Getting up way too early!
I was awoken to the sound of wood snapping. It was 5:15am. Mike was up, getting his morning fire going. It was early. Way too early! I struggled to return to sleep but it was useless, I am a very light sleeper and for some reason didn't sleep well all weekend.
After a few minutes Kevin joined Mike and the two started talking. That did it, I gave up and started to get dressed. Once I was dressed I decided then and there to pack up as there was the threat of rain forecasted and I had no desire to pack a wet tent and tarp. By 6:15am I joined Mike & Kevin by the fire, I was all packed up and pretty much ready to go. Mike seemed to think I was in a hurry. I am never in a hurry to leave The Park, I just wanted to beat the rain and with my gear packed, I was able to sit back and enjoy the fire for a bit. Whew!
By 6:38am dawn approached and the sky lit up with a red/pinkish glow. It was very pretty, yet signalled that rain was still a possibility. By 7am Scott joined us and asked if I was in a hurry to leave? Ok, so next time I will make you all wait as I'll be last to pack! I told Scott to take his time. We all sat by the fire enjoying morning coffee waiting for the sun to rise. Checking my thermometer the overnight low registered as 5.5°C. It had been warm and the current temperature was 5.8°C.
By 7:10am there was a fiery glow in the sky as the sun ascended. The cloud cover obscured the sunrise that morning and we had to settle for overcast conditions. Everyone began packing up and as this was being done, a few light rain showers moved through; The kind of rain that you can see on the water but you can't feel around camp as the rain is light enough that the trees protect you. I helped Scott with his tarp and tent as Mike & Kevin were close to being ready to depart. We had arrived as a group and although Mike & Kevin had a very long drive, they were willing to wait and leave together as a group.
By 8:05am Mike & Kevin were on the water and a few minutes later we followed. Though the morning was overcast, it was quite pleasant and no rain or wind was encountered on our way out. We paddled up the lake and as we left Fork Lake a solo canoeist emerged from the narrows, a rod hanging over the side, the fellow had asked how fishing was, explaining that I didn't know how to fish for Spake in November (First time for me) we mentioned we had caught zero. I wasn't sure where the fish would be. "Over there in that bay" the fellow replied..we had a laugh, "okay, thanks, next time."
We paddled up to and crossed-over the beaver dam (That separated Fork & Norway Lakes) with relative ease and by 8:30am we passed the eastern campsite on Norway Lake. All the ice that had been on the lake when we paddled it on Friday was now gone and as we ascended Sunday Creek we found that the ice there was gone as well. Although water levels were higher than earlier in the fall, they were still low and this frustrated me somewhat as we seemed to hit every submerged log on the creek, this coupled with a heavily laden canoe, made steering around most bends in the creek tiresome. My canoe was slow to respond, it steered like a tank.
Just before 9:00am we landed at the take-out or rather I almost tipped Scott at the take-out. Scott suggested I get out first and with the muddy marshy bank not offering firm ground, I had to stretch and jump out, this caused the canoe to tip dangerously and I almost sent Scott for a swim into stinky creek waters; There was a beaver dam a few meters upstream from us. Sorry for the scare Scott!
We began the process of carrying our gear to the highway shoulder and then walked back with my camera to the Spruce Bog parking lot to retrieve my vehicle. Chick-a-dees, Nut-hatchers, and Grey Jays soon arrived looking for hand-outs. It was obvious these birds were all opportunists and that in the summer months that had been fed countless times by fellow campers.
Controversy aside, Scott broke out a cookie and crumbled it in his hand and offered it up his hand at arm's length; right away a Nut-hatcher took advantage, then a Chick-a-dee and finally a Grey Jay had had enough and moved in. A few photos were taken of the spectacle and we headed back to pack up our gear. Scott helped me load my canoe on my car (Thank you!) And pretty soon we all said our good-byes, Mike & Kevin were first to leave then Scott in his truck and lastly me. Traffic was almost non-existent as I exited the Park, even the West gate had only one vehicle in the parking lot. November is a real quiet time in The Park. Not much happening, too cold, but not that weekend, it was great weather with great friends and great memories.
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