On Sunday September 30, we met at 7:30 am at the school to head out on our canoe trip. We selected this date to maximize the opportunity to really experience Algonquin Park at its most beautiful, great weather and vibrant fall colours. We got the great weather, but the trees were only beginning to colour.
After our 3 hour drive, we arrived at Achray Station on Grand Lake in Algonquin Park. After unloading the canoes from the trailer and the gear from the bus, we loaded our canoes on the beach. After a quick group picture, we were keen to get on the water. Once on the water, we attempted to count our gear. Attempted, because a few canoes had problems rafting up as they were getting stuck in the weeds. The first lake crossing proved to be a little challenging as well, the navigators were on track, but some canoes were lacking stamina to keep up. After a quick coffin carry of the canoes around the dam, we headed onto Stratton lake and to our first campsite.
The group split themselves over the various campsites to set up their tents. This was followed by some serious wood hunting and building of the walls for the thunderbox. Dinner was a wonderful satay chicken stir fry cooked over the fire. The evening entertainment included a game of manhunt and marshmallows over the fire.
The next morning started off windy and it was coming directly from where we needed to go. We broke camp and ensured we all ate enough French Toast to take on the challenge. The canoeing against the wind was no problem at all and with the exception of Tony having to do it twice, as he forgot his knife on the beach, it was smooth sailing straight to our second campsite on St. Andrew's lake. Another beautiful group of campsites.
Before the afternoon activities, lunch was served behind the wall of canoes and tarps that protected us from the wind. Lunch was grilled cheese, soup and veggies with dip. This set us up for a great afternoon of swimming at the water slides at High Falls. The sun came out and the water was still pleasantly warm. On our way back we checked out the first portage we would see the next day, just so we could get mentally prepared. To ensure the packs would be a little lighter, dinner was chilly over baked potatoes, followed by a lovely chocolate fondue.
We awoke to yet another wonderful looking day. With 3 portages ahead of us, we got a good early start. The 1st portage flew by with everyone helping out, a promising sign for the day ahead. We enjoyed our paddles across High Falls Lake and Ooze Lake, and we then grunted our way across the 740 m portage into Opalescent Lake. As we sent Mr. MacDougall and Jessie to claim the nicest site on the lake, the rest of us filled two canoes with firewood. After a quick lunch of hot dogs, the afternoon was spent playing cards, napping and gunnel bobbing. The evening started with a lovely spaghetti and caeser salad dinner. This was followed up with a mean game of lick the stick, as liars dice were the means of getting to lick the stick, some individuals got to lick the stick a little more often than others. The game was interrupted by a lovely chocolate cake baked in the dutch oven.
The last day we started even earlier as we had a bus to catch at the take out at noon. Things started off well, as camp was broken quickly and we were in the canoes ready to go. Once on the water, things took a turn for the worse, literally. The entire group decided to paddle the wrong way down the lake. Losing a bit of time, the group figured it out and we headed onto our longest portage of the day. This was followed by a couple of short portages and a beautiful paddle through the Barron Canyon with its 100 m high walls. We paddled the last stretch under threat of some serious dark clouds, but with the exception of a little sprinkle, we kept our perfect weather to complete the trip.
Check out the comments to this post to find out how the students experienced the trip.
After our 3 hour drive, we arrived at Achray Station on Grand Lake in Algonquin Park. After unloading the canoes from the trailer and the gear from the bus, we loaded our canoes on the beach. After a quick group picture, we were keen to get on the water. Once on the water, we attempted to count our gear. Attempted, because a few canoes had problems rafting up as they were getting stuck in the weeds. The first lake crossing proved to be a little challenging as well, the navigators were on track, but some canoes were lacking stamina to keep up. After a quick coffin carry of the canoes around the dam, we headed onto Stratton lake and to our first campsite.
The group split themselves over the various campsites to set up their tents. This was followed by some serious wood hunting and building of the walls for the thunderbox. Dinner was a wonderful satay chicken stir fry cooked over the fire. The evening entertainment included a game of manhunt and marshmallows over the fire.
The next morning started off windy and it was coming directly from where we needed to go. We broke camp and ensured we all ate enough French Toast to take on the challenge. The canoeing against the wind was no problem at all and with the exception of Tony having to do it twice, as he forgot his knife on the beach, it was smooth sailing straight to our second campsite on St. Andrew's lake. Another beautiful group of campsites.
Before the afternoon activities, lunch was served behind the wall of canoes and tarps that protected us from the wind. Lunch was grilled cheese, soup and veggies with dip. This set us up for a great afternoon of swimming at the water slides at High Falls. The sun came out and the water was still pleasantly warm. On our way back we checked out the first portage we would see the next day, just so we could get mentally prepared. To ensure the packs would be a little lighter, dinner was chilly over baked potatoes, followed by a lovely chocolate fondue.
We awoke to yet another wonderful looking day. With 3 portages ahead of us, we got a good early start. The 1st portage flew by with everyone helping out, a promising sign for the day ahead. We enjoyed our paddles across High Falls Lake and Ooze Lake, and we then grunted our way across the 740 m portage into Opalescent Lake. As we sent Mr. MacDougall and Jessie to claim the nicest site on the lake, the rest of us filled two canoes with firewood. After a quick lunch of hot dogs, the afternoon was spent playing cards, napping and gunnel bobbing. The evening started with a lovely spaghetti and caeser salad dinner. This was followed up with a mean game of lick the stick, as liars dice were the means of getting to lick the stick, some individuals got to lick the stick a little more often than others. The game was interrupted by a lovely chocolate cake baked in the dutch oven.
The last day we started even earlier as we had a bus to catch at the take out at noon. Things started off well, as camp was broken quickly and we were in the canoes ready to go. Once on the water, things took a turn for the worse, literally. The entire group decided to paddle the wrong way down the lake. Losing a bit of time, the group figured it out and we headed onto our longest portage of the day. This was followed by a couple of short portages and a beautiful paddle through the Barron Canyon with its 100 m high walls. We paddled the last stretch under threat of some serious dark clouds, but with the exception of a little sprinkle, we kept our perfect weather to complete the trip.
Check out the comments to this post to find out how the students experienced the trip.
