For more information on the journey check out the Twitter moments

Fairy Lake Dock #Acton

September 16th and Sept 17th, will be our last weekend at Fairy Lake during the 2017 Acton Fall Fair. We are excited to see the ground break for the new wheelchair accessible dock that will hopefully be ready (fingers crossed) for the 2018 season.

Please join us at the Paddle House! See you on the water.

Photograph by Ann Vanderlaan Adema

From the DJ McPhail Photography website;

DJ McPhail is a Nature and Outdoors Photographer based in Peterborough, Ontario Canada.

His unique touch, and love for the outdoors is illustrated in all his photos. DJ is very passionate about Photography and the image viewer can see this by the effort and work he puts into getting the right shot.

DJ travels all over Ontario Canada capturing beautiful Nature, Landscape and Wildlife Photography, as well as the elusive Aurora Borealis.

DJ won the 2014 Ontario Out Of Doors Magazine annual calendar contest with his photo of a Common Loon and Chick – ‘Follow Me’ as well, winning the Landscape category of the Kawartha Highlands photo contest with this photo. ‘Trails & The Aurora’, The photo will be printed in this years Park information guide with Ontario Parks

We are very excited to promote DJ’s photography and feel his passion for the outdoors matches our passion with getting you into a canoe!

14′ UltraGlass Algonquin Prospector

We are a proud member of the American Canoe Association.

The ACA website; “Founded in 1880, The American Canoe Association (ACA) is a national nonprofit organization serving the broader paddling public by providing education related to all aspects of paddling; stewardship support to help protect paddling environments; and sanctioning of programs and events to promote paddlesport competition and recreation.”

From the ACA website;

• Provide the general public with FUN paddlesport opportunities
• Make paddling education and instruction accessible
• Improve access to all paddling venues
• Expand paddlesport to people of all abilities and to the underserved
• Influence stewardship issues and public policy that affect paddlers and the paddling experience
• Promote paddlesports competition at the local, regional and national levels
• Create strategic alliances with clubs and other organizations that represent the outdoor experience in order to expand awareness and knowledge of paddlesport
• Communicate the benefits of canoeing, kayaking, rafting and stand up paddleboarding as healthy lifetime recreation activities

“The heart of the ACA is the people who paddle, cherish and protect the rivers, lakes, streams, bays and oceans of the United States and beyond.”

As a perk to joining the ACA,  here is a spectacular ACA member benefit!

From the ACA website: “Sugar Island is located in the heart of the Thousand Islands in Gananoque, Ontario Canada, which is an international tourism destination near the St. Lawrence Islands National Park. The 35 acre island is privately owned by the ACA and is available to all members for year round use.

“Getting to Sugar Island is as much of part of your trip as your stay. The island is located approximately one mile from the Canadian Mainland. You can paddle out to the island or the great folks at Misty Isles Lodge in Gananoque, Ontario offer a water taxi service to the island.”

“What to do on an island you might ask? The island is rustic, with no modern amenities. It is a pristine, pure environment with crystal clear water, clean air, and beautiful night skies. Swim, snorkel, fish, paddle, sail, or simply relax.”

‘2014 ACA National Encampment: July 27 – August 8’

• New ACA members receive two(2) free nights of camping! (Reservation Form)
• Directions
• Maps (Detailed / Overview)
• Brochure
• 2014 ACA National Encampment
• History of Sugar Island (Article 1 / Article 2 / Powerpoint)
• Ecology of Sugar Island (PDF)
• Sugar Island Rules & Regulations (word)
• Sugar Island Emergancy Action Plan (word)
• For reservations, contact Marcia Banholzer
• International Canoe Regatta at Sugar Island (YouTube)

‘Sugar Island offers all ACA members the opportunity for a unique paddlesport camping experience. Stay for a weekend, a week, or a month!”

Join ACA today! Visit the ACA website for more information.

It warms our hearts.

Dear friends,

You may recall my ordering a Kevlar canoe in the summer of 2005. It was to be a birthday surprise for my wife, Evelyn, and was to be delivered to me in care of Home Hardware, Blind River, Ontario. You filled the order and shipped it out. It arrived in time for her birthday, and she was with me when we went to claim her surprise. To the surprise and disappointment of all of us the canoe was badly damaged on arrival. There was no way to determine who was responsible or, where in shipment, the damage occurred. When we informed you of what had happened you made an astounding offer – if we could get the damaged canoe to your factory you would replace it at no cost! Thus Evelyn and I drive the several hours to Acton, with the damaged canoe on the top of the car, made the trade, and returned home hauling its lovely, red replacement.

Now I am writing to tell you the rest of the story, and once again to express my deep gratitude for your thoughtfulness and generosity. Evelyn had wished for a canoe light enough for her, an eighty-five year old, to manage. This was the perfect one for her. She quickly mastered it, and went on our lake nearly every day for the next two months. She loved her red canoe, and became known for it to the Lake Lauzon community. The first week in October we carefully and fondly put it in winter storage before traveling to our California home. Evelyn had had the summer of her dreams!

In late November she and I traveled to Hawaii to visit with her granddaughter and family. On the journey she contracted what we thought to be a bad cough and fever. We determined to return home to her physician. On arrival there she was directed to the Emergency Room of the local hospital, where several hours later she lost life to a virulent form of pneumonia. In one of our last conversations while at the hospital she spoke again of how much she enjoyed her red canoe.

Now two summer later, two granddaughters and three grown grandchildren, all accomplished canoeists, will be together with me at the lake. The red canoe and our memories will afford us both pleasurable times and pleasurable memories. Thanks to Holy Cow and to you guys for the joyous times you have made possible.

Sincerely, Bob Steiger

Red Sportsman

From the Ontario Parks Website:

Paddling in Ontario Parks

Ontario Parks offers unparalleled paddling opportunities amidst scenic beauty and landscapes that have remained unchanged for centuries. With over 7,500 interior campsites – many only accessible by canoe or kayak we are the largest provider of outdoor recreation in Ontario.

No matter what your skill level – your next camping trip can include paddling. Check out our events listings for special workshops and programs that will help you to stretch your boundaries – explore, learn and be sure to share your photos and experiences!

Enter to #win your chance at a #HolyCowCanoe Prize pack.  The photo with the most votes and or shares wins. Post your photo on the Holy Cow Canoe Facebook page, it will be added to the contest album. Don’t forget to share your post! Vote on your favorite #paddling photo. We’ll announce  the winner here on the Holy Cow Canoe website, May 2nd. Contest will be running until May 1st.

You can either submit your photo and one or two lines of your paddling memories on Facebook or send us your entry in an email. And we’ll be sure to add it to the album!

Thank you to all that have submitted an entry.

From all us here at the Cow!

Dear Holy Cow Canoe Company:
Here is a photo or two from my four-day adventure in Bon Echo Park last July while learning paddling skills from the queen of the canoe, Becky Mason.
Ms. Mason was kind enough to teach us a variety of paddling skills while imparting her immense love and respect for the land and water.
I recall it was an incredibly hot the week when we were there, with daytime temperatures in the plus 25-30 degree Celsius range.
That meant that most of the 8 women taking part in the trek took advantage of a dip or two in JoePerry Lake.
My group wanted backcountry adventure away from RV’s and the tent trailers and we got it.
It was thrilling to see Mazinaw Rock, the aboriginal pictographs on the rock wall.
I bought my first canoe last year, an old fiberglass 16-foot clunker but it gets me out on the water and I love it.
Paddling is my passion; it is sensual and touches an emotional side of me.
It is my quiet form of meditation.
Magic happens on the water when a paddle is dipped into a clean, clear northern lake.
I can hardly wait to get out on the water this spring. Go away old man winter and let the young spring chick come around.
Thank you,
Sue Nielsen
Paddler
— at Bon Echo Provincial Park.