1 X 16.5' Swift Kipawa (48 lbs.)
Round Trip -- Bell Lake to David Lake, via Three Mile and Balsam Lakes; back via David Creek
Chris, Louise, Margaret, Marjie and Margaret's Springer Spaniel
1 X 17.5' Bluewater Freedom Tripper (42 lbs.)
1
X 16.5' Swift Kipawa (48 lbs.)
Travel: Bell Lake to Balsam Lake, via Three Mile Lake
Time: 1:40 p.m. - 3:45 p.m. = 2 hrs, 5 min.
(NOTE:
Times in this Trip Log are based upon two trips across each portage -- one with
canoe and food; one with gear)
Weather: Warm, partly cloudy, calm until 3 p.m.; very windy from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m.; alternating periods of wind and calm between 7 p.m. and sunset
Canoe distance: 6.5 km
Portages: 1
Portage distance: 30m
Camp: Balsam Lake, site #115... Pretty site on a point, with a great view of the sunset. Lots of room for two tents.
Supper: Pita pizzas, Smores
Camp events, evening: Campfire
Quotes of the day:
"I don't
like you... I LOVE YOU!!!"
(Louise, yelling at Margaret's dog in
the tent!)
"Alien abduction!"
(Louise to
Margaret, as Margaret takes a picture in the tent, at night, using the
strobe-like 'red eye reduction' flash mode.)
NOTE: We think Louise ate
far too many smores before bed!!!
Overnight weather: Warm, calm, short period of rain
Overnight event: Margaret's dog sleeps on Louise's head for most of the night!
Travel: Balsam Lake to David Lake
Time: 9:40 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. = 2 hrs, 50 min.
Weather: Warm, partly cloudy, calm until about 4 p.m.; windy from 4 p.m. until sunset
Canoe distance: 6.5 km
Portages: 1
Portage distance: 660m
(This portage looks
intimidating from the Balsam Lake end, but after a short, steep uphill section
it levels out and then eases downhill toward David Lake. Footing is good and
the trail is very wide and open.)
Travel events: Blue heron sighting in marsh en route to portage
Camp: David Lake, site #100... Very scenic island site with a cove on one side, lake expanse in front and open channel on the other side. Nice view of the sunset down the channel. Morning sun on the fire pit area. Room for two small tents near the fire pit. Room for one larger tent in the treed area behind.
Quote of the day:
"Cheese for
coffee!"
(Margaret shouting across the lake when she realizes
that we are quite over-stocked on cheese, but desperately short on coffee -- no
one came by to make a trade.)
Supper: Minestroni and Garden Vegetable Soup, garlic bread with left over mozzarella cheese from last night's supper, hot cinnamon rolls
Camp events, evening: Swimming, Campfire
Overnight weather: Mild, slightly breezy
Bizarre overnight event: Louise, Margaret and Margaret's dog are awakened at 4 a.m. by a raven and a whip-poor-will that are engaged in what sounds like an argument, in the trees above the tent. Margaret's dog jumps all over Louise! Shortly, a loon that is positioned on the water, very close to camp, issues a loud call that Margaret interprets as "shut up... I'm trying to sleep!" The raven and the whip-poor-will fall silent and Louise, Margaret and Margaret's dog fall back to sleep.
Our day off!
Weather: Warm, breezy most of the day
Morning events: A group of canoeists paddle toward our site and shout "Happy Canada Day!" Margaret pulls a paper Canada Day banner, flags and red and white balloons from her pack. We sing "O Canada" with the canoeists, as they pass by our camp. A couple of the canoeists stand in their canoes, hand on heart, as they sing!
Afternoon events: Margaret elects to stay in camp, with her dog, to rest and do some writing. Chris, Louise and Marjie explore the south-west shore of David Lake by canoe, hike from the 565m portage entrance on David Lake up the first hill to the south-east, via the backpacking trail (nice view of both David and Boundary Lakes from there), swim and pick blueberries near backpacking site #34.
Supper: Rice and lentil dish, garlic bread with cheddar cheese (will we ever finish the cheese?!), hot Canada Day bannock turnovers, with home made raspberry or strawberry jam filling, icing sugar decoration and fresh-picked blueberries, on the side
Camp events, evening: Continuing our cheese-theme... cheesy song/poetry writing and presentations! Chris and Marjie write a song/rap number about camping with Louise and Margaret; Louise and Margaret write a limerick about camping with Chris and Marjie. Compositions are performed around the evening campfire...
Chris and Marjie
by Louise and Margaret
There
once were two girls in Killarney,
Whose names were Chris and Marjie,
They
didn't sleep there,
They were a-scared of "the bear,"
Have you
ever heard of such Blarney?!
Cheese and snacks were aplenty,
To the
toilet often they wenty,
Cinnamon rolls for dessert,
Their waistlines
were hurt,
For a bear, a target heaven-senty!
Setting up tents in
the camp,
Tarps to shield from the damp,
The girls observed all
Took
notes to recall
To show Mario and Mark whose the champ!!
CAMPING
SONG
(For Louise and Margaret)
by Chris and Marjie
(To the
tune of "The Lion Sleeps Tonight":)
In the forest, Killarney
forest,
No one sleeps at night!
We ate too many Smores
And Margaret
snores,
And Louise -- don't cut the cheese!
One's so giddy, and one's so
gabby,
They both are such a tease!
(Chant:)
Margaret is
the organizer of the camping trip.
Building things and fixing things --
She's
surely not a drip.
The Martha Stewart of the North --
Desserts are
served with flair,
But when you plan a day long hike --
She's not there!
Now
-- Let me tell you 'bout Louise,
A camping girl at heart:
Fire-starter,
storyteller; we've never heard her fart!
She loves to laugh and share a joke
And
shares her bed with Da Dawg,
When everyone else is all stressed out --
She
passes out like a log.
(To the tune of "The Lion Sleeps
Tonight":)
In the forest, Killarney forest,
The camping trip
grinds to an end.
By the fire we'll say our good-byer --
Hope we see
each other again!
The End!
Camp: Same site as last night... David Lake, site #100
Quotes of the day:
"Let's go to
the next point."
(Chris, Louise and Marjie, while searching at
length for the 565m portage entrance on the south-west shore of David Lake.)
"You didn't have to hit me THAT hard!!!"
(Margaret
to Louise, after Louise kills a deer fly by smacking it when it lands on
Margaret's head!)
"Chris, please hand me my catheter bag."
(Marjie,
referring to her rather medical-looking 2.5 litre clear plastic Platypus water
carrier.)
Overnight weather: Mild and very calm
Camp event, the following morning: During the night, Margaret's dog manages to take over Louise's sleeping pad and pillow! Louise wakes up in the space between the sleeping pads, in the centre of the tent. David Lake is as smooth as glass...
Travel: David Lake to Bell Lake, via David Creek
Time: 9:50 a.m. - 1 p.m. = 3 hrs, 10 min.
Weather: Warm, sunny, no wind at all until 11 a.m.; slightly breezy from 11 a.m. on
Canoe distance: 7 km
Portages: 2
Portage distance: 200m + 745m = 945m
(Both
portages are wide and relatively flat with good footing.)
Travel events: The glassy surface of Lake David is awe-inspiring... the reflections really enhance the beauty of the surrounding hills.
Quote of the day:
Louise to Chris: "Did
you sleep last night?"
Chris: "It was fitful... but it
WAS sleep."
Canoeing/portaging travel time: 8 hrs, 5 min.
Canoe distance: 20 km
Portages: 4
Portage distance: 1640m
Overall canoeing/portaging distance: 22 km (92% water travel; 8% portages)
NOTE: In calm weather, such as we experienced during our travel periods, this would be an ideal route for beginning-trippers. However, high winds and waves are common in Killarney Park... progress could be hindered by wind.
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