Trip Journal - Voyageurs 1 - 1999

Day 1: Our group arrives in base camp, a point of land the extends into the huge Ottawa river. After lunch and hellos we hit the water right away for some canoeing. Some of us really hit the water with our first flip, and a perfect introduction to our workshop on t-rescues. After going through our equipment for the trip and making journals we take a break before dinner. The topic of the "Ann" in all of our names dominates the dinner conversation.
Stomachs full of ginger rice. We head to the rocky shoal. With the setting sun we sit by the river and talk about our coming adventure. In the "fishbowl" we set goals and expectations. Chris and the fire gods put on a show. Bedtime.

Day 2: We drive northeast to La Verendrey wildlife preserve. A light blowing rain begins to fall as we wave goodbye to the van. The sky opens on our paddle across lake Camatose. Arriving at the gorgeous Island campsite we have plenty of time to learn how to set up the baker and kitchen tarps, collect firewood, and cook our first delicious dinner. The first spoons are started and Jen with a "J" even finishes hers. The sunset is semi-sweet and nice to watch from the rock outcrop. Stevie enjoys the moment.

Day 3: Scenic tour of the swamps, streams, and ponds of Lav. The sinking nalgene. The sky turns from beautiful and blue to purple and then somewhat black. Hail, lightning position, thunder, we got it all. But safe at the campsite we manage to recuperate and relax a bit.

Day 4: An early start with hot chocolate and yummy cherry oatmeal. We portage the still-quite-heavy packs and barrels across two small trails and lift over onto Lake Canamina. With the wind directly in our faces we set off. Sheltered by the hoods of our raincoats, spirits and motivation are high and we charge into white-caps eventually making it to the end of the Lake. Gorp lunch at the end of a portage where Lisa, Andrew, and Brendan each carry a canoe. Across lake Nichotea and to our site on Desty we paddle on, singing a musical along the way. Our site is equipped with a barrel toilet and a picnic table. After a short reading by the water we dig in to the honey-garlic-sesame stir fry. Mmm, mm.

Day 5: Throughout the morning we paddle across the Lakes that make up the headwaters of the Coulonge. Lunch at the dam with nutella, peanut butter and jam. Discuss the french word for shallow. Portage, liftover, and portage some more to the excellent site at Pork rapids. After setting up with an inticate A-frame anchor for the baker everyone swims. The weather is great, some help with dinner while others write in journals do arts & crafts and play Mancala. Lazy Perogies are followed by the first official game of spot.

Day 6: We rest! Pancakes and a slow morning followed by and afternoon of white water instruction. Hydrology talk, safety talk, lots of paddling with ferries, eddie turns, and running the rapid. We even have a flip. After a bumpy swim through we dry off and spend the rest of the afternoon enjoying the and its surroundings. Stevie is snoopified. Chili and fresh baked biscuits for dinner. Don't sleep next to Brendan.

Day 7: We paddle away from Pork along the meandering river with the sun just beginning to peer above the trees.. Mist rises off of the reflective water and an abundance of wildlife can be seen and heard. Many birds of all types, a large family of ducks, and a bear are all spotted. By mid-morning we are dripping and refresh ourselves with a swim right in the middle of the calm Lac Ward. We hoot and holler down a 1 km rapid that is successfully navigated by all. A smiling fisherman on Lac Pomponne shows us his catch and riddles occupy our every thought as we paddle in-sync to the waterfall for a portage and lunch. Left over chili and cheese sammies. Kat and Gen decide to check the bottom of the river for treasure. They do this mid-rapid and figure that the easiest way to go about it would be to demonstrate the problems associated with gunnel-grabbing. The Bridge rapid is run smoothly and the half kilometer paddle to our campsite is complete with goofy singing, canoe towing and Lisa swimming most of the way. Gen, Jen, and Stacey all carry canoes. Big beach. Limbo. Outhouse. Andrew gets leached. Pop corn for desert. Did anyone see that rabbit?

Day 8: (the rest of the trip journals has been lost to the ages...)

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