DESIRÉE DECOSTE

STAFF WRITER

This Saturday at 2 p.m. in Sandbanks Provincial Park at The Woodyard, Outlet River will be the first annual non-competitive Paddle into Summer event which is sponsored by the Friends of Sandbanks and the Park.

The event is a family-event and alcohol-free.

The event includes a silent auction of gentle-used boats the Park has donated, hotdog and marshmallow barbecue and entertainment by local musician Acacia Lyra who plays with a French-Canadian flavor.

You’re encouraged to bring along a musical instrument and join in on the fun.

Admission is $10 per person or $15 per family which covers entry into the event, reduced rate for watercraft rental at the Woodyard, give the ability to bid in the silent auction, get a coupon for hotdogs and marshmallows, a raffle ticket for the paddle-board raffle and access to extra river water which was brought in specially for this event to ensure your boat will float.

There will be canoes/kayaks participants can rent for $10 with all proceeds going to the Friends of Sandbanks for improvements within the Park.

With it being the only river in the Park it’s a short waterway but it’s colorful history is bedecked with some great stories.

During the acme of settlement in 1784 to 1850 a number of boat builders called East Lake home.

The palatial white pines that covered over the entire County were a valuable resource and were cut down for ship masts and timbers which went on the boats the boat builders were making to be sailed from East Lake into Lake Ontario.

The event will start at 2 p.m. with registration and pickup/launch boats at the Woodyard and finishing with entertainment by local musicians starting at 9 p.m.

Boats must be returned to the Woodyard by 8 p.m. and the event closes at 10 p.m.

Only personally-powered craft may be used, no motors.

And the story about the barrels of hidden French gold along the banks of the river make for an abiding legend.

For more information on the event please visit http://www.friendsofsandbanks.org/sandbanks_2019/2019_paddle_into_summer.html

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