May 2017

Bentshoe Lake – 1st kayak camping trip of 2017

By |2017-05-02T16:07:22-04:00May 2nd, 2017|Categories: #drysuit, #kokatat, Bear vault, bearproof, camp, Campers, camping, camping tips, campsite, Canada, Exploring, gear, kayak, kayak camping, kayak portaging, Kayaking, loons, Ontario, outdoor products, Outdoors, owl, paddle, paddling, portage, portaging, scenery, scenic, tangii, tent, tentcamping, water, waterways|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I had plans to head over and visit my kayaking coach for some training in preparation of my Level  1 Sea Kayak Instructor Course, but as sometimes plans do, they were moved to another day during the week.  This put me at 8am on a Saturday morning, kayak on car all ready to go, and no plans for the weekend. Guess I could start my kayak camping season after all?  You didn't have to twist [...]

April 2017

McCrae Lake – Kayaking in Kokatat

By |2017-04-25T16:33:35-04:00April 25th, 2017|Categories: Adventure, alone, Canada, conservatationarea, Conservation areas, conservationarea, day trip, Exploring, inspiration, kayak, kayak portaging, Kayaking, loons, Muskoka, Ontario, Outdoors, paddle, paddling, portage, portaging, scenery, scenic, tangii, Uncategorized, water, waterfalls, waterways|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

It was a gorgeous Easter weekend with warm temperatures and beautiful sunshine, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.  Sunday I managed to get out with a few friends in Niagara for a hike in Niagara, but by Monday, with my return to Muskoka, it was back to below zero and not so lovely or springlike.  I had decided to stay in, relax, get caught up on things until the Fedex truck pulled up with my brand new [...]

December 2016

Paddling on Big East Lake – Living Life With No Regrets

By |2016-12-13T18:56:59-05:00December 13th, 2016|Categories: Adventure, algonquin highlands, alone, animals, backcountry, backcountry camping, camp, camping, campsite, Canada, Exploring, gloves, ice, Ice trail, inspiration, kayak, kayak portaging, Kayaking, moosehunting, Muskoka, Ontario, Ontario Trails, ontarios highlands, Outdoors, paddle, paddling, portage, portaging, sleeping bag, sleeping pad, solo trip, sunrise, sunset, tangii, tent, tentcamping, texting gloves, Uncategorized, Up north, water, waterways, winter|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

It is a time of year when one must be really careful going out on the water.  I often receive comments of concern, people calling me brave,  and others blatantly stating I am unsafe, careless and should not be doing what I'm doing.   What if you fall out of your kayak?  You will freeze instantly!!! I have been kayaking for over 15 years of my life.  In that time, I have never, not once, [...]

November 2016

Paddling in Algonquin in November- Pure Heaven !

By |2016-11-15T19:25:58-05:00November 15th, 2016|Categories: #mirror, Adventure, Algonquin, Algonquin Park, Algonquin Provincial Park, alone, animals, birds, Canada, day trip, Exploring, fall, falls, kayak, kayak portaging, Kayaking, Nature, Ontario, ontario parks, Ontario Trails, Outdoors, paddle, paddle canada, paddling, photography, Provincial Park, tangii, tracks, Uncategorized, Up north, waterfalls|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

I had intended to camp this weekend, but on Saturday morning, kayak on my car, camping gear packed and fully ready to go, I woke up feeling horrible.  I had a sinus infection by the familiar feeling of it and felt nauseous and headachy.  Going on a solo camping trip feeling like this, for me, wasn't a smart move and I knew I had to stay home. I spent the whole day resting and making [...]

October 2016

Kawartha Highlands – Paddling Secret …. shhhh

By |2025-04-23T12:19:13-04:00October 25th, 2016|Categories: Adventure, alone, backcountry, backcountry camping, Campers, camping, campsite, Canada, day trip, Exploring, kawartha, kawartha highlands, kawarthat, kayak, kayak portaging, Kayaking, Long Lake, Loucks Lake, Nature, Ontario, ontario parks, Ontario Trails, paddle, paddling, portage, portaging, Provincial Park, River, Secret Lake, solo trip, Uncategorized|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

A few weekends ago I had the pleasure of spending some time with my favorite friends in the Kawarthas at their property.  I met Karen online through posts following the journey of the Woods Explorers and we had both applied for the dream job the advertised.  We hit it off and always said we would get together and last year, we finally did just that.  I was invited back again this year, and so happy [...]

Grundy Backcountry solo trip – Do not put hot rocks in tent!

By |2016-10-04T18:49:54-04:00October 4th, 2016|Categories: Bear vault, bearproof, camp, Campers, camping, campsite, Chairs, day trip, Exploring, fall, fallcolours, falls, grundy, hike, Hikers, Hiking, hiking trails, homemade, inspiration, kayak, kayak portaging, Kayaking, leaves, Nature, Ontario, ontario parks, Ontario Trails, outdoor products, Outdoors, paddle, paddling, portage, portaging, pots, Provincial Park, River, rivers, solo trip, Uncategorized, water, waterfalls|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

My very first blog post was after Canada Day weekend 2015 where I spent an amazing 4 days at Grundy Lake Provincial Park. I loved the park and had vowed to return and check out the backcountry soon!  It had taken a while but this weekend I was on my way and I couldn't wait! Grundy Lake PP is only about an hour and a half drive from my new home in Port Carling.  I [...]

September 2016

Portaging a kayak to Scorch Lake – Algonquin PART 2 & Re-Hydrating eggs

By |2016-09-27T17:09:21-04:00September 27th, 2016|Categories: Adventure, Algonquin, Algonquin Park, Algonquin Provincial Park, backcountry, backcountry camping, Bear vault, camp, Campers, camping, camping tips, campsite, Canada, Exploring, hike, Hikers, Hiking, hiking trails, hikingtrails, homemade, kayak, kayak portaging, kayak rack, Kayaking, loons, malone, navigating, navigation, Ontario, ontario parks, Ontario Trails, outdoor products, Outdoors, paddle, paddle canada, paddling, Parks, portage, portaging, Provincial Park, River, scorch, scorch lake, sleep, sleeping bag, sleeping matt, sleeping pad, sunrise, swimming, tent, tentcamping, Uncategorized, walking, water, waterfalls|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS A CONTINUATION POST FROM Portaging a kayak-3x2 at Scorch Lake - Algonquin Park PART 1, PLEASE CLICK HERE TO SEE THAT POST! It had been a very long day yesterday,  starting at 5am for me and earlier for Joyce. We had spent yesterday taking 9.5 hours to portage and paddle to get to our site on Scorch Lake, one that was clearly the worst site on the lake, even the privy was [...]

Portaging a kayak-3×2 to Scorch Lake – Algonquin Park PART 1

By |2016-09-21T18:04:04-04:00September 21st, 2016|Categories: Algonquin, Algonquin Park, Algonquin Provincial Park, backcountry, backcountry camping, Bear vault, camp, Campers, camping, campsite, Canada, cooking, Hikers, Hiking, hiking trails, homemade, kayak, kayak carrier, kayak portaging, kayak rack, Kayaking, Nature, Ontario, ontario parks, Ontario Trails, Outdoors, paddle, paddle canada, paddling, portage, portaging, Provincial Park, scorch, scorch lake, tent, tentcamping, Uncategorized, Up north, walking, women|Tags: , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , |

When my friend and fellow blogger  Joyce asked me if I wanted to do a trip to Scorch Lake with her, I said yeah! When she told me there were 3 portages totaling over 3 km's, I said ABSOLUTELY NOT!!!  I mean, I paddle a kayak, not a canoe, and I have portaged my small kayak,  but never that far. I suggested we rent a canoe, then I thought about it for the night.  Then [...]

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