Triplogs / Triplog#10 / Day 2 / Days 3 & 4
Magnetawan L(IN) - Hambone L - Ralph Bice L - Hambone L - Magnetawan L(OUT)
Day 3
Crossing Ralph Bice Lake - like floating on a cloud!
It was another beautiful morning in The Park. This time, the waters were like glass. Gathering up some water, trail mix, the water filter, and my camera, I loaded my canoe and took off. I paddled out into the middle of Ralph Bice Lake, the feeling of paddling on a cloud came to mind, so still and peaceful the water was. I passed by the large island with the lone campsite on it. I wanted to check it out, but as I drew close I could see it was occupied, it's occupants still asleep, silent as a wish on the wind, I glided by. It was 9:30am when I arrived at the 620m portage to David Lake, where you have to scramble up a short slope, to reach even ground and the start of the trail proper. By 10:00am I was paddling across David Lake. The island site was occupied and the mainland site looked like a bomb had hit it, with several fallen trees all thru the campsite. I paddled on and eventually reached the 80m portage to Mubwayaka Lake.
Ahead - The island campsite on David Lake
Wild Irises populated the take-out to
the 80m portage to Mubwayaka Lake
10:45am I was paddling up Mubwayaka Lake, as the dead calm conditions continued. By 12:00pm I arrived at a beaver dam along David Creek. Beyond lay a very narrow and shallow that flowed among the tall grass covered banks of an open bog. The paddle along the creek had been enjoyable, and I was prepared to make it all the way to Rosebary Lake. I was not prepared for what lay before me. Even solo in a Un-laden canoe, I was skeptical of making it to the 3km+ portage to Rosebary Lake. Since this was a day-trip only, I turned around and headed back along the creek, towards Mubwayaka Lake. I got a closer look at the two campsites that reside on the east shore. One was occupied, by a cheerful family as we exchanged greetings as I passed by. Although I did not go ashore, both campsites looked pleasant. There was also a few spots near the shoreline, where I was paddling along(about 20m offshore), where there were rock shoals. I picked out one of the shoals and stopped, got out and stretched my legs, pumped some water and got back in the canoe and was on my way again in 5min. I got the impression that Mubwayaka Lake is a very quiet lake, with only two campsites, the only other traffic likely to come thru were day-trippers like myself, or someone more ambitious taking the hard way to/from Tim/Rosebary Lakes.
Jewelwing Damselfly
Looking up Mubwayaka Lake from the put-in at the 80m portage
Mink frog on David Creek
The day was even more hot and humid than the previous days, this was more noticeable on the longer portage back to Ralph Bice Lake. I pretty much got eaten alive by countless mosquitos, as they feasted upon my blood. Some people say there really are vampires, and I really do believe in them too, and they even have wings. Only they are really tiny, and you can squish-'em to death between your thumb and forefinger! Once back on Ralph Bice Lake, the afternoon winds had woken up and presented a challenge for me to get back across the lake to my site. I learned on that day, that having no weight in the front of my canoe and with my ass siting on the bow seat, I wasn't properly balanced, and that the wind kept catching my bow(stern actually), and spinning my canoe around. Oh how silly I must've looked, going fast , nowhere!
Turning Back: I knew from the low water conditions,
crossing the bog wasn't going to be worth the effort.
Rosebary Lake would have to wait till another year
One of the bays around my campsite.
In summer this would be ideal bathing and swimming, even for families with toddlers
The water was both warm and sandy...and very shallow.
It was just after 4:00pm when I arrived back at camp, I made an early dinner, had a very short swim/bath, and sat by the water watching the sun go down. It was a good sunset, with light overcast, still enough to see the sun, however the humidity continued, and the mosquitos were brutal as the sun went down.
The shoreline of Ralph Bice Lake - Looking southwest
My last sunset on Ralph Bice Lake
Day 4
I got up real early, ate breakfast, packed and was on my way before 8:00am. I wanted to make sure I didn't have any problems with wind or waves coming out. I didn't get a chance to explore Ralph Bice Lake much, and would like to go back someday. It was another sunny beautiful morning, humid again. By 9:00am I was on the portage to Hambone Lake, it is after this point, that I have no record of the remaining time spent leaving The Park. I only know, that Magnetawan Access is a real Gem. There are many lakes, routes and loops from this access point, the area itself is really pretty, and although the area is a popular spot in The Park, it appears not to suffer from the traffic that access points along highway#60 do.
A tall pine leans over the water,
near the take out to Hambone Lake
One of only two short portages to exit The Park