A taste of things to come

Today was quite a bit cooler than yesterday, and the forecast is predicting snow flurries for the end of the week.

Spent some time working across the street, hoping to have the front finished off before they come up for Thanksgiving.

I had been looking for some Mountain Ash berries this year and finally found a good bunch, they were starting to dry and I suspect some fermenting going on too. There were several Robins around this bunch of berries and they wouldn't go away. As I was taking the pictures they were trying to land right beside me. Everytime I tried to get a shot they were off again.

Change in temperature

A little cooler today, more like what it should be like. Got some nice pine scraps from Gord Bowen at Longpoint Lodge to do the inside window trim. Thanks Gord.

More pics from the Hedlund area both north and south of the road. Took some pics under some thick jack pine and spruce cover with the sun shining down onto the moss and other old stuff.

More fall pics

Out to the Hedlund marsh for a few quick shots, ended up spending over 2 hours. Went north from the road and then went up to the top of the hill on the east side. It's always good to get a different viewpoint.

Cleaning up after the windows

Another great day. Cleaning windows and tidying up the house and the garage.

Some more pics from the trip down the Spear Lake Rd.

Still summer/fall

The windows, ah the windows are finished on time. The last 2 in the porch are in and all the panelling put back on the walls.

The next step is drywalling the walls inside and insulating, this will be left until sometime in November. October is wood month, hunting and ATVing, maybe even some fishing.

As far as work lots to do across the road, when the temperature is cooler.

Out yesterday on the Spear Lake Rd taking in some of the fall colours. The wind and rain has held off all this week and the colours are terrific, some of the best I've seen in some time. Tomorrow calls for chance of rain and cooler so I suspect they will start to drop, the leaves that is.

Leaving the pictures on the top of the post so that they can be clicked on for a larger picture.

It's finally summer

These are always the best days of the year, clear skies, cool nights and leaves starting to change. Unfortunately no pictures yet.
Trying to get all the windows in by the end of this week, I've only had them since the end of April. You can see where my priorities are. After todays window there is just one left and it's in the porch so I have no excuse for weather or time of day.
Off to town tomorrow my favorite job. NOT!

Last day of summer

Started off this morning helping fix the boat launch with Paul, Ray Clifford, Ed Barnstaple and George Wilson. It needed a new wooden beam at the water end of the launch. All done in about an hour.

After this it was pancakes at Paul and Gert's don't think I have eaten so many for two reasons, they were good and trying to keep up with Paul. Great lunch Gert.

Next was to move the dock to the river where they are stored for the winter. They are safe there because of the current in the river the ice doesn't do as much damage.

Today was one of those almost fall days that you can't get enough of.

Working around the house

Lots of chores done around the house, getting set for the cold weather. Got the chimney cleaned and changed the flue pipes on the wood furnace.
Got all the camping equipment dry and put away, sorry to see them go so soon. Next year I will start earlier.
Frost warning tonight and the sky is full of stars.

Finally

Back to real time again. Today very windy, got the fourth window trimmed after putting it in yesterday. Thanks again for the help Paul.
Tonight out to Ruth and Lauch's for supper, as usual Ruth outdid herself again. The Eric and Shelly Bengston were there too. They are leaving for home tomorrow morning.
Hopefully will get out for pics in the next couple of days.

Solo trip Day 4

Slept in a bit this A.M. the wind was calm and it was pretty quiet. The mist was thick and the dew heavy. Had a slow start with a good breakfast and broke camp by 10:00 AM. Smoothwater was just exactly as the name said. The first day I had seen it like this.

Headed north downriver past the park boundary, thru Lady Dufferin and up to the start point at the Montreal River bridge.

A good paddle in great weather about 9+km. today.

This is a great route to take again, in the summer and extend it south beyond Scarecrow Lake and back up the Lady Eveyln River. Will have to think about this over the winter.

Solo trip Day 3

Waking up to the sound of pouring rain on the tent in the middle of the night just before the final push to the trailhead, not good. It was still raining hours later when it got light. I just put my rainsuit on as I figured it would go on for quite some time. As I opened the tent flap I couldn't even see the lake for fog. Finally standing it was thicker that I expected. The decision now is to push on to the trailhead go to the top of the ridge and not even see the firetower at the top. The alternative was to return north. I had all ready been to the top a few years earlier with Kate on a flyin. Not going up would not break a great trip so far.

The decision to go back north made, I broke camp after a quick coffee and some breakfast and paddled the reverse of the day before.

There was a slight wind from the south which I hoped would still be there when I reached Smoothwater. Sure enough the wind was blowing from the south all the way up to the gravel bar at the very top end of Smoothwater where I made camp. This had taken all day to get there and most of the time it was raining and foggy. I made the correct decision to come back north.

The gravel bar was a great spot for camping, flat, and open with a breeze to keep the bugs away. There was even a thunderbox donated by the Millineum loo crew (I tip my had to them).

As the day wound down the sunset was tremendous.

Solo trip Day 2

Up early this morning before the sun comes up. Got to get off this big water before it blows up again. Packing up with the head lamp on, no time for coffee this A.M.

By 8:00A.M. I'm at the portage at the bottom of Smoothwater Lk. The first portage of the trip 815m. of boulders and ups and downs goes into Apex Lake. The next portage 1170m. was flat and well kept, actually made good time here. The whole chain from the bottom of Smoothwater to the top of Mihell Lake took until 4:00P.M. , I figure about 11km. of portages (3 trips each portage) and the paddling in between. Finally took the boat into Mihell for the morning and stayed at the campsite at the south end of McCulloch Lk. Large and spacious. Didn't take long to get to sleep this night either.

Solo trip Day 1

Started out early on Wednesday at the bridge crossing the Montreal River on the Beauty Lake Rd. The sun was shining and the water calm. Into Lady Dufferin Lake where my dentist has a historical log cabin. Built in the early 1900's during the height of the logging era and used as a getaway and somewhat of a brothel for entertaining clients.

Moving further south past the park boundry and finally into the top end of Smoothwater Lake there is a gravel bar on the east side where I stopped for lunch. By the time I finished the wind had come up from the south pretty good. Some of the waves were breaking over the bow by the time I got half way down the west side of the lake. There was a peninusla there with a campsite on its southern edge. Not a very good one, looks as though it had recently had a good wind storm go through as there were several trees blown down. Not much room for the tent as a big tree covered the best spot. Lots of firewood laying around. After watching the moon come up it was lites out. I went about 13km. the first day.

Back home again

Got back yesterday afternoon after a pleasant trip from Smoothwater Lake to the landing at the Montreal River bridge on the Beauty Lake Rd. This was probably the easiest part of the trip since I left on Wed the 10th. Warm, sunny with a wind from the south what more could a canoer ask for.
Over the next couple of days I will post a trip report. Have been cleaning the gear and drying it out today. Most of it put away until next season.
Today is Kate's birthday, Happy Birthday again kiddo.

Heading out tomorrow morning

Back in the canoe tomorrow heading for Ishpatina Ridge the highest point in Ontario. This is a solo trip I had planned on the outcome of what I could do on the last trip. Actually I impressed myself enough to do this one.
Will start at the Montreal River crossing on the Beauty Lake Rd and head south into Smoothwater Lake and then portage and cross several small lakes to get to Scarecrow where the trailhead begins. Will take it slow about 5 or 6 days if the weather is good.
There should be lots of pictures when I get back.

Canoe Trip Day 5

Up early this morning taking some pictures from the campsite, the fog has just lifted and the sun is starting to touch the tops of the trees. The wind is calm and all is so quiet. The fire is on warming us up from the damp morning.

After breakfast we break camp and head south to the portage 280m. into Obushkong Lake, from here we paddle to the west to the trapper's cabin about 6km with a nice breeze from the back to help us along.

Had lunch at the trapper's cabin and decided to head right down to Gowganda. When we turned to go south on the long stretch of Obuskong the wind was right in our faces with the odd wave coming over the front of the canoe. It was a long paddle to the falls at the south end of the lake. A short portage and we were in Edith Lake and the lined the canoes into Burke lake, the last of the trip. Paddling toward the far south end of Burke Brian and I got out and walked into town to pick up the vehicles and bring them back to Burke to load up.

We had all talked about a cold drink so picked some up at the house and had them when we were loading the canoes and equipment to take home.

It was a great 5 days the weather cooperated, great to be on the water especially canoeing as you see so much more of the land and the solitude cleans your soul.