Access Point

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