| Rain Lake, Algonquin Park, May 2-5 2003 |
| Participants: Milijan & Gordana Lukic, Tanja & Aleks Gusev Friday, May 2 Departed TO 5pm, picked up Milijan at Hwy 9. Our brand new red canoe riding on the modified roof rack. Arrived Kearney 9pm, Lois from Park Office very kind to issue our permit so late. Stopped at outfitter to get another canoe. Pitch dark by now. Little worried about the 25km road to the Rain Lake, last weekend road unpassable, snow and soft spots (even delivery truck got stuck!). Well, the road was nothing like we expected. It was smooth ride in my rear-wheel drive Explorer, uneventful other then for the moose that jumped in front of us midway though. He (she?) kept jogging in front for a few km, stopping when we stopped, moving when we moved. Arrived the access point 11pm, couldn't find the cabin! Looked around in pitch dark, eventually stumbled on it. Talk about luxury! Propane heater, lights and all. Heck, even the matresses! Saturday, May 03 Woke early, hiked part of Western Backpacking Trail, saw two beavers in the water. Mist all around, totally cloudless sky. Frost on the ground and cars. Saw wood-pecker, or pecking bird of sort. Funny thing was - she (he?) was pecking away on the metal tower that surely didn't host any worms. Figured it must've been signaling to another pecking bird? Indeed, I could hear peck-peck-peck from the distance... Took few shots of the Rain Lake at early morning light. God, it feels soo good to be back. I surely belong here. It's the same things - trees, grass, water and sky, but the mix is different. Sounds are different and more natural. Birds, insects. An overall quality of things that are real. Not Matrix...you know what I mean? Gisele and Enid arrived mid-morning, while we were still lazying around. Hmmm, did I just invented a new word here...lazying? They were originally scheduled to spend the previous weekend at the Rain Lake Cabin, however mother Nature intervened in the way of snow and mud. Park called and cancelled their reservation as road was deemed unpassable. Gisele and I were in correspondence for few weeks regarding the trip around Phillip Edward Island, and icing conditions on Rain Lake. So, I suggested they come up and share the Cabin with us, if they don't mind pitching up the tent next door. After hearty breakfast we were set to go. Gisele and Enid headed for the hiking trail, while we braved the first long portage of this young canoeing session. 1810m to Little McCraney Lake went by in a flash. To this day I doubt the real lenght of that walk. Little McCraney is a lovely...well, little lake. Finding the portage from Way to Wee Lake was something else. We read that those are considered low maintenence portages, but were to realize later the true meaning of "low". Like, no portage signs. We actually managed very well, but kept thinking this wouldn't happen in Killarney. Our new royalex Prospector was starting to carve into my shoulder blades by now. We really should have 2 canoes. You guessed it, one in kevlar variety. Saw two mooses in Weed Lake. Telling name, no wonder moose loves it. Stoped at the island camp site on Islet Lake, snacked and rested. Kept pretty good pace so far. Milijan portaged our canoe to Hot Lake, just to see (read:feel) the difference. Access back to Rain Lake is quite steep, with many steps carved into the hillside to make descent safer. Paddling slowly back to the Cabin, I trolled in hope of catching my first trout this season. No such luck, but if it's any consolidation fish wasn't biting anywhere on the lake. Too cold, I guess. Sun was gone, water absolutely still. Tree reflections on the surface played tricks with our sense of direction - we struggled to find the passage to the far end of the lake. Eventually we did. Back at the Cabin, Milijan had the fire going already. Tanja marinated the steakes long before, so when the timing was just right sizzled they did! Old friend Seagram, red wine, Cuban cigar to cap off the perfect day. Luxury again - hit the sack inside the warm cabin, strech the weary bones on the comfy matress. Heaven. Sunday, May 04 Woke early, as usual. Gisela treated me to the warm capuccino. We talked trips, places, friends and family. Perhaps we'll go on a trip together some day. Never stops to amaze me how many people there are yet to meet, friendships to enjoy, stories to hear and tell. Another beautiful, beautiful day. Not feeling overly ambitious, we settled for the slow paddle to the far end of Rain Lake. Slight westerly kept us moving, but just barely. Not that we minded. Fish misbehaved again, choosing to ignore the warms I offered. Hiked along the old railway bed for couple of km. Hard to image train chu-chued here, in the middle of the relative wilderness. What were the people thinking back then, looking outside the window while the train traversed across this very embarkment? Would they ever imagined how will the events unfold? Do we? Do we cast a neary eye into the future, catch a glimpse of things to come? Well, time to head back. Back to the Cabin, which we enjoyed greatly. Retrace the steps. Into the car, back to the outfitter, stop by the Park Office, hit Hwy 11. Get home. Dream on about the next trip. |
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