Paddling, Portaging and Pumping [VIDEO]

If success was measured in bug bites and sore muscles, then canoe trip victory was ours. Last weekend, CIM embarked on 3 successful days of paddling, portaging and experiential learning: our first canoe trip.

The rain pelted down in sheets on Friday as we left our respective homes and met up with our carpool partners. Water streamed off the bow of the canoe that was strapped to the roof of my car. Rain is part of the outdoor experience, too be expected, inevitable. But leaving a warm dry car to start a trip in the rain takes more than just a little will power.

Luckily, our group, made up of a mix of experienced paddlers and complete camping newbies, was up for the challenge. Our group met by the bridge on the side of aptly named, River Road outside of the small town of Ardoch, northwest of Kingston. Our adventure would start here.

As we introduced ourselves and unloaded the vehicles, the sky started to clear. By the time we had loaded 6 canoes with tents, personal gear, food, dogs, people, insulin, a barrel of Dex 4 (provided by Dex 4, thanks!!!), shuttled our cars to our end point 25km down the road, and dealt with the canoe trailer we broke on the rough rutted rock-strewn country roads, the sky was brightening.

Bayer Diabetes provided everyone on the trip with a brand new Contour Meter, along with 50 strips for the weekend so that we could test often and freely – a must for 14 extremely active Type 1’s trying new activities and out-of-the-ordinary adventures. CIM hooked everyone up with a mini dry bag for each meter and with that, with everything packed and organized, diabetes and otherwise, we were off!

For the next 2 days we would paddle glassy calm lakes, drag our boats through rapids and hoist them overhead across portages. We would slide over beaver dams and glide past rocky tree-lined shores. We would cook our meals over fires and sleep in tents nestled in pine and cedar forests. We would test our blood sugar while floating on open lakes, by flashlight in the middle of the night or at the end of the portage trail – with a friend fending off mosquitoes. We would bolus for trail mix, fresh baked cinnamon buns and copious amounts of pita bread. Basal rates and bolus amounts were reduced to account for the increased insulin sensitivity of compounded days of activity.

The trip was a challenging one, covering over 40km by canoe and foot in less than 36 hours. With people’s varying skill levels and background experience, it was a demanding route. Our team, and it was a team, pulled together to accomplish some amazing feats.

As Type 1’s, we’ve grown accustomed to challenges. Over the course of the weekend, I heard people confess frustrations and struggles, challenging times with diabetes, decisions made, consequences paid and scary moments of the past. As I watched people around me test the waters of their comfort zones, portaging a canoe for the first time, paddling a 13km long lake or defying gravity on the rope swing, I understood that we are all stronger for it.

What struck me most about the weekend however, was the laughter. Despite the other physical challenges, it was my stomach muscles that hurt the most at the end of the weekend. Once again, a fabulous group of funny, quirky, generous, sincere, kind, inspiring people had come together for a CIM event.

The last kilometer of a trip is always bittersweet for me. I paddled slowly, not really wanting it to end. I felt the heat of the sun on my bare back, the drip of my wet ponytail, tasted the salt of last portage, and felt the satisfying stiffness of hard work and accomplishment in my shoulders. A smile crept across my face as I took a deep breath of fresh air. CIM’s first canoe trip was a success!

For the next week or more we will wear our itches and stiffness like badges of honor, trophies from 36 glorious hours of paddling on glassy smooth lakes, trucking over portages, challenging diabetes, sleeping under the stars and forging new friendships through hard work and laughter.

Sure, there were glitches. When you take 14 people out into the wilderness, you can count on a few glitches. Similarly, when you live with diabetes for a decade (or two, or three, or more!) you can count on there being some highs and lows.

Combined with will power, education, community and a great sense of humour, life’s glitches and challenges, fuel life’s adventures.

THANK YOU to BAYER DIABETES, MEDTRONIC and DEX 4 for their support of our summer programs!

And to Jen and Jenn for their continued passion and hard work in putting this trip together.

From the trippers:

“The canoe trip last weekend was the best. I never got to go camping before, because I didn’t know how to handle diabetes on such a trip. Thanks for helping me figure out how to make that possible.”

“Thank you to everyone who made this trip possible! For me, it was almost like being back at Camp again. 

Chloe told me to believe in my abilities and this trip has shown me that I am possible of much more then I thought! I met or was reunited with so many great people on this trip! Thank you SOOOO much EVERYONE!”

“It’s the first time I’ve really hung out with Type 1’s in real life. I’ve only ever known people with diabetes online. So it was nice to be with people where I got to feel understood.”

“Despite my 350+ bites (yes, I’ve counted them), I had the most amazing time and am so proud to be part of this group. This weekend reminded me that there are other type 1s who are fun, active and just great people!”