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f you happen to be near the banks of the Muskoka River in the next couple of days and spot a young paddler and her canine companion be sure to give them a wave and a \u201cthank you.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n
Cailan Laine Punnewaert is now well into her third annual long-distance paddle to raise funds for the Aspen Valley Wildlife Sanctuary. On the morning of Tuesday, September 6 she reached the Muskoka River in Bracebridge after having traversed Lake Muskoka.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt was the windiest, roughest crossing we\u2019ve ever done,\u201d said Cailan in a social media post. \u201cBut now we have days of river paddling.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Cailan, who is accompanied by her mother and her Shih Tzu, Tinkerbell, launched Sept. 1 on the Moon River and plans to head into the south branch of the Muskoka River. Then on to Huntsville to portage over into the north branch of the river, back down again, and eventually back to Moon River cottages. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe don\u2019t know how long it will take but it often comes down to finding spots to camp along the way,\u201d says Cailan who stopped in Port Sydney last night. \u201cWe estimate it to be about 350 km give or take and about 50 portages with falls and chutes, but this year we are going to remember to count.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To donate visit \u201cexplore with Muskoka girl\u201d on Facebook or go directly at this link<\/a>.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n