Triplogs / Triplog#21 / Day 3 / Day 4 / Days 5&6
Kawawaymog Lake(IN) - Amable du Fond river - N. Tea L - Lorne L - Kakasamic L - Mattowacka L - Fassett L - Shad L - Shada L - Fassett Cr - Manitou L - N. Tea L - Amable du Fond river - Kawawaymog Lake(OUT)
Day 5
I can't remember when I woke up, and I didn't start taking pictures till three o'clock in the afternoon. I use my time/date stamp on my digital camera, to keep track of instances. I do remember lots of other things though. I had an awesome sleep! I woke up feeling completely rejuvenated. I made breakfast, oatmeal and coffee, and didn't do much all day long, I was so relaxed and happy. For me, it was if I was on a survivorman episode, making all those mistakes that Les makes and MORE, and at long last, I stumbled upon an oasis. The island and the campsite there, ROCKED!
The fire-pit on my island campsite
Looking up Manitou Lake towards the direction of Kiosk
A zoom-in on the island pictured in the previous image.
Somewhere nearby, is Pine Island
The fire-pit was immaculate, backed by a huge rock, and a well worn two bench set-up, the ground around the fire-pit was newly racked, whether by rangers or fanatical Algonquinites, I could not tell. There was no wood in the immediate vicinity, but a quick look around, and I found a stash of cut wood underneath some foliage a few meters away from the fire-pit. Loitering around my new-found paradise, I discovered the island had many well worn paths the crossed throughout the limited forest. The thunder-box, was in fact a outhouse, Over the years I've spotted a few of them here and there in The Park, they are rare, but not unheard of. The one great thing about an outhouse is when it is raining. however during my stay on the island, it did not rain at all. For most of the day, I was able to stay in the shade and remove my hated winter pullover. This I felt was the problem with my overheating. Wearing sweater like clothing in 35°C+ heat was just insane! Of course if I had worn more appropriate clothing and UV protection in the first place, I'd not have nearly died, the day before. down at the East Gate, the temperature at 1 p.m. was 31.0°C, with a humidex of 37°C. The heat continued, but I didn't feel it on my paradise isle. The breeze was perfect, the shade was perfect, everything was perfect!
A Canadian Tiger Swallowtail
Two canoes heading up Manitou Lake
Late in the afternoon, I had a nice bath and swim on my little sand beach, and felt like a million bucks. I made dinner, and had a fire, the first real fire the whole trip, that I was able to enjoy...from a distance though. I had to stand a few meters away, siting was still too close for my tender skin. During the course of the day, a strong breeze came out of the north, and I watched 2 canoes head up Manitou's east shore, against the wind, heading in the direction of Kiosk.
After my evening fire, I read a book for a bit, and watched the stars come out. It was a clear night, with less haze than the night before. Shortly before 11 p.m. I went to sleep.
Sunset my second night on Manitou Lake,
Eventually the night sky cleared and I was able to view the stars.
Day 6
I woke up just before 7 a.m. It was another beautiful summer day in Algonquin. One thing that was great about the island I was on, was that I had both sunrise and sunsets to view. That morning was an awesome one, I got up, and un-zipped my tent and looked out. I just couldn't imagine anything better. Sunshine poured into my tent, beckoning me to come outside. I took a picture, so in retrospect others could gaze and drool at what I had experienced. A fellow AA'er had done the same thing on the forum a year eariler, and I thought I'd return the favour here. I got dressed(not that I had to), and made my usual morning slop. Oatmeal and instant yuck coffee. I mixed in a bit 'o Rum, just to give the coffee a bit of kick. mmmmm, man it was good, and soon I had my wits about me, as I sat by the shore, coffee in hand, watching the sun rise and the world go by. Sweet!
Peering out of my tent: I woke up to sunshine on Manitou
Massive tenting area during my stay on Manitou:
My tent was deliberately positioned to capture the sunrise.
Not 10 minutes go by, and I'll be damned, I hear the distinct sound of a diesel truck, chugging through the forest! On a perfect morning, the perfect forest, transformed itself into an imperfect Park. Yet again, like so many other trips, my tranquility was shattered. The sound of the truck was coming from the east shore. For some odd reason, my annoyance lasted precisely two minutes. After this I started to chuckle to myself. Whoever was driving that truck, was working and I was not, ha ha ha! It was a rare moment in my life, for me to shrug off such noise, and within 20 minutes it was gone, and I began to enjoy the rest of the day. Once again, I did nothing, but maroon myself on the island for yet another day. On that day, the wind had shifted and was blowing up from the Southwest. I saw only one canoe go by that day, it was coming from the direction of Kiosk and heading down Manitou Lake, against the wind. I spent the day lounging by the beach,by the rocks, and in the shade. My sunburn was quite manageable by then, and with the breezy locale, bugs were non-existent, except for the ritual dusk onslaught, which only lasted for about 30 minutes each night, lucky I was in that respect! Temperatures were much cooler that day, 24.2°C at 4 p.m. with a humidex of 30°C. There were many mushrooms on the island and I spent quite awhile examining and photographing them around the island. It clouded over in the afternoon, and just before the sun set for that evening, I was treated to a brief and bright sunset, and then it was gone, sinking below the hill line. I had another great fire that night, complete with hot chocolate.
Posing for a self-portrait on my hammock:
I was still pretty crispy underneath - Pictured here, I was still wearing my grey
winter pullover, to shield my charred skin from the sun's rays.
Outhouse on Manitou: No Thunderbox here, I got luxury!
The landing on the west side of the island:
Excellent swimming and beach sand to laze around on
>Next Page - Days 7&8