Easy is not a word commonly, if ever, associated with Davenportage. In fact we do everything to make it an adjective non grata. Our 14 hour event is designed to be hard. If it's not hard, it's the fault of the participants, not the organizers. Participants just need to carry more weight in their packs, take more turns carrying a canoe, or participate barefoot etc. But I must say, this year's event was less hard than usual. First, the weather was perfect. Second, the canoes we portaged this year seemed to be designed to be portaged, unlike many of the canoes of past years that were specially designed to not be portaged. And finally the energy of the group was just off the charts. Seasonal temperatures, sunshine, no wind and calm seas were the hallmarks of the day.
A new moon meant runners were completely in the dark. Conditions leading up to the event ensured that a lot of the trail was completely buried in leaves meaning that every tripping and ankle wrenching hazard was made invisible. But only a couple of knees were blown and no ankles. And the 4C air temperature helped to reduce the inflammation! The constant work being done in the ravines means that the route is never the same twice, but we always find a way through,
After a smooth (relatively) canoe launch, paddlers found themselves disembarking a couple of times in the upper lower Don to avoid fallen trees and to dislodge themselves from shallow sandbanks. Skin lesions from toxic chemicals were minimal. Paddlers stormed the first barricade to the new mouth of the Don but, after a brief skirmish, were repelled by well-armed construction workers, and had to abandon the plan of being the first humans to canoe the new route. They settled for an inspiring crossing of the sludge trapped by the Keating channel boom and then could paddle around Ontario Place, avoiding the short but problematic OP portage.
The main portage was was perfect. Great canoes, a nice talk from Mark Stabb at Lambton park, no canoes missing or left behind, no car-canoe accidents, no heart attacks, leg or back injuries or any of the other risks that we would mention in the terms and conditions of participating in this event if we ever had to! As always the Tollkeeper's Cottage hospitality was off the charts. The Yorkville Fire Station was closed but they got our food donations and, despite the pizza delay, the closing festivities were a great reward for a hard days work! Can't wait till next year!
Special Shout-Outs:
Rosaire and Torontoadventures.ca - This was by far the smoothest run-to-paddle transition ever. Thank you Rosaire for your early morning assistance, and Heather for keeping us organized at the end of the paddle. Participants, please tell your friends... the team at Torontoadventures rocks... let's do everything we can to support their business.
Marilyn and the Tollkeeper's Cottage team - what's left to say? Always there for us along the trail. Smiles, hospitality, and less heartfelt but still important, bathrooms!
The Weather God(s) - For taking pity on us this year. The temperature was perfect all day... warm enough to wear shorts on the portage, but cool enough to not work up a sweat. The fact that there was no rain on the run, no waves on the lake, and no wind on the portage was a blessing. Grateful to you whomever you are.
Jake and Caitlin - For providing amazing olive green DVPXI buffs to all participants, until they ran out. These unique and stylish clothing items were individually hand crafted and have set the standard for Davenportage fashion.
Jacqueline S - For organizing the UTOC crowd, but more importantly, for riding her bike 40 minutes to the 3:50 am start of the run. That's our kind of people!
Nick B - Every year Nick is behind the scenes helping make this event a success, or at least making it happen. But this year he was particularly and indispensably active. Thanks Nick! You made amends for sleeping through your 3:00 am alarm and missing the run!
Marc B - For putting down your camera this year and just enjoying. Also for abandoning the run (before your predicted heart attack) when you realized that nutrient supplements alone, plus 51 weeks of tapering and carbo loading weren't going to help get you through it.
Pamela and Jamie - We've never had people spontaneously join us mid-portage before. I guess you both, independent of each other, recognized that we were a group that needed your help. Or maybe it was the other way round? Either way, your enthusiasm and 'fit' was obvious.
All Participants - thank you all for coming out and sharing your energy, optimism, and work ethic to make the event what it is.
That first 100 meters is always so easy. People fighting to carry a canoe and everyone so close together. Later in the day, somehow the canoes get heavier.
The upper lower Don actually looks like a real river! Brave warriors heading to the site of the Paddler:Construction Worker Clash of 2024 (aka the War of the Lower Don).
2024 Davenportage
FOR HISTORIAN ATHLETES AND VOYAGEUR PHILOSOPHERS
Links:
1) A short video overview of the day on Instagram.
Turn up the volume!:
2) Why start the run at the Roselawn
communications tower?: