Paddle power
Bonshaw teenager kayaks around P.E.I. in just 12 days
Sixteen-year-old Jo Simmons of Bonshaw wanted to tackle a good challenge all on his own.
Paddling around Prince Edward Island in his sea kayak seemed a lofty enough goal to quench his thirst for a sizable personal adventure.
Days after completing the roughly 550-km circumnavigation of Canada’s smallest province in just 11 days of paddling with one rest day, Simmons speaks with modest pride about his impressive feat.
“I’m just really happy to be back,’’ he says. “It’s nice to be able to say you’ve kayaked around a province.’’
Simmons, who bought his first kayak at age 12 from money he made selling worms, needed to roll up his sleeves to earn the opportunity for his recent trip that concluded on Friday.
First, he put in the time and effort to train, plopping his sea kayak into the Bonshaw River for regular two- to fourhour outings. He also did work around the home, including painting and a host of odd jobs, to earn money from his parents to get equipped for the trip. Among other purchases, Simmons bought a good life jacket, an extra paddle and a waterproof phone that floats. He also packed a diary and a waterproof bible. He needed, too, to work on his father, who was at first hesitant to give the teenager the green light to embark on the considerable solo kayak trek.
Simmons says he eventually convinced his father, Jonathan, that he had the commitment, responsibility and ability to take on the paddling journey.
“I don’t think he had to convince me,’’ Jessica noted of her son, Jo.
“When he had the idea, I thought he’s coming up to being a man and he needs that challenge.’’
Still, both mom and dad followed their boy’s progress closely with a healthy bit of anxiety.
Jo would check in with his parents each night after pulling his kayak out of the water, and again in the morning before setting off for his daily 10 to 12 hours of paddling.
He fueled the start of each daily paddle with a “really, really gross’’ protein shake for breakfast.
He ate lunch, consisting of dried fruit, meat and chocolate bars (he polished off more than 50 Snickers), while paddling.
On land, before hitting the tent early for sleep that would always come easy, Jo ate instant meals for supper, adding boiling water to rice, macaroni and cheese meals and powdered soups.
The trip would trim 10 pounds from Jo, dropping the gangly teen to 110 pounds, and leaving him “eating constantly’’ since returning home.
The excursion wasn’t without a mishap or two. Just five days in, one foot brace broke on the kayak.
A couple of days later, the vessel capsized. Jo couldn’t get back in, so he needed to swim the boat back to shore.
Fortunately, the paddler didn’t lose any essential supplies.
Wind was a 50/50 proposition: half the time at his back, the other half in his face.
He had a few blisters on his hands, but muscle soreness was minimal, certainly far less than he had anticipated.
At the halfway point of his trip at Cavendish Beach, his parents drove out to restock the food supply.
At the end point, mom and dad had plenty of praise to offer up to their son.
“I never thought he wouldn’t do it,’’ says Jessica.
“I’m happy that he is home and I am proud of him.’’
The second oldest of five, Jo has also filled his siblings with admiration.
“It’s pretty amazing,’’ nineyear-old Toby says of his brother’s triumphant paddle.
Adds sister Maya, who is 12: “I’m proud of him.’’
Jo has no burning desire to get back in his kayak for now.
However, he is contemplating his next adventure.
“It definitely gets your mind thinking,’’ he says.