I should have probably tried to reply to "Keith".
I don't feel his review was fair, or honest, now
here we are 9 years later, so I offer this. I've been here for 30 yrs because I am good at what I do.
The day started normally, with my normal pretrip briefing. I added the fact that forecasts were not good for later in the afternoon, and recommended paddling as opposed to leisurely floating that day.
I later got a phone call from this customer, demanding to be picked up at the emergency pickup. This is not a normal occurrence nor is it a "designated pickup" it was raining and they did not want to continue.
I absolutely did question the emergency, to determine my best response, it took some time to figure out where these folks were, as they were not actually at the "emergency" spot at all. They were not even at the right golf course.
They state I argued, when in reality I told them I am not allowed to drive across the private golf course at Windermere. There is no way to get a pickup there.
I agreed to pickup when I figured out where they were, and told them to continue downriver to River ridge, and I left immediately.
I arrived to find the customers dragging my canoes across the gravel parking lot. Now I'm mad too.
Thousands of dollars in gear being dragged on gravel. I was angry and told you all to go stand by the van. I do not unlock my van when I'm not in it. That made you madder but I don't care anymore.
I should have told you all to take a taxi. You were all verbally abusive already but I stayed quiet.
At this time another family of 4 with 2 small children, AGES 7 and 8 yrs old, paddled by in 2 canoes and had no issues (with the children as paddlers)
After loading up their canoes without any help, I placed garbage bags on the seats of the van, and asked them to try to keep the seats dry.
I started driving back to Laurier park boat launch, with the A/C on max to defog the windows, heat was actually set at medium, I couldn't see out the windows otherwise, I could not turn on full heat,
That would make the condensation much worse.
There was no discussion of any kind in the van, I had nothing to say. I was frustrated, there was no "thank you for helping" or offer to pay for time or fuel. They demanded and I obliged. They were mean and rude
I did not yell at anyone, I did let the customer know that I felt it was not fair for me to cover the extra fuel and time costs, but was not even offered a thank you.
By the time we got back to your vehicle and one of the four was still back there bitching about whatever it was ( a long time ago ) and I had enough. I threw them out and told them do not ever call me again.
PS The family paddling along happily with two small kids enjoyed the trip but your group for some reason could not complete it and faked emergency to get a pickup.
It was raining, yes. Emergency no. They were rude and demanding from the time my phone rang.
Thank you for taking the time,
Jason -owner read more