I’m starting to gather information so that I may chart a course from the BWCA south to Florida Bay and Key Largo. My initial estimates are roughly 2,800 miles. I plan on starting in early September 2012 and stepping onto the beach in Key Largo in mid-November.

I’m currently seeking information and route plan ideas from the BWCA to the Mississippi Headwaters at Lake Itasca.

I’m also interested in collecting writings along with historical information regarding the Ojibwe’s view of the Misi-ziibi and Omashkoozo-zaaga’igan.

A nice week off the beaten path.

We took a short trip into Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park (Signature Site) in late August of this year. My father and I were tasked with re-introducing the rest of the family plus dog to canoeing, so we decided on an easy route with only 2 short portages and a minimal distance of paddling. We ended up deciding on heading from Long Lake to Cox Lake, and return via the same route. I don’t think you could have asked for a better route for our parameters. Not too remote, just far enough to feel out in the woods and some luxury camping comforts, mainly a picnic table, metal fire grills and thunderbox. Perfect for novices or if you don’t want to cover alot of distance or get too remote.

I decided to change things up by adding a select amount of pictures that I’ve taken as well. Normally take alot on this trips, and between three video cameras, mics and a Digital SLR We’ve got quite the equipment arsenal. Wouldn’t trip any other way though, have to capture some great memories, never know when you’ll be back that way!

So as always another video! 720P is nice and crisp. 

Happy paddling!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=py4_UbHkT8Q

Just a note, some of the landscape ones are squished on these fourms…. odd but you can view them here, unsquished ofcourse http://s260.photobucket.com/albums/ii3/stajanleafs/Backcountry%2011%20-%20Kawartha%20Highlands/

Sunlight is fading fast on our first night on Loucks Lake

Sunset on Loucks

The stove we’ve used for the last few years. Lightweight and refillable though it seems to be losing it’s ability to build up pressure now!

Genny is enjoying the camping experience thoroughly

On the portage form Loucks Lake/Creek into Cox lake there’s a really scenic set of rapids, looks inviting for a swim if not for the beaver activity and the marshy creek below

Needless to say Genny is pretty excited to try out canoeing. The sights and sounds of the creek flowing through the wetland seem to intrigue her most. 

The scenery on Cox lake was absolutely beautiful 

Last day, canoeing by the many cliffs on Long Lake

Genny looks on, possibly reflecting on a great trip

Its the same old, same old.  If you can only have one boat,  you need to decise what kind of paddling you want to do the most, not what boat you want and then try to make it work on the water you paddle the most.

P.S.  As far as all the Bill Mason stuff – get his DVDs and watch them – he never suggested healing a boat in rough water.  He is quite thorough in his descriptions of what techique is appropraite when.

You all have fun now ………..

Bardy Jones

Thanks for sharing your experience with all of us.. It’s a great resource for me as I was looking forward to the place and being here gathered a huge knowledge.. I am glad I visited here.. I will definitely look forward to it..

_____________

Are you looking for: villas pals | villa holiday spain .

Scott

 Took a trip into Island Lake Forest and Barrens Provincial
Conservation Reserve on the Canada day long weekend of this year.What a great
trip. Weather really held out and it was hot and sunny the whole time.
Completed a loop that took us for one night into Wolf lake then up to the North
part of Island lake via portages through Dutton Lake. This Conservation Reserve
is 45 minutes north of Parry Sound and access is via Wahwashkesh Lake. Great
area, really good fishing and Wolf/Dutton Lakes are seldom ventured too. This
means rougher portages and campsites, but that’s all part of the adventure.

 The paddle up Farm creek was rather relaxing, but lengthy,
as it really takes 4-5 hours to complete. Really scenic though. We saw the
majority of people on the creek through most were just heading to the southern
end of Island to camp for the weekend. Finally got to Wolf Lake and there
wasn’t much in the way of campsites, just a few small, underused ones scattered
about. Really just evidence of old fire rings left. Great secluded spot, even
heard wolves that night! Next day we headed up through Dutton to the north of
Island and hit some rougher portages.

 Take caution when locating the portages between the small
lake north of Wolf towards Dutton and the longer portage from the small lake
East of Dutton into Island Lake.

 The first mentioned portage is easy at first (coming from
the Wolf side). Make sure you paddle across the small flooded beaver pond to
the next side (marked with flagging tape). It continues to follow and old
snowmobile trail that when I visited was covered in ferns up to 1m high in spots.
The first time we missed the trail all together and we bushwhacked through, the
2nd time I was able to locate the faint trail and took the canoe through which
just happened to be 200m from where I had stashed the gear. Some nice site on
Dutton and we saw a group of 3 canoes on this lake.

 The latter mentioned portage is riddled with multiple blazed
snowmobile and ATV trails, and there are about 5 portages blazed through here.
The most straight forward is flagged and spray-painted orange. NOTE: Take the
landing on the South-East side of the small lake and NOT the snowmobile opening
as it is longer and easier to get lost. (Found out the hard way). That one took
some time to navigate as I was following the snowmobile trial and it was
winding around the lake before I checked the GPS and compass to reveal I was
heading in the opposite direction! It’s a moderately easy portage if you can
follow the orange trail and stick to it!

 Took a small island site secluded int he north of Island
Lake that night and the only thing reminding me people were on the large lake
was a float plane buzzing by the next afternoon. We packed up and headed back
down Farm Creek the next day.

 Also fishing was good, but It was all about the ones that
got away. Mainly those darn fish just kept grabbing the line and jumped about
4-5 times before freeing themselves… so no fish dinner. Word of caution,
don’t go out promising your girlfriend a fish dinner and come back empty
handed….

As always I’ve posted a video on the trip, so subscribe for more if you’d like.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wWh_JAsIKQ4

Best watched in HD.

Happy paddling