2p.m. Friday, leaving access point on Canoe Lake in rented Swift Shearwater 16' solo canoe. Algonquin Outfitters and Ontario Parks staff were efficient and friendly as usual!
Fork in the Road
I always laugh at this sign sticking out of the water. Need to go right.
By a dam site
The short flat 260m portage from Canoe Lk to Joe Lake takes you past this dam on Joe's outflow. At this point the headwind started to build.
Out of Little Joe
Paddled hard against the wind, over one 435m portage into this narrow lake--Little Joe, sheltered from northeast wind. Now ready to carry over a short 200m portage into Burnt Island. I saw a chipmunk swimming across this lake on my way out...weird.
Burnt Island campsite
Made it here 6:45 Friday evening, trailing a group from Huntsville High School. Bug-beating wind died overnight. This is the view next morning.
Hammock and tarp
Hammock and tarp
Burnt Island Lake
Looking southeast from my campsite
Camp chair
New toy--Helinox Chair One. Light, ingenious, easy to deploy, comfortable...but pricey!
Solo stove
Love playing with this efficient twig stove
Glassy
Great conditions for exploring the lake on Saturday morning.
Tadpole
Merganser
Saw an osprey at a nest, loon under the boat, and a couple of mergansers in the bay leading southeast toward Linda Creek
Site patrol
Checked out various campsites on the lake.
Last year's site
Stayed here the same weekend last year, and fell into the water by this tree, soaking my camera and phone...
Minnow haven
Between the fallen trees and the shore
Looking west
This year's site is roughly behind Caroline Island in the distance
Same view, same weekend 1 year earlier
It was a very wet weekend a year previous
MEC ad :-)
BTW, socks with sandals cut down on bug bites.
Quiet evening
Looks idyllic, but without last night's breeze, the bugs were vicious.
Against the wind
Of course the wind swung around against me as I headed back westward on Burnt Island toward Little Joe Lake. 8 a.m Sunday.
Farewell Burnt Island
Hello lens flare
You don't see this every day
Chipmunk swimming across Baby Joe Lake.
"Go, little chipmunk, go!'