What we did: Three days and two nights on East Arm, Joe Lake in Algonquin. It was a trip planned by a friend to do with kids but when that didn’t work out he asked Alex, Sarah and I to join instead. So it was on a busier lake than we normally book and pretty easy in terms of paddling and portaging. In the end the friend couldn’t come either so it was Alex, Sarah and me.
🛶 On our way out I was amused and happy to see a group of Amish young women setting off in canoe in long dresses and bonnets. A gentleman pushed them off and away they went.
🛶 Late August camping is just perfect. No black flies but the water is still warm.
🛶 The aeropress is worth its weight for excellent coffee while camping.
🛶 Canoe Lake might be too busy for my taste and not as rugged as I might like but I loved seeing so many kids out there with camps and with their families.
🛶 The loons! I even read up on loon gatherings after this trip. Turns out it’s complicated. But I loved all the flying and swimming and the loon calls.
🛶 There’s so much everyday exercise. Yes paddling and portaging but also setting up tents and hanging the food. I discovered you get a lot of steps in the day when your toilet/thunderbox is 200 m back in the woods. There is also just a lot of getting down and back up from the ground.
🛶 On our way out we saw my daughter and occasional blogger Mallory on her way into Joe Lake with her Trails campers on a week long trip.
🛶 Alex taught us some great paddling songs from his days as a camp counselor leading canoe trips.
🛶 The waterproof map costs more but is worth it.
🛶 One of the good things about starting a trip on Canoe Lake is that your exit point has ice cream and hot showers. But that means there’s also a gift shop and I bought some fridge magnets, a Christmas tree ornament, and a new hat (featured in the photos below).
What we thought after it was all over: When can we go again? Big trips that require lots of planning are wonderful but it’s also fun just to pack a few bags, load the canoe and head into the lakes and the woods with a friend or two. Thanks Alex! You’re a great tripping companion.
