|
Algonquin
Park Canoe Camping Trip
September 12-18, 1999
by Norm
Hooper
Part 3
Fighting waves and waving the flag
|
Sept 17 - At 3:35 am,
a lone wolf was howling out across the lake and when we
got up at 6:50 am, the loons were found to be extremely
vocal. The lake was calm with a blue layer of sky over
the hillside, promising, finally, a "decent
day".
 At 10:15 am, we took all our
gear and canoes to the entrance of the portage. Looking
out over the lake, we could see four canoes which
appeared to be going helter skelter looking for the
portage. On our return trip through the portage, we met
these canoeist (8 Americans) who were dressed in Army
camouflage - they had been on the lakes for a week. One
member had been coming to the Park since 1981, while for
another, it was his first trip. After learning that they
were planning on staying on Kioshkokwi Lake for the
night, our first thought was to make it to this lake
first and claim our desired campsite. For us, the
"challenge was on" and we pushed ourselves with
vigour. It didn’t take long to get through this
portage and onto the small river. Before reaching the
next portage, we had to walk our canoes over the rocks
through a small channel. We were sure that the Americans
didn’t walk their canoes through this channel, but
pushed through because they seemed to come upon us
quickly through the second and third portages. It seemed
that they had taken on the challenge as well. While
talking to the Americans, we learned that they were from
various states. John mentioned an excellent site at the
train bridge at the far end of the lake - a complete
diversion to where we would want to see them going,
namely our intended site. We couldn’t take any
chances, so we pushed on, non-stop and obsessed. After
departing this final portage, we passed through the
channel to avoid hitting the dead logs. A heron, osprey
and several ducks could be seen along the shore.
Kioshkokwi Lake was vicious with swells and white caps
and we had to work hard to maintain our course without
capsizing or getting water into the canoe. Part way
across the lake, we noticed that our intended campsite
was unoccupied and with no Americans in pursuit- this put
a smile of satisfaction on everyones’ face,
especially after all the hard work we had to endure.
Arriving at the beach, John claimed victory by presenting
his Canadian flag on his pouch into the air.
 After a short rest and a hardy
and satisfying lunch, we set up our camp and prepared for
the evening. John thinks that he has put on weight during
this trip (what a laugh!). We spent the remainder of the
afternoon pursuing personal interests, such as talking,
fishing, lying out in the sun on the beach, and later,
all of us going for a swim. The water was much colder
than last Sunday, and this might have been caused by the
strong winds churning up the colder water.
At 6 pm, Wayne and Norm H. gathered fire wood from the
beach. John and Wayne paddled out to the big rock to
retrieve a lure Norm H. had got caught in some rocks.
Norm H. soloed around the point and onward to the second
American campsite where a bull moose could be seen in the
bay along the water’s edge. Something spooked it and
it wandered back into the woods. Talked to the Americans
for a while and returned to camp where Wayne was showing
John some paddling techniques in front of the beach.
At 8 pm, we prepared supper while an osprey was flying
about and some chickadees were scattering about among the
trees in front of our camp. Wayne offered them some food,
but they seemed to be interested in something else. Loons
were conducting their serenade while a flock of geese
honked their way in a southerly direction over the lake.
 The sky was so clear, full of stars and with
a half moon reflecting onto the lake. Without a wind, it
was still cool enough to see one’s breath while
sitting around the campfire. Norm H. learnt that Norm R.
knew Pete Laxton (Norm H.’s troopmate) and Bob Vary
(from Norm H.’s hometown) and had worked with them
in Montreal - a small world.
Norm R. let out "moose calls" on two
different occasions over the lake during the evening -
this should have aroused the Americans at the next
campsites; however, the next morning they stated that
they had gone to bed early and never heard anything.
Sept 18th
- The night was so cold that we buried ourselves into our
sleeping bags. Having pitched our tents on a slight
slope, Wayne and Norm H.’s sleeping bags kept
slipping downward during the night. Up at 7 am, a warm
fire was a welcome. The lake was still and covered with a
heavy fog. At 8 am, four honking Canadian geese flew so
close over our campsite that we could almost reach up and
touch them. Watching them leave over the lake, we noticed
the Americans, in their full combat fatigues, canoeing
around the point and out of the fog. We weren’t sure
if we were about to be attacked for taking their
campsite, so John yelled out, "Hold the fort under
whatever cost". Kidding aside, they were very
friendly neighbours and Wayne will be sending them the
pictures he had taken of them in their canoes.
 With the fog gradually lifting,
we were able to see the outline of the hillside across
the lake. Over a one week period, we definitely noticed a
change in the Fall colours in the foliage. At 10:15 am,
Wayne and Norm H. were the last to leave the campsite
and, as they did, a large raven perched in a tree over
the fireplace, looked down at them and let out a few
"caws". Hopefully, he was telling us that he
enjoyed our company and hoped that we would return to the
Park again next year - an omen? Paddling across the
tranquil lake to the Ranger Station was peaceful and
reminiscing, but at the same time sad because the week
had passed by too quickly and our trip was coming to an
end. If all goes well as planned, that raven will be
there next year to welcome us to another exciting and
challenging canoe trip to Algonquin Park.
Norm Hooper
Copyright
2001 by Norm Hooper
http://www.canoestories.com/hooper1.htm
|
