UNSINKABLE BLUE CANOE

A quick call to tour guide Bruno Saucier sees us on our way to find No. 3134 on the main road from Mont-Sainte-Anne, that turns out to be a brown, sheet metal building on the right hand side. Its walls are lined with two-piece wet suits, lifejackets, neat rows of booties and helmets in different sizes.

Bruno and Mylene are Class 1 and 2 professional river guides at Le Canyon Secret, the place for rafting (in May) and canoeing over

There are two trips, L'Exploration for two or three persons who will take the canoe out by themselves or L'Experience VIP for inexperienced visitors (we take this one). Bruno helps us select our outfits and with helmets in hand, we are ready and raring to go.

The drive from Saint-Ferreol takes us through the countryside and eventually to Sept-Chutes, where we must lug the packed canoes, blue and yellow paddles and other gear down a path to the water. This is workout number one, Bruno tells us jokingly.

The canoes are two and a half feet wide and carries up to four persons. Canyon Secret will take bookings from visitors 14 years and older who must know how to swim. There are also safety directions we must follow before we can set off.

Once Bruno and Mylene inflate the canoes and put them in the water, we settle into our positions. Bruno sits at the rear, I am in the middle and Bridget-Ann is up at the front., while Mylene and Karine take off in the other canoe. There are no 'seats' - remember this is an inflatable canoe. We must keep our knees on the floor at all times to maintain our balance, no sitting on the derriere (in the excitement you'll hardly notice the odd seating arrangement).

Next we are given mandatory safety directions. "If the canoe tips over, keep the paddle with you, then as quickly as possible, sit as if you are in a lazy boy, " Bruno advises. "Let yourself go downstream with the current, and never try to stand up - your feet can get caught between the rocks." This is so important he stresses the point again, "Let yourself go down into the water, then try to climb on to a rock."

Sometimes the rushing water only allows for communicating by signs so it's a fist on the helmet that indicates 'okay' and you raise your hand for a question or if you need help. Bruno booms out , "Now" and we begin paddling feverishly only to raise our paddles out of the water when he shouts "Stop." Much to his amusement, I erupt into sporadic giggles simply because I am having such a good time.

Soon this is turning into such an action packed trip, and half the fun is preparing to challenge the rapids and then relishing the invigorating sprays of water that splash over our faces. Over and over again, we repeat the same maneuvers, once brushing against a rock with a surprising thud. Of course water comes flooding over the sides, but it disappears very quickly because this s a self-bailing canoe.

Just more than halfway down the river, we stop for a break to indulge in light snacks, basking in the sun while enjoying the scenery. The "Pelican Dry Box" is opened up and out comes my camera so that we can have some more fun, but on land this time.

We follow more than six kilometers of shoreline and 30 rapids later, we are savoring our final moments of this trip. The canoes are overturned and deflated, then tightly rolled up to fit into the huge backpacks and our final 'workout' begins - we must climb up a fairly steep hill to rejoin the vehicle that will take us back to Saint-Ferreol.

In the end, Bruno tells us why he offers these trips. "It makes me feel great to share the fun and passion with people who have no experience."

Thanks for the experience, Bruno.