaturalist, etc.), so this fall, it was time to give it a fresh look.
 |
| Mississippi River (7,5km track) |
There’s good access (and parking) to the Mississippi River below Pakenham at the Five Span Bridge Park. I launched and crossed the river below the rapids since the east shore looked more attractive. After a kilometre or so, I made a bio stopped on the west shore. Then, I stayed on the west shore and paddled another 2.5km. I didn’t see any turtles or too many birds, but it was late October. I didn’t go as far as Highway 17 due to the fading afternoon and worried about the wind picking up. Next time, it would be good to go as far as the mouth of Cartwright Creek (another 1.5km downstream).
 |
| Coady Creek |
On the return paddle, I did a check-up on Coady Creek. I only managed to paddle 300m up the creek before being blocked by fallen trees. I heard many birds in the forest, so it would be fun to try going further up Coady Creek in the spring (by canoe). It was an uneventful paddle back to the Five Span Bridge Park and home from Coady Creek.
 |
| Five Span Bridge, Pakenham |
|
|
|
