Temagami, Ontario may be one of the few places you’ll go where breakups make everyone happy. “Breakup season has arrived!” says Ottertooth.com, a popular Temagami news site. Bitter? Not at all. Up north, breakup refers to the point when sheets of winter ice melt, rendering the water ripe for canoeing. And for tripping enthusiasts like Stefan Superina, spring is one of the best times of the year for adventuring. “Right after breakup, the water is high and the area is much quieter,” he says.
But those of you imagining gently rowing around grand birch trees while taking photos for your Facebook profile, take heed. Canoeing’s requisite partner, portaging (carrying your gear from lake to lake), is no walk in the park (well, not a leisurely one, anyway). For an instant lesson in humility, try scaling a rock face toting a 50-pound, 17-foot-long mammoth of wood and canvas over your head. Add 30 or 40 pounds in water proof barrels (your food and a propane stove) and 15 pounds of personal gear to a few hours of rowing in the rain, and what do you get? No, not just throbbing pain and hunger. “Peace,” says Superina. “Being in a world where you don’t have entertainment at the push of a button — you can’t get that kind of peace in a city,” he says.

 From camping permits, to gear, to the gas to get there, a week of canoeing for two can run between $350 and $500. For a cheaper and closer option, head to Harbourfront for lessons in the pool and the lake starting at $94 (rental gear available). Visit www.paddletoronto.com for details. And don’t forget the bug spray. Just like humans, mosquitoes like to feast after breakups.

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