Canoe Trip 2012 - Part lll & IV

DAY THREE  – OCTOBER 1, 2012 – 10 miles

 

We slept in a little later this morning and woke to the sun shining on the ridge across our little bay. It was slightly breezy and cool as we made breakfast. Camp was torn down and packed and we were on our way around 10:45. The portage from Teggau back down to Eagle was easier in that it was downhill. We had the canoe moved and packed up again in no time. Coming out from the creek the wind was from the north. We went straight across the bay to where it was sheltered and had an easy paddle up to the Buzzard/Winnage portage. We could see the falls spilling into the lake and an area that appeared to be well used beside the falls. Clayton went to check out the path and when he came back said that it didn’t appear to have been used much as there were a number of fallen trees. We concluded that this path must be an older one and that there must be another well-used path somewhere else. I went up along the bank and down the shore a bit until I came to a sandy and rocky beach. Not sure how we missed it but the portage was a great wide path leading up the hill and was quite obvious. Clayton brought the canoe over and we made our usual two trips over the steep portage.

At the top of the portage we took a quick break for some trail mix and took a look around the falls. There was a memorial at the mouth of the falls to a trapper who obviously was a regular on the lake.

Buzzard was choppy from the get go. We headed straight across the first small bay to reach a leeward area sheltered from the north wind. We spotted a small beach and pulled up to take a look – discovering moose and bear tracks. From there we made our way through a sheltered narrows until we rounded the next corner and found ourselves heading straight across a big section of lake, almost right into the wind. We headed to what the map showed as a big peninsula leading into a narrows dividing the lake into two main sections. We put our heads down and just paddled for close to an hour straight until we were in calmer waters. Our canoe held up well and we found it very stable, especially in the choppy waters.  It was strange to have one side of the shoreline burnt and barren and the other side lush and forested – the entire narrows was like that until we emerged into the northern and larger section of the lake. Waves were buffeting the shore so we stopped for bite to eat and spend a few sunny moments resting before our last big push.

As we rounded the point and headed north the waves were coming at us from the north-north west so we couldn’t head straight to the other side. We set our sights on a small island and paddled toward it until it could provide some leeward shelter and then we turned and made our way to a most amazing freshwater beach.  We arrived at the beach shortly after 4:00p.m. so we still had ample daylight to scope out a campsite and explore the beach. I kicked off my shoes and we walked barefoot in the sand from one end to the other. We found a flat site just up off the beach with a fire pit already set up.

Clayton started on supper and I set up the tent and bedrolls. We had a glass of wine and sat around the fire watching the moon come up over the trees. I gave mom and dad another call – reception here was not as good but our call was short and they were assured that we were safe on land once more.

We got up in the middle of the night to another bright shining moon – casting crisp as sunlight shadows on the sand beach. I truly felt like we were as close to heaven as possible.

DAY FOUR – OCTOBER 2, 2012 – 0 (paddling) miles

We woke up to the sound and sight of our tent being blown around by the wind. We made breakfast and the wind kicked up some more. Our entire tent leaned sideways in the wind – robust little Trango and a purchase that we have never once regretted.

We had decided the previous night that we would spend the day on Buzzard Beach. As it turned out, we wouldn’t have had a choice anyway. The winds were blowing from the south and the waves were crashing on our shore. Any attempt to try to launch the canoe would likely result in swamping or capsizing.

We spent the day exploring the beach and surrounding area. At one point in time the area had been used as a winter logging camp. We saw what looked like they may have been outlines for cabins a little ways in the bush. At the north-eastern end of the beach it looked like someone had set up a group use area with a huge fire pit area surrounded by four big logs for seats. There were a number of flat areas for tenting and they’d even put in “toilets” so you didn’t have to squat over a log.

 

 

We walked to the west end of the beach with our Kobos and a black bean salad we’d made up earlier in the day. There was a sunny spot out of the wind and we had a quiet little picnic before going back to the tent where we read for a little while, hoping for the wind to die down, even momentarily.

 

 

The wind continued on so we propped up the canoe so Clayton could set up the stove for supper without fear of it blowing out before cooking our meal. We finished the wine off and cleaned up. Clayton started a fire and the wood, which had burned only reluctantly the previous night, caught instantly in the wind crackling and popping. We were scared of sparks being carried off into the dry bush, so the fire was short lived. We passed around the Jagermeister as we let the fire die down.

As Clayton and I headed to bed we voiced concerns about the wind, which had not let up at all during the day and was still blowing when we zipped up the tent. If it kept up we would not be able to get off the beach the next day. We had enough food for at least a couple more days, but when I spoke with Mom again she said that there was some nasty weather coming our way. We didn’t want to be stranded out there in less than ideal conditions. We drifted off to sleep with the tent flapping and leaning with each gust.

I woke in the middle of the night to a deafening silence. The wind had died down completely and the lake was completely still. The moon provided enough light that we could have paddled across the lake with no aid. I felt some relief and hope that it would stay calm.