Exploring The Historic French River By Canoe | 'FriendsGiving' & Sheri's Birthday!🍁🍁

Join us on an unforgettable autumn canoe trip along the stunning French River in Ontario, Canada! In mid-October, we embarked on a 4-day paddling and camping adventure with our friends Jen and Koen (‪@The-Dutch-Explorer‬ ) exploring the vibrant fall colours, serene waters, and rugged landscapes that make this area a must-visit for outdoor enthusiasts. We find some of the most comfy campsites you're likely to find in the area and hook into some fish along the way. Whether you're a seasoned camper or dreaming of your next wilderness escape, this video is packed with inspiration, tips, and breathtaking views!
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For the second consecutive year, we journey down to the French River to celebrate Canadian Thanksgiving (yes, that's a thing and it's earlier than that of our U.S. brothers and sisters) and another very special day: Sheri's BIRTHDAY! This year, the weather was somewhat more cooperative, but strong winds were one holdover from last year's adventure - headwinds in all directions, of course. We fight through those in order to experience some of the quintessential French River and Georgian Bay vistas in the late autumn sun.
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**Additional footage provided by Koen Tholhuijsen**
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For thousands of years, indigenous peoples have used the "French" River as a vital trade and travel route - first by the Archaic, then Algonkian peoples, followed by the Anishinaabe (Huron and Ojibwe). Its name in Ojibwe is 'Wemitigoj-Sibi', which roughly translates to "river of the stick-wavers", in reference to the legions of French missionaries who were brought to the area by this river from the East in the 1600's and ever since. Voyageurs and fur-traders used the river extensively to practice commerce, followed by loggers and miners until relatively recently. Though we're confident the river has been named otherwise for centuries before, we aren't able to find any record. In any event, its historical use by humans for millennia is certain and to this day many traces of ancient use (pictographs) and more recent use (abandoned infrastructure and equipment) are evident along its entire course. It is truly a major part of the heritage and history of the region as a whole.
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*What You’ll See in This Video:*
✅ Paddling through the French River's iconic channels and rapids
✅ Setting up camp at scenic waterfront sites
✅ Cozy campfire meals and fall camping hacks
✅ Wildlife sightings and stunning autumn foliage
✅ Catching multiple fish species (Northern Pike, Walleye, Smallmouth Bass)
✅ Discovering the ruins of an abandoned sawmill and town site
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If you love outdoor adventures, camping, or exploring Canada's wild spaces, this video is for you! The French River is a Canadian gem, Canada's very first Heritage River, and experiencing it in the fall is pure magic. Plus, we share practical advice for planning your own trip, from gear recommendations to navigating the river safely.
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Fall camping in Canada, French River canoe trip, Ontario camping, autumn canoe adventure, Canadian wilderness, outdoor travel vlog, fall foliage camping, multi-day canoe trip, camping tips, Canadian outdoors, Ontario fall colours, wilderness camping, French River Ontario, camping in October, Canadian camping vlog.

PREVIOUS FRENCH RIVER VIDEO -    • The French River - Freezing Rain And Snow ...  

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0:00 Intro
0:48 French River Embark
1:25 BotB Intro Sequence
2:00 Day 1 (Wahnapitei Bay)
6:23 Day 2 (La Dalles Rapids & Georgian Bay)
18:06 Day 3 (Sheri's Birthday & Big Dinner)
34:02 Day 4 (Paddle Out)
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#THISISHOWWECAMP #getoutside #frenchriver #canoeing #camping #canada #ontario
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Koen's Youtube Channel -    / @the-dutch-explorer  
Our custom paddles -   / mumandgrum  
Fanny Packs - https://terrainul.ca/
Leatherworks - https://www.freakofnatureco.com/
Our ultralightweight pull saw - https://suluk46.com/product/yuka-240-...
Miksa Pot Lifter - https://suluk46.com/product/miksa-pot...
Our 115L canoe pack - https://ostromoutdoors.ca/
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https://chrs.ca/en/rivers/french-river
https://www.ontarioparks.ca/park/fren...
https://www.northernontario.travel/
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