https://wateronthebrain.ca/ 2026-10-26 https://wateronthebrain.ca/i-can-see-your-ribs-two-jack-lake-banff-national-park-alberta-2024-09-02-1792828738 2026-10-24 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/10/i-can-see-your-ribs-two-jack-lake-banff-national-park-alberta-2024-09-02-1792828738.jpg I Can See Your Ribs, Two Jack Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta, 2024-09-02 Skeleteon-esque trees at Two Jack Lake. https://wateronthebrain.ca/happy-hour-bowness-park-calgary-ab-2024-09-01-1792825670 2026-10-24 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/10/happy-hour-bowness-park-calgary-ab-2024-09-01-1792825670.jpg Happy hour, Bowness Park, Calgary, AB, 2024-09-01 The bar and clubhouse at Bowness Park. https://wateronthebrain.ca/going-for-gold-bowness-park-calgary-ab-2024-09-01-1792825426 2026-10-24 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/10/going-for-gold-bowness-park-calgary-ab-2024-09-01-1792825426.jpg Going for gold, Bowness Park, Calgary, AB, 2024-09-01 Green and gold trees at Bowness Park in Calgary, AB. https://wateronthebrain.ca/all-about-the-view-bow-river-float-calgary-ab-2024-08-31-1792705172 2026-10-22 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/10/all-about-the-view-bow-river-float-calgary-ab-2024-08-31-1792705172.jpg All about the view, Bow River Float, Calgary, AB, 2024-08-31 A shot of downtown Calgary taken on my first ever Bow River float in 2024. Didn't get any this year. Hoping for next year. https://wateronthebrain.ca/goose-on-the-loose-bowness-lagoon-bowness-park-calgary-ab-2026-07-10-1791990723 2026-10-14 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/10/goose-on-the-loose-bowness-lagoon-bowness-park-calgary-ab-2026-07-10-1791990723.jpg Goose on the loose, Bowness Lagoon, Bowness Park, Calgary, AB, 2026-07-10 A goose captured in the Bowness Lagoon. This year's prices for fuel precluded most of our travel and paddling adventures. :( https://wateronthebrain.ca/blaze-of-glory-sunset-chestermere-lake-chestermere-ab-2024-08-25-1789319351 2026-09-13 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/09/blaze-of-glory-sunset-chestermere-lake-chestermere-ab-2024-08-25-1789319351.jpg Blaze of glory, Sunset, Chestermere Lake, Chestermere, AB, 2024-08-25 One of the many sunsets I got off Chesteremere Lake in 2024. I've only been on it once this year between smoke from fire, wind, and the high cost of fuel. https://wateronthebrain.ca/alex-lena-bow-river-float-calgary-ab-2024-09-25-1788403722 2026-09-03 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/09/alex-lena-bow-river-float-calgary-ab-2024-09-25-1788403722.jpg Alex & Lena, Bow River Float, Calgary, AB, 2024-09-25 Alex and Lena, two friends I floated the Bow River with in 2024. https://wateronthebrain.ca/all-about-the-view-bow-river-float-calgary-ab-2024-08-31-1786769877 2026-08-15 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/08/all-about-the-view-bow-river-float-calgary-ab-2024-08-31-1786769877.jpg All about the view, Bow River Float, Calgary, AB, 2024-08-31 My first Bow River float in 2024. I haven't even made it on the Bow once this year. Not a great summer for paddling. https://wateronthebrain.ca/light-and-shadow-bowness-lagoon-bowness-park-calgary-ab-2024-09-01-1785979088 2026-08-06 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/08/light-and-shadow-bowness-lagoon-bowness-park-calgary-ab-2024-09-01-1785979088.jpg Light and shadow, Bowness Lagoon, Bowness Park, Calgary, AB, 2024-09-01 One doesn't encounter light like this often. You stop and pull out a camera when you do. https://wateronthebrain.ca/bloke-on-the-water-carolside-reservoir-alberta-2025-08-28-1785978948 2026-08-06 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/08/bloke-on-the-water-carolside-reservoir-alberta-2025-08-28-1785978948.jpg Bloke on the water, Carolside Reservoir, Alberta, 2025-08.28 Do you know how hard it is to paddle and photograph a sunset AND slap at skeeters at the same time? Very. https://wateronthebrain.ca/cruise-control-twin-lake-alberta-2025-08-06-1785465518 2026-07-31 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/07/cruise-control-twin-lake-alberta-2025-08-06-1785465518.jpg Cruise control, Twin Lake, Alberta, 2025-08-06 Paddling from last summer. So beautiful, Twin Lake, AB. Go if you can. https://wateronthebrain.ca/balanced-approach-mckinnon-flats-to-johnson-s-island-bow-river-float-alberta-2024-09-08-1784905095 2026-07-24 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/07/balanced-approach-mckinnon-flats-to-johnson-s-island-bow-river-float-alberta-2024-09-08-1784905095.jpg Balanced approach, McKinnon Flats to Johnson's Island, Bow River Float, Alberta, 2024-09-08 Coming in to Johnson's Island at the end of a pleasant float. https://wateronthebrain.ca/back-where-i-belong-chestermere-lake-ab-2025-05-03-1784904967 2026-07-24 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/07/back-where-i-belong-chestermere-lake-ab-2025-05-03-1784904967.jpg Back where I belong, Chestermere Lake, AB, 2025-05-03 This was the first paddle of 2025. It was a warm-ish, windy day and I was out on the water too early, but I couldn't handle any more waiting. The wind literally tossed me off my board twice and the lake was colder than hell. I was shivering pretty good when I finally came off the water. I never made it far into the lake because the relentless wind kept pounding me back to shore. Worse, when I came in I took out a kid playing at the launch where they aren't supposed to play but always do because their parents are useless tossers. I'm yelling at the kid to please move and trying to steer around, but the wind... Knocked him over. Tears. Parent yelling at me. The cop who always seems to be there these days because Sikhs and Muslims get along <em>so well</em> (not) had to come over and tell the dad to pipe down and keep his child off the launch where craft have to come in. Oy. Not my finest day on the water. https://wateronthebrain.ca/i-can-see-your-ribs-two-jack-lake-banff-national-park-alberta-2024-09-02-1783168014 2026-07-04 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/07/i-can-see-your-ribs-two-jack-lake-banff-national-park-alberta-2024-09-02-1783168014.jpg I Can See Your Ribs, Two Jack Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta, 2024-09-02 A rather skeletal looking tree reflected in Two Jack Lake, Banff, AB. https://wateronthebrain.ca/alex-05-bow-river-float-calgary-ab-2024-09-25-1783167857 2026-07-04 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/07/alex-05-bow-river-float-calgary-ab-2024-09-25-1783167857.jpg Alex 05, Bow River, Float, Calgary, AB, 2024-09-25 Alex who is from the Ukraine, floating The Bow with his chair strapped to his baord. https://wateronthebrain.ca/canoeing-about-to-happen-01-canada-day-kinsmen-park-strathmore-ab-2026-07-01-1783148184 2026-07-04 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/07/canoeing-about-to-happen-01-canada-day-kinsmen-park-strathmore-ab-2026-07-01-1783148184.jpg Canoeing about to happen 01, Canada Day, Kinsmen Park, Strathmore, AB, 2026-07-01 This image is unusual in that boating is not normally allowed on Kinsmen Lake in downtown Strathmore. This was Canada Day and special permission was given. https://wateronthebrain.ca/clouds-on-the-water-01-chestermere-lake-chestermere-ab-2024-09-24-1782903012 2026-07-01 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/07/clouds-on-the-water-01-chestermere-lake-chestermere-ab-2024-09-24-1782903012.jpg Clouds on the water 01, Chestermere Lake, Chestermere, AB, 2024-09-24 It's a rare pleasure to work cloud reflection on the water surface at Chestermere Lake. The water is usually pretty riled up. When it's not the wind - which is not often - it's the goddamn asshats in their speedboats and on their jetskis going full-tilt on the slow end of the lake with the12 kph speed limit they ignore. Where are the police? https://wateronthebrain.ca/around-the-bend-bowness-park-calgary-ab-2024-09-01-1782902797 2026-07-01 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/07/around-the-bend-bowness-park-calgary-ab-2024-09-01-1782902797.jpg Around the bend, Bowness Park, Calgary, AB, 2024-09-01 Enjoying the reflections while paddling the back, narrow side of the Bowness Park lagoon that winds its way up toward the Bow River. https://wateronthebrain.ca/arriving-at-the-island-mckinnon-flats-to-johnsons-island-bow-river-float-alberta-2024-09-15-1782883160 2026-07-01 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/07/arriving-at-the-island-mckinnon-flats-to-johnsons-island-bow-river-float-alberta-2024-09-15-1782883160.jpg Arriving at the Island, McKinnon Flats to Johnsons Island, Bow River Float, Alberta, 2024-09-15 Reaching the end of our float to Johnson's Island on a warm September day in 2024. https://wateronthebrain.ca/a-pause-ogden-to-fish-creek-park-bow-river-float-ab-2024-10-14-1782277992 2026-06-24 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/06/a-pause-ogden-to-fish-creek-park-bow-river-float-ab-2024-10-14-1782277992.jpg A pause, Ogden to Fish Creek Park, Bow River Float, AB, 2024-10-14 I have to say that as a guy who has been hefty for most of his life (less so now) I am somewhat jealous of fit people who can rock a swimsuit. I still can't do that, but at least I don't look like I'm about to spill out of mine now. That's a start. https://wateronthebrain.ca/coupe-de-ville-ready-to-launch-mckinnon-flats-to-johnson-s-island-float-bow-river-ab-2024-09-29-1781983790 2026-06-20 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/06/coupe-de-ville-ready-to-launch-mckinnon-flats-to-johnson-s-island-float-bow-river-ab-2024-09-29-1781983790.jpg Coupe de Ville ready to launch, McKinnon Flats to Johnson's Island float, Bow River, AB, 2024-09-29 My oversized Skatinger paddleboard that I lovingly named the Coupe de Ville. Why that name? Because it has a cup holder. A CUP HOLDER. That's pure luxury right there. https://wateronthebrain.ca/boned-again-bowness-park-calgary-ab-2024-09-01-1781983611 2026-06-20 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/06/boned-again-bowness-park-calgary-ab-2024-09-01-1781983611.jpg Boned again, Bowness Park, Calgary, AB, 2024-09-01 Looks skeletal, yes? https://wateronthebrain.ca/taking-the-back-channel-johnson-s-island-wyndham-carseland-prov-park-ab-2025-06-14-1781983484 2026-06-20 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/06/taking-the-back-channel-johnson-s-island-wyndham-carseland-prov-park-ab-2025-06-14-1781983484.jpg Taking the back channel, Johnson's Island, Wyndham Carseland Prov Park, AB, 2025-06-14 POV shot as I paddle my way upriver against a slow current on a side-channel of the Bow River at Johnson's Island. https://wateronthebrain.ca/got-dem-blues-johnson-s-island-wyndham-carseland-prov-park-ab-2025-06-14-1781934894 2026-06-20 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/06/got-dem-blues-johnson-s-island-wyndham-carseland-prov-park-ab-2025-06-14-1781934894.jpg Got dem blues, Johnson's Island, Wyndham Carseland Prov Park, AB, 2025-06-14 A lovely paddle up the side-channels of Johnson's Island. These are only navigable earlier in the spring when the river is up. The water is full of silt, but it's nice to be able to traverse channels that are normally too shallow. https://wateronthebrain.ca/preferred-seating-chestermere-lake-chestermere-ab-2026-06-06-1780855087 2026-06-07 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/06/preferred-seating-chestermere-lake-chestermere-ab-2026-06-06-1780855087.jpg Preferred seating, Chestermere Lake, Chestermere, AB, 2026-06-06 A small jetty built out into Chestermere Lake. It has strategically placed stones that work as benches you can wade out to and dangle your feet in the water on a hot day. Unfortunately, utter retards fish from this spot and lose their goddamn fish hooks where children go with bare feet. God's honest truth is that we have too many redneck fisherman and not enough roving execution squads. Wear. Water. Shoes. Here. https://wateronthebrain.ca/badlands-panoramic-red-deer-river-wheatland-county-ab-2024-10-12-1780667512 2026-06-05 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/06/badlands-panoramic-red-deer-river-wheatland-county-ab-2024-10-12-1780667512.jpg Badlands panoramic, Red Deer River, Wheatland County, AB, 2024-10-12 Taken from the shore. I haven't had a board on here yet, but I have been plotting... https://wateronthebrain.ca/best-seat-in-the-house-mckinnon-flats-to-johnsons-island-bow-river-float-ab-2024-09-15-1780667410 2026-06-05 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/06/best-seat-in-the-house-mckinnon-flats-to-johnsons-island-bow-river-float-ab-2024-09-15-1780667410.jpg Best seat in the house, McKinnon Flats to Johnsons Island Bow River Float, AB, 2024-09-15 My daughter on a Bow River float in late 2024. Taken with my Akaso EK 7000 action camera that cost about $20. It is affectionately referred to as the Crap Cam. https://wateronthebrain.ca/water-s-water-prairie-oasis-special-areas-no-2-ab-2026-05-21-1780551806 2026-06-04 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/06/water-s-water-prairie-oasis-special-areas-no-2-ab-2026-05-21-1780551806.jpg Water's water, Prairie Oasis, Special Areas No. 2, AB, 2026-05-21 It's not the mountains. It's not lush hills. It's not even a pretty park. It's a cooling pond for a former coal-powered generating station. It's water. Water's water and photographers take what they are given. https://wateronthebrain.ca/pride-goeth-before-the-fall-prairie-oasis-special-areas-no-2-ab-2026-05-21-1779512939 2026-05-23 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/05/pride-goeth-before-the-fall-prairie-oasis-special-areas-no-2-ab-2026-05-21-1779512939.jpg Pride goeth before the fall, Prairie Oasis, Special Areas No. 2, AB, 2026-05-21 It was close to two years of paddle boarding before I finally had to bail off a body of water because of bad weather. I took my first spin on a paddle board on Chestermere Lake on May 23, of 2024. It wasn't much of a paddle, to be honest. I mostly floated around uncomfortably, afraid to move in case I fell into the drink. You wouldn't know it from this site, but I am VERY phobic regarding water. That's because I technically drowned at age twelve. The camp counselors fished me out of the deep end of the pool, got my heart going again, and my relationship with water was forever changed. I can get onto a river or lake, but there is always an initial panic attack to tamp down. The difference between what you feel and what you know, right? I have gone from being scared to move an inch while floating on calm water to enjoying paddles through <a href="https://baddaywithacamera.ca/2024/09/29/bow-river-float-06/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">sketchy weather</a> when the water https://wateronthebrain.ca/sheerness-generation-station-reflected-02-prairie-oasis-special-areas-no-2-2026-05-21-1779455318 2026-05-22 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/05/sheerness-generation-station-reflected-02-prairie-oasis-special-areas-no-2-2026-05-21-1779455318.jpg Sheerness Generation Station Reflected 02, Prairie Oasis, Special Areas No 2, 2026-05-21 A calm reflection shot of Sheerness Generating Station from Sheerness Cooling Pond at Prairie Oasis Park about 15 minutes before the weather turned on me. https://wateronthebrain.ca/someone-was-busy-prairie-oasis-special-areas-no-2-ab-2026-05-19-1779455208 2026-05-22 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/05/someone-was-busy-prairie-oasis-special-areas-no-2-ab-2026-05-19-1779455208.jpg Someone was busy, Prairie Oasis, Special Areas No. 2, AB, 2026-05-19 This wood sculpture on the water is toward the park gate on the northern shore of the lake, hidden from the view from the shore. It looks like someone has been working on this for years using salvaged bits of driftwood. https://wateronthebrain.ca/gps-track-prairie-oasis-special-areas-no-2-2026-05-19-1779401244 2026-05-21 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/05/gps-track-prairie-oasis-special-areas-no-2-2026-05-19-1779401244.jpg GPS Track, Prairie Oasis, Special Areas No 2, 2026-05-19 3.5km paddled on a new lake according to my OM System Tough TG-7 camera with built-in GPS logging. It takes a reading every 30 seconds and is very accurate. https://wateronthebrain.ca/lighthouse-prairie-oasis-special-areas-no-2-ab-2026-05-19-1779369502 2026-05-21 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/05/lighthouse-prairie-oasis-special-areas-no-2-ab-2026-05-19-1779369502.jpg Lighthouse, Prairie Oasis, Special Areas No. 2, AB, 2026-05-19 The small lighthouse in the NW corner of the pond to help find boaters find its entrance in the dark. https://wateronthebrain.ca/tastefully-photographed-outhouse-prairie-oasis-special-areas-no-2-ab-2026-05-19-1779369169 2026-05-21 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/05/tastefully-photographed-outhouse-prairie-oasis-special-areas-no-2-ab-2026-05-19-1779369169.jpg Tastefully photographed outhouse, Prairie Oasis, Special Areas No. 2, AB, 2026-05-19 It's a nice reflection shot from the dock until you realize the building in the reflection is a large, public outhouse. https://wateronthebrain.ca/losing-the-light-to-overcast-prairie-oasis-special-areas-no-2-ab-2026-05-19-1779368997 2026-05-21 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/05/losing-the-light-to-overcast-prairie-oasis-special-areas-no-2-ab-2026-05-19-1779368997.jpg Losing the light to overcast, Prairie Oasis, Special Areas No. 2, AB, 2026-05-19 I was losing my light from an incoming storm as I started the 1.75 km back to the dock I launched from. The wind had gone down which is not a good sign when the sky is darkening. The literal "calm before the storm" means you're in for it. An hour later, we were. https://wateronthebrain.ca/bloke-on-the-water-carolside-reservoir-alberta-2025-08-28-1778593743 2026-05-12 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/05/bloke-on-the-water-carolside-reservoir-alberta-2025-08-28-1778593743.jpg Bloke on the water, Carolside Reservoir, Alberta, 2025-08.28 The mosquitoes. Oh, the mosquitoes. Did you know that Special Areas, Alberta, has mosquitoes trained to like the taste of DEET? Because they do. When I got back to the dock I encountered a mother/daughter pair who were trying to fish and furiously slapping at skeeters. I threw them the tube of Great Outdoors repellent from my bag on the board as I pulled it out of the water. I don't think it helped them that much, either, because I saw them quitting fishing about ten minutes later while still slapping at bugs. I legit looked like I had measles after that trip, I had so many bug bites. https://wateronthebrain.ca/akaso-ek-7000-bow-river-float-alberta-024-09-29-1778593560 2026-05-12 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/05/akaso-ek-7000-bow-river-float-alberta-024-09-29-1778593560.jpg Akaso EK 7000 Bow River Float, Alberta, 024-09-29 I call my Akaso EK 7000 the "Crap Cam". I got itfor $20 and it shows. The suction cup mount that holds it to the board cost more than the camera. Its one saving grace is a good wrist-mounted remote for start/stop. https://wateronthebrain.ca/badlands-profile-mckinnon-flats-to-johnsons-island-bow-river-float-alberta-2024-09-08-1778592153 2026-05-12 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/05/badlands-profile-mckinnon-flats-to-johnsons-island-bow-river-float-alberta-2024-09-08-1778592153.jpg Badlands profile, McKinnon Flats to Johnsons Island Bow River Float, Alberta, 2024-09-08 Harsh, unflattering ligthing made B&W the obvious choice here. The badlands aren't interesting to look at, except that they are. Boring in a not boring way? https://wateronthebrain.ca/ash-approaching-peace-bridge-bow-river-float-calgary-ab-2024-08-31-1778571186 2026-05-12 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/05/ash-approaching-peace-bridge-bow-river-float-calgary-ab-2024-08-31-1778571186.jpg Ash approaching Peace Bridge, Bow River Float, Calgary, AB, 2024-08-31 My daughter, Ashlyn, approaching the Peace Bridge, in Calgary, Alberta, on our first river run together. https://wateronthebrain.ca/3rd-party-replacement-fin-skatinger-paddle-board-strathmore-ab-2024-09-15-1778571095 2026-05-12 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/05/3rd-party-replacement-fin-skatinger-paddle-board-strathmore-ab-2024-09-15-1778571095.jpg 3rd party replacement fin Skatinger Paddle Board, Strathmore, AB, 2024-09-15 Showing a third party fin I picked up for $15 for my Skatinger board. It is nowhere near the quality of a Skatinger fin. Not even close. But... it is good to have a spare. https://wateronthebrain.ca/dearly-departed-bowness-park-calgary-ab-2024-09-01-1776656436 2026-04-20 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/04/dearly-departed-bowness-park-calgary-ab-2024-09-01-1776656436.jpg Dearly departed, Bowness Park, Calgary, AB, 2024-09-01 It was a small thing that was a small thing and also a big thing. What I mean is that I was enjoying a beautiful day on the water onthe 1st of September, 2024, at Bowness Park and the air was warm and the trees were still green. Then this small, dying leaf floated past, reminding me paddle boarding season would end soon. It was a crushing moment. https://wateronthebrain.ca/alien-life-form-two-jack-lake-banff-national-park-alberta-2024-09-25-1776656214 2026-04-20 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/04/alien-life-form-two-jack-lake-banff-national-park-alberta-2024-09-25-1776656214.jpg Alien Life Form, Two Jack Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta, 2024-09-25 I was happily cruising along the shore and picking off reflection shots on the emerald green water. https://wateronthebrain.ca/a-piece-of-the-peace-chestermere-lake-chestermere-ab-2024-08-25-1776007175 2026-04-12 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/04/a-piece-of-the-peace-chestermere-lake-chestermere-ab-2024-08-25-1776007175.jpg A piece of the peace, Chestermere Lake, Chestermere, AB< 2024-08-25 Yet another sunset on Chestermere Lake, the lake that delivers. Also the lake that idiot boaters try to kill you on, but, worth it. https://wateronthebrain.ca/aimed-downtown-bow-river-float-calgary-ab-2024-08-31-1776006562 2026-04-12 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/04/aimed-downtown-bow-river-float-calgary-ab-2024-08-31-1776006562.jpg Aimed downtown, Bow River Float, Calgary, AB, 2024-08-31 This part of my first Bow River float was both wonderful, weird, and kind of melancholy. I grew up in Calgary, but I rarely got this view of downtown from the river. Floats on your own as a kid were verbotten. I didn't have a life jacket and the Calgary Fire Department patrolled the river pretty hard. They usually plucked me out by the time I got this far and I was returned to an unimpressed parent. The weird part is looking at the rocks streaming past under you at a good clip and wondering how fragile the fin is on your paddleboard as this is your first time trying this with it. If it catches does the board deflate? Melancholy because I knew we were disembarking just past city centre. My fun ride was coming to an end in about twenty minutes. https://wateronthebrain.ca/alex-in-front-of-fall-foliage-bow-river-float-calgary-ab-2024-09-25-1775751002 2026-04-09 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/04/alex-in-front-of-fall-foliage-bow-river-float-calgary-ab-2024-09-25-1775751002.jpg Alex in front of fall foliage, Bow River Float, Calgary, AB, 2024-09-25 A distant shot of my friend Alex cruising along the bank of the Bow River in front of some magnificient fall foliage in late September, 2024. https://wateronthebrain.ca/fall-vignette-ogden-to-fish-creek-park-bow-river-float-calgary-ab-2024-10-14-1775740318 2026-04-09 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/04/fall-vignette-ogden-to-fish-creek-park-bow-river-float-calgary-ab-2024-10-14-1775740318.jpg Fall vignette, Ogden to Fish Creek Park, Bow River Float, Calgary, AB, 2024-10-14 I swear I get some of my best landscpe shots from out on the water. Fall colours taken from my paddleboard as I floated down the Bow River in October of 2024, somewhere between Ogden Bridge and Fish Creek Park in Calgary, Alberta. https://wateronthebrain.ca/clouds-on-the-water-02-chestermere-lake-chestermere-ab-2024-09-24-1775740060 2026-04-09 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/04/clouds-on-the-water-02-chestermere-lake-chestermere-ab-2024-09-24-1775740060.jpg Clouds on the water 02, Chestermere Lake, Chestermere, AB, 2024-09-24 I had a really beautiful evening on Chestermere Lake a couple years ago where the water was calm and the reflections were beautiful. I was able to work the clouds as they were reflected in the lake surface late in the evening before dusk. https://wateronthebrain.ca/dynamic-duo-two-jack-lake-banff-national-park-alberta-2024-09-02-1775717828 2026-04-09 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/04/dynamic-duo-two-jack-lake-banff-national-park-alberta-2024-09-02-1775717828.jpg Dynamic duo, Two Jack Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta, 2024-09-02 The wife and daughter paddling alongside me. This is a wonderful lake, but if you're not there by 8 am on a Sunday morning in the start of September, the parking is all gone. https://wateronthebrain.ca/hunched-back-policeman-s-flats-to-mckinnon-flats-float-bow-river-alberta-2024-10-07-1775188647 2026-04-03 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/04/hunched-back-policeman-s-flats-to-mckinnon-flats-float-bow-river-alberta-2024-10-07-1775188647.jpg Hunched back, Policeman's Flats to McKinnon Flats Float, Bow River, Alberta, 2024-10-07 A cooler day, but I had a thick wetsuit on and was good to go. Some stiff wind in places, but manageable overall. https://wateronthebrain.ca/herself-chestermere-lake-chestermere-ab-2025-06-16-1775188519 2026-04-03 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/04/herself-chestermere-lake-chestermere-ab-2025-06-16-1775188519.jpg Herself, Chestermere Lake, Chestermere, AB, 2025-06-16 My wonderful wife. She started out in 2024 with a real fear of the water and by the end of the season was paddling like a pro and hard to keep up with. So proud of her and blessed to have her. https://wateronthebrain.ca/best-seat-in-the-house-mckinnon-flats-to-johnson-s-island-float-bow-river-alberta-2024-09-15-1775188386 2026-04-03 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/04/best-seat-in-the-house-mckinnon-flats-to-johnson-s-island-float-bow-river-alberta-2024-09-15-1775188386.jpg Best seat in the house, McKinnon Flats to Johnson's Island Float, Bow River, Alberta, 2024-09-15 The only thing better than having a cooler full of food strapped to the back of your paddle board is being able to paddle into a quiet spot at the shore to pull lunch out and enjoy it while listening to the river go by you. https://wateronthebrain.ca/backlit-shoreline-chestermere-lake-chestermere-ab-2024-09-24-1775188101 2026-04-03 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/04/backlit-shoreline-chestermere-lake-chestermere-ab-2024-09-24-1775188101.jpg Backlit shoreline, Chestermere Lake, Chestermere, AB, 2024-09-24 That magic half hour after sunset where the wind calms, the water smooths, and the other boats and paddlers have disappeared leaving the lake just to you. Most of the time. https://wateronthebrain.ca/curve-ahead-policemans-flats-to-mckinnon-flats-bow-river-alberta-2024-10-06-1775051402 2026-04-01 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/04/curve-ahead-policemans-flats-to-mckinnon-flats-bow-river-alberta-2024-10-06-1775051402.jpg Curve ahead, Policemans Flats to McKinnon Flats, Bow River, Alberta, 2024-10-06 Getting a quick picture in before rounding a bend with more shallow rapids, the best kind. https://wateronthebrain.ca/pause-to-reflect-02-two-jack-lake-banff-national-park-alberta-2024-09-02-1775049931 2026-04-01 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/04/pause-to-reflect-02-two-jack-lake-banff-national-park-alberta-2024-09-02-1775049931.jpg Pause to reflect 02, Two Jack Lake, Banff National Park, Alberta, 2024-09-02 https://wateronthebrain.ca/low-profile-fin-vs-flat-water-fin-casa-mccormick-strathmore-ab-2024-09-25-1775049788 2026-04-01 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/04/low-profile-fin-vs-flat-water-fin-casa-mccormick-strathmore-ab-2024-09-25-1775049788.jpg Low profile fin vs flat water fin, Casa McCormick, Strathmore, AB, 2024-09-25 A quick look at my flatwater OEM fin from Skatinger that is 9 inches high (or deep) vs. my low-profile river fin that is longer with a four inch vertical rise. I have a bit less stability with the river fin, but I don't drag bottom in most places in the river and in shallow lakes now. It's my go-to fin unless I know I'm going into deep water only. They're about $20 on Amazon and I had to spend another $10 for a box of spare screws and nuts because the damn things go missing over the season. https://wateronthebrain.ca/pair-plus-three-of-a-kind-beauvais-lake-beauvais-lake-provincial-park-ab-2025-07-18-1775017547 2026-04-01 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/04/pair-plus-three-of-a-kind-beauvais-lake-beauvais-lake-provincial-park-ab-2025-07-18-1775017547.jpg Pair plus three of a kind, Beauvais Lake, Beauvais Lake Provincial Park, AB, 2025-07-18 One of those grab shots on the water that makes your entire day. I love swans. https://wateronthebrain.ca/illegally-parked-mckinnon-flats-to-johnson-s-island-bow-river-float-2024-09-08-1775017275 2026-04-01 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/04/illegally-parked-mckinnon-flats-to-johnson-s-island-bow-river-float-2024-09-08-1775017275.jpg Illegally parked, McKinnon Flats to Johnson's Island, Bow River Float, 2024-09-08 Making a pit stop to get rid of a couple of Coke Zeros before continuing on my merry way. https://wateronthebrain.ca/getting-a-grip-chestermere-lake-chestermere-ab-2024-09-23-1775017012 2026-04-01 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/04/getting-a-grip-chestermere-lake-chestermere-ab-2024-09-23-1775017012.jpg Getting a grip, Chestermere Lake, Chestermere, AB, 2024-09-23 One of those things I threw in my bag because it might come in handy. It camein handy all year long. https://wateronthebrain.ca/a-quick-look-behind-bow-river-float-paintearth-county-ab-2024-09-29-1775016779 2026-04-01 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/04/a-quick-look-behind-bow-river-float-paintearth-county-ab-2024-09-29-1775016779.jpg A quick look behind, Bow River Float, Paintearth County, AB, 2024-09-29 Nothing like being chased down the river by a storm that is moving faster than you are. https://wateronthebrain.ca/a-bit-upset-sunset-chestermere-lake-chestermere-ab-2024-08-25-1775003055 2026-04-01 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/04/a-bit-upset-sunset-chestermere-lake-chestermere-ab-2024-08-25-1775003055.jpg A bit upset, Sunset, Chestermere Lake, Chestermere, AB, 2024-08-25 One of many late summer sunsets I captured on Chestermere Lake. Just floating gently in a light breeze with a Coke Zero. How life should be lived. https://wateronthebrain.ca/alex-bow-river-float-calgary-ab-2024-09-25-1775002915 2026-04-01 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/04/alex-bow-river-float-calgary-ab-2024-09-25-1775002915.jpg Alex, Bow River Float, Calgary, AB, 2024-09-25 This is Alex and he is from the Ukraine. I don't know if he immigrated or he came here as a refugee, it seemed impolite to ask. What I do know is that he is very smart and a pleasure to go on a paddle with. If the Ukraine has more people like him to spare, we'll take them. He likes to paddle seated, as you can see. We all expected him to go into the drink in the shallow rapid. Not once, not on many runs. The guy is Steady Eddie. https://wateronthebrain.ca/boat-rentals-bowness-park-calgary-ab-2024-09-01-1775002423 2026-04-01 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/04/boat-rentals-bowness-park-calgary-ab-2024-09-01-1775002423.jpg Boat rentals, Bowness Park, Calgary, AB, 2024-09-01 Some nostalgia with mixed feelings here. I always wanted to rent a boat for the lagoon as a kid, but my single mother couldn't afford it. We were lucky when we had enough food. The one time I did get to rent a paddle boat, we got one that was broken and you paddled like crazy to move a few feet. It was the last one and we couldn't exchange it, so we didn't get far and it was frustrating. Worse, my mother had low blood sugar because of the exertion and we couldn't afford food at the park, so it caused us to leave early. Not the happiest birthday. So, yeah. I liked seeing the boat rentals, but it also hurt. https://wateronthebrain.ca/ashlyn-ahoy-bow-river-float-01-calgary-ab-2024-08-31-1775002186 2026-04-01 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/04/ashlyn-ahoy-bow-river-float-01-calgary-ab-2024-08-31-1775002186.jpg Ashlyn ahoy, Bow River Float 01, Calgary, AB, 2024-08-31 My daughter, Ashlyn, joining me on a float down the Bow. It was one of my favourite things when I was a kid and I finally got to share it with my own kid. I wish I had been able to do it with her sooner, but spending time with your adult kid is just asgood. https://wateronthebrain.ca/cruising-the-shoreline-after-dark-chestermere-lake-chestermere-ab-2024-08-29-1774988538 2026-03-31 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/cruising-the-shoreline-after-dark-chestermere-lake-chestermere-ab-2024-08-29-1774988538.jpg Cruising the shoreline after dark, Chestermere Lake, Chestermere, AB, 2024-08-29 The best time to be on Chestermere Lake is from 15 minutes before sunset to half an hour after sunset. It's a magic time. The boats go away, the parking lot empties, and the wind dies down. Nothing but calm water and quiet. Bliss. https://wateronthebrain.ca/broken-oem-fin-skatinger-paddle-board-strathmore-ab-2024-09-15-1774988320 2026-03-31 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/broken-oem-fin-skatinger-paddle-board-strathmore-ab-2024-09-15-1774988320.jpg Broken OEM fin, Skatinger Paddle Board, Strathmore, AB, 2024-09-15 Full credit to Skatinger for fantastic customer support. I broke this fin abusing my board. I accidentally went through shallows and dragged fin on the rocks. Snapped the fin. I emailed Skatinger to ask how much for a replacement and they sent me a new fin, free. I hadn't asked for that and would not have because I honestly feel I abused their equipment. This is much appreciated and from now on Skatinger makes the only paddle board worth owning as far as I am concerned. https://wateronthebrain.ca/a-good-first-impression-chestermere-lake-chestermere-ab-2024-08-25-1774988056 2026-03-31 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/a-good-first-impression-chestermere-lake-chestermere-ab-2024-08-25-1774988056.jpg A good first impression, Chestermere Lake, Chestermere, AB, 2024-08-25 Chestermere has issues. Crazyed boaters, thick patches of weeds, too damn much wind. BUT... It also has the prettiest sunsets. https://wateronthebrain.ca/last-rays-of-the-day-chain-lakes-reservoir-ab-2025-07-09-1774881722 2026-03-30 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/last-rays-of-the-day-chain-lakes-reservoir-ab-2025-07-09-1774881722.jpg Last Rays of the Day, Chain Lakes Reservoir, AB, 2025-07-09 My wife and I made it on the water that morning, but then we had nothing but wind and rain all day. Wasn't feasible to go on the water again. It because beautifully calm just after the sun set, but it was too late to get my board back on the water by then. https://wateronthebrain.ca/damn-the-torpedoes-capt-ayre-lake-md-of-provost-alberta-2025-09-12-1774881588 2026-03-30 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/damn-the-torpedoes-capt-ayre-lake-md-of-provost-alberta-2025-09-12-1774881588.jpg Damn the torpedoes, Capt Ayre Lake, MD of Provost, Alberta, 2025-09-12 As you can see, it's about to rain and I am staying on the water. First time on the water in two weeks in a summer where I had planned to be on the water almost daily. It would have taken a lightning strike to move me at this point of the year. https://wateronthebrain.ca/danger-weir-chestermere-lake-chestermere-ab-2024-08-20-1774880789 2026-03-30 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/danger-weir-chestermere-lake-chestermere-ab-2024-08-20-1774880789.jpg Danger weir, Chestermere Lake, Chestermere, AB, 2024-08-20 Chestermere Lake is a lake, but also a very slow moving one. The water will eventually cary you to this weir at the end if you drift along with the very slow current properly. https://wateronthebrain.ca/there-goes-trouble-bowness-park-calgary-alberta-2024-09-01-1774880640 2026-03-30 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/there-goes-trouble-bowness-park-calgary-alberta-2024-09-01-1774880640.jpg There goes trouble, Bowness Park, Calgary, Alberta, 2024-09-01 One of the things that sucks about being a parent is that you're eventually an older parent with an adult child. Not that I don't love my daughter and I'm not proud of her now, but there's a magic in the early years. Getting to share in the wonder you've lost, but that your kids still have and can occasionally share with you. I miss it. https://wateronthebrain.ca/golden-girl-ogden-to-fish-creek-park-bow-river-float-2024-10-14-1774880463 2026-03-30 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/golden-girl-ogden-to-fish-creek-park-bow-river-float-2024-10-14-1774880463.jpg Golden girl, Ogden to Fish Creek Park, Bow River Float, 2024-10-14 Mid October river run in 2024. We were losing the light, but it was s wonderfully warm in the day and it was a year when we hung onto our fall leaves later than usual. Rare and wonderful and perfect for a river run with friends. https://wateronthebrain.ca/main-lagoon-panoramic-bowness-park-calgary-ab-2024-09-01-1774878642 2026-03-30 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/main-lagoon-panoramic-bowness-park-calgary-ab-2024-09-01-1774878642.jpg Main lagoon panoramic, Bowness Park, Calgary, AB, 2024-09-01 The lagoon I loved as a kid. I hated having to move from a small town to Calgary, Alberta, after my mom went blind when I was a child. She was no longer able to work as a nurse and headed back to university to become a social worker. I spent a lot of summers riding my bike around this lagoon and swimming in it, even though it wasn't allowed. Now I get to paddle on it as an adult. https://wateronthebrain.ca/man-on-a-mission-capt-ayre-lake-md-of-provost-alberta-2025-09-12-1774876736 2026-03-30 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/man-on-a-mission-capt-ayre-lake-md-of-provost-alberta-2025-09-12-1774876736.jpg Man on a mission, Capt Ayre Lake, MD of Provost, Alberta, 2025-09-12 En route to my one paddling sojourn in the first half of September 2025. Nothing finer than the anticipation of driving to a lake you haven't paddled before. https://wateronthebrain.ca/end-of-the-line-bow-river-float-fish-creek-park-calgary-ab-2024-09-07-1774876260 2026-03-30 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/end-of-the-line-bow-river-float-fish-creek-park-calgary-ab-2024-09-07-1774876260.jpg End of the line, Bow River Float, Fish Creek Park, Calgary, AB, 2024-09-07 A wonderful, wonderful float down the Bow in 2024 with people who became good friends. This is just before disembarking at Fish Creek Park in Calgary, AB. Going beyond this point takes you out of the city toward Policeman's Flats, which is a beautiful trip I have only made once. https://wateronthebrain.ca/caught-from-behind-twin-lake-alberta-2025-08-06-1774875890 2026-03-30 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/caught-from-behind-twin-lake-alberta-2025-08-06-1774875890.jpg Caught from behind, Twin Lake, Alberta, 2025-08-06 We found this lake during our stay at a friend's place near Pigeon Lake, Alberta. (Pigeon being another lake I couldn't get on because the algae freaked my wife out).) Twin Lake is cute, but we only got our boards on the one lake, the other was not accessible via the shared channel as the water was too low. I dragged fin and got caught in the mud trying. Shot of me taken by my wife who was behind. https://wateronthebrain.ca/all-along-the-water-chestermere-lake-chestermere-ab-2024-09-23-1774875594 2026-03-30 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/all-along-the-water-chestermere-lake-chestermere-ab-2024-09-23-1774875594.jpg All along the water, Chestermere Lake, Chestermere, AB, 2024-09-23 Sunset image snagged from shore, just after the wife and I came off the lake. We had the boards deflated and packed back in the vehicle. https://wateronthebrain.ca/sheerness-cooling-pond-prairie-oasis-park-sheerness-ab-2025-06-15-1774875285 2026-03-30 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/sheerness-cooling-pond-prairie-oasis-park-sheerness-ab-2025-06-15-1774875285.jpg Sheerness Cooling Pond, Prairie Oasis Park, Sheerness, AB, 2025-06-15 See this beautiful water? I am not on it because at the time I made the image we were coming back from a function I did not want to go to and then getting ready to visit with guests I did not want to see. Apparently it is rude to not visit with people when you can be enjoying yourself on water, something I didn't get to do on this expensive week. Why camp at a lake if the point isn't going on the damn thing? Fuck visiting and socializing. Overrated. https://wateronthebrain.ca/shore-sitters-chestermere-lake-ab-2025-05-03-1774875033 2026-03-30 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/shore-sitters-chestermere-lake-ab-2025-05-03-1774875033.jpg Shore sitters, Chestermere Lake, AB, 2025-05-03 This was from my first outing in May of 2025. I got to the lake and realized it was too windy go even try and go out. It was nuts. Then I inflated my board and went out anyway, actually got flipped off twice by wind gusts. It was horrible, but necessary. The smart ones stayed on the shore and just watched the idiots on the lake. https://wateronthebrain.ca/sheltered-from-the-wind-chestermere-lake-chestermere-ab-2024-08-20-1774874857 2026-03-30 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/sheltered-from-the-wind-chestermere-lake-chestermere-ab-2024-08-20-1774874857.jpg Sheltered from the wind, Chestermere Lake, Chestermere, AB, 2024-08-20 https://wateronthebrain.ca/dock-around-the-clock-sheerness-cooling-pond-prairie-oasis-park-sheerness-ab-2025-06-13-1774874468 2026-03-30 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/dock-around-the-clock-sheerness-cooling-pond-prairie-oasis-park-sheerness-ab-2025-06-13-1774874468.jpg Dock around the clock, Sheerness Cooling Pond, Prairie Oasis Park, Sheerness, AB, 2025-06-13 This trip to Prairie Oasis Park was disappointing. First, the wind and rain the first two nights kept us off the water. As well, the one time it was calm my wife had to go to a reunion at her old school division and then guests were invited out for the evening. Between the function and getting ready for guests there was no chance to get on the water. The morning we were leaving we COULD get on the water, but the air pump died and there was no spare. I got punked. I only have pics of a lake I couldn't get onto. https://wateronthebrain.ca/the-fallen-bowness-park-calgary-ab-2024-09-01-1774840606 2026-03-30 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/the-fallen-bowness-park-calgary-ab-2024-09-01-1774840606.jpg The fallen, Bowness Park, Calgary, AB, 2024-09-01 I used to ride my bike up and down this canal as a kid an found it beautiful. Being able to expore it on a paddle board as an adult is just as good. https://wateronthebrain.ca/it-seems-fishy-to-me-bowness-park-lagoon-calgary-ab-2024-09-01-1774840134 2026-03-30 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/it-seems-fishy-to-me-bowness-park-lagoon-calgary-ab-2024-09-01-1774840134.jpg It seems fishy to me, Bowness Park Lagoon, Calgary, AB, 2024-09-01 When you drive into Bowness Park you go over a small bridge that passes over top of the canal going from the main lagoon to the Bow River. Fishy fish here is painted on the underside. https://wateronthebrain.ca/group-photo-bow-river-float-calgary-ab-2024-08-31-1774839960 2026-03-30 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/group-photo-bow-river-float-calgary-ab-2024-08-31-1774839960.jpg Group photo, Bow River Float, Calgary, AB, 2024-08-31 This is the crew I went on my first Bow River float with along with my daughter, Ashlyn. It was one of the best days I have had with my kid and I am so happy I didn't chicken out. Everyone was wonderful. The, er, <em>exuberant</em>fellow in the front is Michael. He's awesome, he's living his best life and he's fun to be around. The world needs more people who don't take themselves too seriously. https://wateronthebrain.ca/flower-wholesaler-lee-lake-md-of-pincher-creek-2025-07-19-1774839059 2026-03-30 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/flower-wholesaler-lee-lake-md-of-pincher-creek-2025-07-19-1774839059.jpg Flower wholesaler, Lee Lake, MD of Pincher Creek, 2025-07-19 We decided to try this as it was too windy to paddle Beauvais Lake where we were camped. It was amazing other than having the world's grossest outhouse. Really not kidding, it was the kind where the stank stuck in your nose a day later. The lake is great, but maybe pee in the bushes? https://wateronthebrain.ca/riding-off-into-the-sunset-01-carolside-reservoir-special-areas-ab-2025-07-27-1774836559 2026-03-30 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/riding-off-into-the-sunset-01-carolside-reservoir-special-areas-ab-2025-07-27-1774836559.jpg Riding off into the sunset 01, Carolside Reservoir, Special Areas, AB, 2025-07-27 This was the paddling trip from Hell. It was September long weekend and I had the camper to myself. The daytime temps got above 30C and above 36C in the trailer. The wind was nuts. The second the wind died down the mosquitoes were nuts. I mean the worse I have experienced in like a decade. A dark cloud would follow you waiting for your spray to wear off. If that wasn't bad enough, on the morning of the third day - as the long weekend was starting - I got word my father-in-law was passing. I packed up and headed to the farm. He was gone <a href="https://baddaywithacamera.ca/2025/09/16/its-different-this-time/" target="_blank" rel="noopener nofollow">the next day</a>the next day. https://wateronthebrain.ca/time-for-iced-tea-bowness-park-calgary-ab-2024-09-01-1774836064 2026-03-30 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/time-for-iced-tea-bowness-park-calgary-ab-2024-09-01-1774836064.jpg Time for iced tea, Bowness Park, Calgary, AB, 2024-09-01 I finally managed to hit the lagoon late in the summer and it was sublime. Beautiful, hot fall day. After two hours of paddling I enjoyed an iced tea while my board drip dried. https://wateronthebrain.ca/weather-network-said-it-wouldn-t-rain-capt-ayre-lake-md-of-provost-alberta-2025-09-12-1774835863 2026-03-30 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/weather-network-said-it-wouldn-t-rain-capt-ayre-lake-md-of-provost-alberta-2025-09-12-1774835863.jpg Weather Network said it wouldn't rain, Capt Ayre Lake, MD of Provost, Alberta, 2025-09-12 Any port in a storm? I found the port AND the storm. I was out in the Provost area for two weeks and only a single day was free of wind enough to paddle, and then it dumped rain on me instead. I couldn't win last year. https://wateronthebrain.ca/it-just-kept-getting-darker-bow-river-float-alberta-2024-09-29-1774832904 2026-03-30 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/it-just-kept-getting-darker-bow-river-float-alberta-2024-09-29-1774832904.jpg It just kept getting darker, Bow River Float, Alberta, 2024-09-29 From a solo float I did at the end of September in 2024. I made it through a few rain squalls and the worst one was coming with about twenty minutes left on the water, or so I thought. I rounded a bend just after taking this image and found myself fighting the wind to shore. It was so bad that it blew me back up river when I stopped paddling. https://wateronthebrain.ca/chillaxing-on-the-water-chain-lakes-reservoir-chain-lakes-provincial-park-ab-2025-07-12-1774828035 2026-03-29 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/chillaxing-on-the-water-chain-lakes-reservoir-chain-lakes-provincial-park-ab-2025-07-12-1774828035.jpg Chillaxing on the water, Chain Lakes Reservoir, Chain Lakes Provincial Park, AB, 2025-07-12 The wife was kind enough to take a picture of me last summer while we paddled Chain Lakes together. I have lost 30 lbs since this image was made. https://wateronthebrain.ca/new-paddling-partner-chain-lakes-ab-2025-09-29-1774819474 2026-03-29 https://wateronthebrain.ca/img_uploads/2026/03/new-paddling-partner-chain-lakes-ab-2025-09-29-1774819474.jpg New paddling partner, Chain Lakes, AB, 2025-09-29 This is Christine. She was 80 when I met her. She decided, at that age, to sell her home, buy a motorhome, and to live on the road until she couldn't with her dog as company. Her days are full of paddling and hiking. She's amazing and I'm glad I had the privilege of briefly knowing her. https://wateronthebrain.ca/page.php?slug=about 2026-03-29