The alarm goes off, the loons are calling, it’s early morning and I stir slowly in my sleeping bag, still no light to illuminate the inside of my tent. I check my watch, 6:30 a.m it’s not often that I can sleep straight through the night out in the bush, but last night I did and besides a bit of a sore hip I feel refreshed as I breath in the crisp, cool morning air. Using my headlamp I dress for the day and start to pack my gear away, emerging from the tent there is now some light in the air and sun is starting to rise, but still blocked by trees on the east shore. A slight mist rises from the small lake I have made home, a ruffle in the bush catches my attention, just a red squirrel looking for a handout. I head back into the woods and retrieve my food bag, get some fresh water and bring it to a boil, coffee and oatmeal will be my breakfast not just today, but for every day to come. It’s light and easy and fills the void, I break down the rest of my camp I have it down to a science now and within a half an hour all is packed up. I take a minute to savour my coffee as I watch the sun break over the trees, it first warms my face, then the soul, watching the forest come to life is well…magical.
The canoe is packed and after one last check I push off shore headed northeast again further into the interior, only five minutes in and I’ve landed at my first portage of the day a relatively flat 450m march into Bandit lake awaits. I complete the task in about a half an hour, I slowly make my way out onto the lake checking the shoreline along the way (I’ve had a moose encounter here before) but there is none to be seen today. In ten minutes I’m again at another portage route this one is 550m, the sun cuts through the trees along the trail next to a dried up creek, making the work not so bad and scenery stunning. The next two lakes are almost identical, small and quiet, Wenona and Muslim offer beautiful paddling and best of all I don’t see another soul.
A 1030m walk is what waits for me as I head into Misty Lake, a popular destination, surprisingly it’s flat and I make the trip in well under an hour. The opening into Misty is a beautiful sight, crisp air, stunning fall colours brought alive by the sun now directly above. I take a lunch break on a washed up log smoothed over by time, this lake is full of canoes and although I avoid them it’s a little comforting to know I’m not completely alone. My day isn’t done yet and back in the canoe I head east along the shoreline to find one last portage into Timberwolf Lake, where I’ll once again find home. It’s not long when I spot the yellow sign letting me know that I’ve found the right spot, 750m I figure no problem, after the last portage, however I’m wrong. Uphill and muddy(even in the fall) is how I describe this one, the leaf litter hiding sink holes and when I step in it’s mud up to almost my knee. I struggle along and find myself and gear once again on the lake, it’s not big, but the wind has picked up and of course it is now in my face. An island in front of me is where I want to get, a campsite marked on the map, it’s not easy to find as the tree that’s signed has blown down I spy the fire pit and relief settles over me, yes! I’ve arrived.
It’s a small, unused site perfect for a solo traveller, lot’s of fallen tress makes gathering firewood a breeze. Camp is set and after a short break it’s already 4:30 p.m. with only two days left in trout season I get back on the water, grab my favourite lure and start to troll from what I’ve read is a productive lake. An hour an half goes by and besides a stick, no fish, not even a bite, the wind has calmed and the lake now like glass, sun is starting to set behind the trees to the west . “Shit” is the thought that run’s through my head, time is running out, I change my lure again and tell myself one last pass that is close to camp. I take a stroke and watch the rod bounce in the holder, then it bends, YES! fish on, I reel in and net the fish about a three pound Laker (trout). I get the catch on my GoPro, now I’m always torn, do I keep him to eat or let him survive? I have plenty of food and want to lighten my load, so today he’s lucky and I put him back in the water and watch as it swims off. Minutes later another fish, then another, all are let go to live another day, lucky fish as I love a shore meal.
Back at camp now my fire is going and darkness upon me, I eat an Indian meal with the assistance of my headlamp. With dinner done, my journal comes out and I write about my day, one of my favourites I’ve had. It’s about 8:30 p.m. now and it seems to be getting brighter? I take a walk over to the east side of my island and spy what I think is the biggest moon I’ve ever seen, it lights up the night sky like daylight is upon me. I get some pictures and head back to my dying fire, no more wood for you and watch as it goes out. I retreat to my tent and the comfort of that sleeping bag again. Tonight I read maybe for twenty minutes, I think? I wake with my book on my face, put it in its place roll back over and instantly fall back asleep, exhausted from the long day once again I sleep until dawn, what will the next day bring? Cheers, Steve
Cancer Won't Run My Life 