Algonquin Park: Camping Trip Logs: 019 - Meanest Link Part Two

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Day 3

September 4, 2012 - Upper Twin Falls to Drummer Lake

Another 20 Km day was planned, up the Oxtongue River into Tea Lake, through Smoke Lake and Canoe Lake before heading north to Drummer Lake. Yes it’s more direct to travel through Bonita Lake, but since we were detouring for a few days from the Meanest Link route we had to make sure our exit and re-entry points were the same spot. We did this because we wanted a longer trip than the Meanest Link from Huntsville to Opeongo offered.

After our breakfast of granola, no “yogurt” this year, we had some nice river travel to start the day. The skies were overcast and threatening rain however. Along the alder lined banks we came across numerous beavers, mergansers and ducks. On one bend there was an awesome wasp nest, and on another I managed to film a merganser take flight.

MarkS back at it in the solo Curtis.

The crew, that John is driving forward.

Jeffrey and Markus enjoy some more river walking.

Wasp nest.

Tall, split trunk tree.

Closer to Tea Lake the river became rockier and shallower. MarkS who was soloing got his double blade paddle hung up in the brush while going through a swift. This put his gunwale underwater and swamped the canoe. Luckily it was only knee deep, but fast flowing, water. We managed to get him right side up with the only trouble being keeping track of the removable yoke. It almost got carried away which would have left us in a bind. Without any further trouble we got to the Tea Lake dam.

Finding a way past a fallen tree in the river.

MarkS still smiling after a dumping.

John smiling more after MarkS's dumping.

Preparing for Tea Lake Dam portage.

Curved Tea Lake Dam.

The rain began as we paddled Tea Lake but wasn’t too heavy yet. MarkS raced ahead, beached his canoe and climbed up to the bridge so he could get some photos of us canoeing towards him. Down the channel into Smoke Lake was interesting, it almost looked as if it had been cut and dredged out to create a channel. We made the docks at Smoke Lake about 12:30 PM, portaged across the highway to Canoe Lake and resupplied from Markus’s vehicle which had been left in the parking lot for us. Oh, and had an overpriced, greasy burger lunch as well! A first on the Meanest Link I’m sure.

Jeff and Markus wave to the highway.

Motor boats at Smoke Lake dock.

Crossing Highway 60 with the canoe.

Jeff dives into his hamburger.

As we scarfed down some restaurant grub the heavy rain started coming down. Luckily it tapered off a bit by the time we were back in the canoes. But it rained lightly off and on until after we reached our destination of Drummer Lake.

It was at this point that MarkS and I switched canoes, putting me in the solo for a while. There are two short portages to get through Sam Lake and Gill Lake, then a tougher 1.7 Km hilly one brings you to the Pine Stump Lean-to on the shore of Drummer Lake.

For some reason I found this portage to be a tough one, it was raining and things were wet, I was hot and sweaty carrying a pack and canoe. One problem I have is I wear glasses and on days and portages like this they get all fogged up. I put them in the cargo pocket on my pants, which wasn’t a good idea since both lenses were popped out when I went to get them out. They must have been too tight in there and got bent as well since they didn’t feel quite right after that.

The only brief shining moment came when I lumbered past John sitting by the trail having a rest, that never happens!

MarkS eyes the clouds before our departure.

Start of Sam Lake to Gill Lake portage.

John and MarkS coming ashore at a portage.

Gill Lake to Drummer Lake portage marker.

Once at Drummer Lake we admired Jeff’s Lean-to. We call it that because Jeff and his father lugged in something like 20 loads of building supplies to restore the lean-to roof. It took a bit of searching but we all found tent/hammock sites to our liking and got settled before dinner. The rain had stopped and we took advantage of the dry lean-to to hang things and store our gear.

It was my day for preparing dinner, chicken and rice was on the menu. We then lounged around the fire, enjoying a rainless night and some Cajun peanuts, before retiring around 10 PM.

Relaxing in the comforts of a dry leanto.

John enjoys a chicken and rice dinner.

Postcard reflection shot.

Camp life.

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