The last canoe trip of the 2011 season was a short trip on the Madawaska, at Madawaska, of course.
Rudi and I put in just off the highway, behind the community centre, which has a brand new gravel ramp and high quality dock. There were a few other boaters there, a couple putting in a small aluminum outboard boat, and a family returning with a larger sport boat.
A few hundred feet south of the put in is the old trestle from the Ottawa, Arnprior, and Parry Sound railway (pictured) which has been modified to accommodate the recreational trail now in its place. three trestles have been removed, and new approach ramps installed. I suppose the cost of maintaining the old bridge was probably quite steep.
Beyond that we looped under the highway bridge, where the Madawaska begins to open into Bark Lake, one of the largest in the area. After turning under the bridge, we returned, passed our put in, and then headed upriver for about forty five minutes before returning.
The old trestle of the Ottawa, Arnprior, an Parry Sound Railway at Madawaska, with new approaches for the multi-use rail trail.
The Highway bridge, about 100 metres south of the old railway bridge, just enough clearance to get a sport boat underneath.
Heading north on the Madawaska, about half a mile from our put in.
After turning around, and heading back south. Like many rivers in the area, the Madawaske is very deep and wide, with little vertical change in profile.
