Canoeing Delight

The paddle entered the water and I found myself going back thirty years to my first canoe trip in Algonquin Park.  My dear friend Danny Soko had invited me to join him for a five day adventure paddling the lakes and rivers of the legendary park.  We were hosted by a great guide with the last name of  ‘Coffee’, and joined another three canoes for what was at the time my first real canoe trip. We had set off at Canoe Lake, and moved along the waterways to reach the depths of the park. It involved paddling on calm lakes, portaging complicated trails, and navigating strong rapids. It was amazing!  
Now in August 2025, I was joined by my brother Steve and his wonderful beau-fils’ Mathieu and Henrik (Henrik is from Norway and he had suggested that a little adventure in the Canadian wilderness would be cool during his vacation to Canada). We had decided to make it two nights and started our paddling on Canoe Lake.  Of course I had to show them all the interesting, historical and mysterious things about Tom Thomson which have fascinated me for decades. Once across the famous lake we headed north for the portage to Joe Lake and deeper into the spaces without cell service or city sounds - heaven! 
To my surprise, the boys (who had not really done this before) were extremely good and powerful with their strokes and also had solid carrying strength (portages are tough!).  The light wind was helpful which made the navigating easy as we moved at a peaceful rhythm through the lakes and rivers. Luckily for us, the low water level of the rivers and streams between the bigger spans of water allowed us to walk with our canoes and stay cool instead of the numerous portages I had warned them about. It was the last day of the intense heatwave that had consumed the summer, so suffice to say we swam at every opportunity to stay cool. 
It did not take long for nature to have an effect on me and take control of my soul and mindset. There is something magical and unexplainable about the impact the deep woods has on people (my brother shared the same sentiment). One’s perspective is changed and internal juices flow differently to enable a sense of freedom, even enlightenment. This is probably why my writing focuses on adventures, discoveries, and trying new things.
By the time we had reached Burnt Island Lake in the afternoon of the first day we were eager to find a camping location on the shoreline, set-up camp, snack, swim, and chill.  Luckily we found a beautiful secluded spot (with our new friend the BIG snapping turtle watching over us) for the night and enjoyed the evening with a fantastic steak dinner and a few cocktails provided by bartender Mathieu.  After a big day of travel that had started in Oakville and Montreal, sleeping was not difficult!
Our second day started with a beautiful sunrise (less heat) and an energized paddle to reach the epic 1.4km portage which we had decided to tackle for access to our day two destination, the Teepee Lake area. The two young guns of the group took the canoes on their backs and were unbelievable as they portaged all those hundreds of metres while fighting bugs (Henrik was very liked by the large horse flies - yikes!) , climbing hills, and trying to stay hydrated.  Thanks boys!  
Once we were back on the water we paddled gently for some time until stopping for lunch at one of the most beautiful camping sites I've seen. After consuming thousands of calories and swimming, we continued the afternoon heading south until we eventually found a nice campsite (Steve was determined to get the best location possible for the second night) with awesome views and a well positioned rock outcropping on the shoreline. Things turned quite positive when our bartender created a new drink called ‘paddle on the forehead’, which we enjoyed for hours. 
On that second night we had a fulfilling pasta dinner and enjoyed the sunset sitting on the rock and enjoying a gentle canoe ride around the nearby island.  Henrik even started his sleep next to fire and looked at the stars until he noticed clouds moving in and made the wise decision to enter the tent before the light rain refreshed us in the middle of the night. That full day in the park was a real highlight.  Sharing it with my three partners who were visiting Algonquin for the first time was a gift.  
An early morning coffee and light breakfast was enjoyed prior to taking to the water for the morning paddle and eventual exit at the Canoe Lake entry point.  We had a lovely flow with an easy portage which made the last few hours quite memorable. As our phones started making noises once the canoes hit the sandy beach I knew it was over. It was not a bad thing, just an alert that we were back into civilization and all the things that come with it.  If you know me well, you will know that I love the city as much as nature. So returning is never bad, just an entry into something different! 
I thank my three partners for their good nature and adventurous spirit. But mostly for their love of life and constant smiles! 

I hope to be back to the park soon.  This adventure reminded me that I really love that park in particular. After all, it was Canoe Lake and the mystery of Tom Thomson which inspired the start of 'The Jayme Adventure Series' books.  Oh, I forgot to mention… it touched me greatly when Henrik told me that he was reading my book when he rested next to fire looking at the stars late on that second night. 
Thank you readers! 
dd.