Triplogs / Triplog#8 / Day 3
Day 3
It was another beautiful morning, warm too. Morning coffee was enjoyable around the fire-pit that morning, with sun, no wind, and warm air. We lazed around, enjoying the silence, the weather, etc. By 11am, I launched the canoe, solo. I was scheduled to meet one of my sisters and her friend at Brent. They were to join us for two nights. I paddled behind our island, to the narrowest point between the island and the mainland. The wind had picked up a bit, but the crossing was manageable. I landed on a gravel beach about 30 meters from the abandoned CNR rail-bed. I pulled the canoe up, and walked a short distance thru scrub bush, and scrambled up a steep incline, I was on the rail-bed. I began walking along the rail-bed. The surface was graded with creosote soaked gravel, and the over-all colour was black. As I began the long trek into Brent, I suddenly realized a mistake I had made. I didn't bring any water with me, nor any food. Didn't seem like a big deal walking along a path-way into Brent. Jumping a few years into the future, there had been online discussion about the idea of turning the rail-bed into a hiking trail. If the gravel bed was removed or covered up, this might be practical, if not however, forget it! Have you ever walked a couple of kilometres on creosote soaked gravel in running shoes or sandals(even hiking boots for that matter), underneath a bright and hot sun, with a humidity to boot? I had not, until that day in early May. Back to the story....As I trekked along the rail-bed, I broke out into a sweat. The heat rising from the black rail-bed was stifling. I found a power bar Un-opened lying along the rail-bed, scooped it up and put it in my pocket. It seemed to me that no matter where I went, there will always be trash in The Park. Not a happy thought, just a sober one. No, I didn't eat it, I wasn't that hungry!
Sean hanging out by the fire-pit
I came upon a section of the rail-bed where it had cut off a portion of the lake, which was now fed by a single culvert. The cut-off section had grown into a swamp, and near the forest edge lurking in the shadows was a cow moose. The moose was a good 50 meters away from, and still it hesitated at the water's edge, wanting to feed, but weary of my presence. I trekked onwards, quite thirsty now...I had only been going for about 15 minutes! Soon a cottage came into view and another and another. I had landed at the beach front along these cottage properties the year before, during rough waves, and had to wait it out for several hours. This was the reason I was walking into Brent, my sister and her friend, came up last year, and didn't want to deal with the rough waves again, especially in the cold waters of the month of May. I was to meet them and direct "Owen" to shuttle them to our site. Jake was not there, and so I did not have a chance to talk with him. After almost 90 minutes, I arrived at the Brent Store, and met Owen. I bought some pop and a bag of cheesies. I re-confirmed with Owen about shuttling my friends to our campsite, and everything was set. Like Opeongo, A shuttle can be rented to ferry folks to the furthermost reaches of the lake. Un-like Opeongo though, there is no boat equipped to carry a canoe or kayak, just passengers. I was outside(The Brent Store) barely 15 minutes, re-cuperating from my estimated 5 or 6 kilometre journey, when Marylyn and Michelle pulled up. Perfect timing! I helped Un-load their car as we loaded all their stuff onto Owen's boat. We piled in and we set off, the wind had picked up, and the waves were becoming rough as well, but this is from a canoeist's perspective, from a motorboat, it was nothing, and in less than 20 minutes we arrived at our site. Gear was Un-loaded. Sean wasn't around...so I jumped back into the boat as Owen gave me a lift to where I had left my canoe.
Mark, pictured at Cedar Lake 2004
Michelle, pictured at Cedar Lake 2004
Once I had my canoe, Owen bid me farewell, and I launched my canoe amid the rough waters. I was not prepared for the conditions that I was paddling, but nevertheless paddled on grimly, determined to make it back to camp. Within 30 minutes I came around the bend and as I turned to make it into camp, I became blown off course. I paddled furiously as I could see Michelle, Marylyn & Sean watched me from shore. There was nothing anyone could do. I added a little humour to the situation, by yelling out, "Id like a cheeseburger & fries please!". No one could hear what I was saying, as they continued to stare at me, furiously paddling for my life it seemed. Within 10 minutes..I made it to shore. Marylyn had camped at the site before and was happy to see that we had secured the site. Soon the girls set up their camp and broke out some steaks and dogs for all of us to chow down on. It had grown overcast, and very windy but it did not rain, and it was still humid. I believe the temperature went up-to 31°C that day with a humidex value that was much higher. Pretty darn hot for May 14th! Around dusk thousands of insects emerged from the sand and standing dead wood along the beach. They weren't black-flies, more like ants with wings....We were not really sure what they were, they didn't bite, they just got tangled in your hair, and clothing...messy it was! We had a great fire that night, again under calm conditions, as the wind had died down.