Pioneer Park is a busy place in the summer, but in fall, the area is much quieter.   On the river, the noisy and disruptive power boats are absent.   We can return from the high country lakes to paddle up and down the river.   On this grey and cool day in October, I pushed out from the boat launch and went downstream.

The section down to the confluence of the North Thompson and South Thompson Rivers passes under the red bridge, then the train bridge.

It is an easy 1.3 km to Indian Point and the mixed waters  of the confluence.

The waters of the North Thompson are muddier and faster than the South Thompson.   Turning the corner and going upstream is a challenge.

With some persistence and lots of sweat, we can work our way upstream for as long as far as we choose to on that day.    The return trip back to the confluence is quick.

The waters swirl where the two rivers meet and there are shallow gravel bars on both sides of the area.   We can do a circuit of the confluence area before heading upstream again.

Options may include a paddle downstream to Rabbit Island and back or we can paddle back up to Pioneer Park  but continue upstream to the Yellowhead Bridge and back.   Depending on conditions, we can paddle any distance from 4 km to 20 km.   Since all of the upsteam paddling is hard work, we are guaranteed a good cardiovascular workout.

When the air temperature drops, the water takes much longer to cool, so we are comfortable in the kayak for another month.   We dress more warmly and the spray skirt will be used if there is some wind.   By early November we will put away the kayak until next March when we will launch in the river for another season.