August 19 – 24, 2013 Lady Evelyn Lake Canoe Trip
Sandy Inlet to Mowat Landing
with Randy Sorenson, Glenn Cantello and Daniel Palombo

I was sick of lists. All week long it was list after list after list. Randy has this, I have that, We'll share this – We don't need that. I looked for Tang at 4 different grocery stores before settling for peach crystals, (not as sexy but vitamin C laden none the less). Forgot my list at Adventure Guide Outfitters and came home with a bright yellow $100 vinyl bag that – well if canoeing doesn't pan out – maybe Santa's got a spiffy new sack this Christmas.

But planning the darn thing is just as exciting as the thing, don't you think? I've never emailed anyone as much as my canoe buddies in the two weeks before the trip. Even my financials were summarized for my next of kin should I not return. I was mildly amused that Randy took similar precautions. We were doing it. It was a big trip. And that included estate planning!

I had never been down logging roads before – just gravel mostly with a couple of washouts. The final kilometer was a roller–coaster challenge for an ATV. We had a Mazda. When we got out of the car the bugs hit us. Big suckers. But you know, they were never as bad the whole trip as those first few minutes. Perhaps the Temagami Insect Army sent their best and brightest to meet us in hopes of scaring us off. Ha.

We were ready for our first portage. Thanks to Google, we had a picture and a description. “Portage from Hell.” I was just glad we had made it across Sandy Inlet so I was ready for a cigarette, (well I mean if I was a smoker that is). We took our packs across first – to get a feel for what we were up against. The description was adequate – uphill, rocks, fallen trees – all that. Randy and Glenn swung the canoes onto their shoulders and made it 800 meters over to the other side. I had a nagging feeling I owed Randy for doing the grunt work. I guess that's why I didn't complain when he wanted not 1 but 2 coffees every morning – with milk and sugar – and you had to reconstitute the milk first.

We made good progress the first day, possibly 18 kilometers. Made camp at the very south end of Lady Evelyn Lake. It was dark as we hung our food and trash in the trees so the bears wouldn't get it. The mosquitos were at the ready and my head lamp blinded Randy. I had a grand plan of how to use some fancy knots, carabiners and a strategically placed twig to get the job done but ... dash and flash, we did the deed and got out of there. Back to the rock jutting out into the lake where we had a piece of chocolate and went to bed.

Loon calling.

Day 4.
The Eskers.

There's an interesting sand spit formation on the east end of Lady Evelyn Lake. We took some time to explore it. This is where I got out my pen and paper and started a journal of sorts.

• so mirror calm here even though there are small waves on Lade Evelyn Lake. We paddled by the loneliest lily pads with their single leaf – no animals to be seen the whole trip really – just a chipmunk by the camp kitchen.
• The loon call is loud.
• There are motor boats on the lake and last night a generator whined past the time of our slumber.
• Mixed messages with beautiful sunset and sunrise this morning – wary of a thunderstorm.
• The waves were a little scary yesterday. The knots seemed a lot easier on the web – but I managed not to lose a canoe or have the anti–bear hangs come crashing down.
• Randy got cell reception – called to get the weather. 40% chance of a thunderstorm.

  The Eskers.
  

• So calm. So calming that our voices turned softer, our thoughts more empty. And when we came out... the black water with rippling waves all glinty with the sun like flashbulbs at a rock concert.
• Swimming – we decide more and more to go naked – just makes sense.

  Friday

• Last night was the showcase meal – curried Lentils with peanut butter and the rest of the bread, (for complete protein). Twenty minutes simmering time + time to fry the onions first – a big investment in fuel, something I seldom think about back home. The pesto and pre–cooked bacon the night before was pretty good too.
• Speaking of which – that evening was fun watching all the dragon flies feasting on the mosquitos. All you had to do was look up and see the squadron of the large 4 winged insects flitting this way and that gulping down their 2 winged prey. Otherwise, the trip had been a bust for spying animals – not even many birds, no moose/deer. Saw a snake on night 3.
• The mornings have been calm – not many bugs – they tend to come out after dinner but not too bad. The bites aren't too itchy.
• The skim milk powder has been working out well but it has to be mixed with cold water. Randy tried just adding the powder to his coffee but it didn't dissolve very well. The chocolate bar hasn't melted much – we could always find a chunk that hadn't succumbed.

  The Wind

• Well sometimes it sounds like a far off 401 highway. Weather matters much more out here. We moved after only one night at our second campsite because we wanted to get ahead of a possible thunderstorm.
• More on food: The bannock this morning was a hit. I sneaked in some granola to the mix which added crunch and taste – fried in oil the low setting on the Apex stove did the job. We spread pb and honey on it. Lunches have not been grand – canned meat, bread, apples or cranberries – adequate – that's all.
• Getting along wise – no fights. Decisions haven't always been unanimous. Randy and Glenn know more than me about canoeing so usually it's fine. When the water is choppy we just both concentrate and push on until we find a sheltered cove to rest a bit.

  Last Night

• Just took a walk semi–round the island. Almost stepped on a brown garter snake – it slithered into the bushes but I watched it as it slowly came out again into the sun.

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So that was my journal. Hap Wilson has nothing to fear.