Sudbury couple embark on paddling adventure

BY MARIE LITALIEN

While many Sudburians strapped on their lifejackets for a short race in the recent Dragon Boat Festival, one couple embarked on a 600 kilometre canoe adventure.

Over the next four to five weeks, Stephanie Park and her husband Jonathan Pratt, both 26, will call a 19-foot red canoe their home and the vastness of nature their backyard.

Their sense of adventure and love of nature has led them on a journey that began last year. The couple are paddling the coastline of the Canadian Great Lakes. With their departure from Manitoulin Island on Saturday, they have entered the second part of their "freshwater dream."

So far they have covered approximately 2,000 kilometres.

The husband and wife of two years will travel approximately 600 kilometres by canoe during this leg of their trip, departing from Manitoulin Island and ending in Sarnia, Ont.

This time they have another passenger on their canoe, their chocolate-lab/husky mix dog, Tess.

Park, who was born and raised in Sudbury, said the accomplishment of their dream is an opportunity to show Canadians what is around them.

"We want to raise awareness about this huge freshwater resource that's shared by Canada and the United States. We're really lucky to have it around us," said Park. "This is 20 per cent of the world's freshwater."

Park has had a passion for paddling from the time she was in her early teens, whether it be canoes or kayaks. She eventually became an instructor.

Pratt is a native of Owen Sound and spent his childhood paddling and being outdoors. He was a kayak guide on the Great Lakes.

Both of the adventurers studied at Laurentian, Sault College and attended teacher's college in Thunder Bay. The two have no plans to adopt a steady career-driven life and mum is the word on their next big adventure.

While on their travels, they have experienced fog so dense it was impossible to know what was in front of them. When this happens, they navigate by the sound of the waves.

"There's been a few times were it's been a little scary but you pull in where you can," said Park.

Their experience in the canoe has taught them to use caution, therefore they do not put themselves in dangerous situations.

While on their long-trips Pratt and Park camp out on Crown land and in provincial parks. They sometimes rely on the hospitality of cottage owners to spend the night on the property.

"The hospitality of people along the shoreline is very important, especially to paddlers," said Pratt.  "Generally everybody is very welcoming, very accepting and interested in what we're doing and help out in any way they can. So it's very nice to get that support while we're going along."

Although the couple have many common traits and interests, their favorite thing about paddling the Great Lakes differs.

Park said she enjoys the freedom that wilderness gives: "The beauty that surrounds you, your spirit is so filled with happiness because of it. We're really lucky as Canadians to have that in our back yards."

Pratt said he enjoys the lack of conformity: "I think the being on your own schedule, not being forced  into 9-to-5, this is what you have to do ... It's basically up to us any given day what we're going to do, what our day it going to be filled with. Not being restricted in any way is really, really nice and not many people get the opportunity to experience that."

Visit www.freshwaterdreams.ca to follow the paddlers on their trip or for information.

"For us it's not really a race," said Park. "It's more about seeing the coastline, taking pictures, enjoying were you are."