Spring 2007 Trip Log (4 Day Loop) May 17th - May 20th, 2007 (Brent) Cedar Lake - Little Cedar - Aura Lee - Laurel - Little Cauchon - Cauchon - Mink - Club - Mouse - Big Thunder - Skuce - Little Osler - Osler - Nadine - Nipissing River - Cedar (Brent)   Above you will find an extrapolated section of the Algonquin Park Canoe Routes Map©, blown up to easily show you the route we took.   Well it was finally here.  After only one trip into the Park last year and a complete winter of 12 hour days, it was time to head back to Algonquin.  This year we would be seeing a new member of the Canoeguy Crew begin their love affair with Algonquin.  My 11 year old daughter Meaghen is joining us for the first time.  I picked up the kids and headed off to my Mom’s where I keep the canoe.  We packed up the car and settled back to some of my Dad’s barbecuing for supper.  1 A.M. was the scheduled departure time this year, as I wanted to make sure we could get some good fishing in on our first campsite lake.  We would have a lot of paddling the first day.  We bed down a little after 9 P.M. and as usual, it took me at least an hour to fall asleep.  I guess it was the anticipation of finally getting back to the Park.  1 A.M. couldn’t come fast enough.            My eyes popped open half an hour before the alarm went off like they had springs on them.  Time to pack the car with the frozen stuff and get the kids up.  Kevin was easy to wake but Meaghan had to be coaxed a little.  She settled into the back seat of my little hatchback and off we went.      We made good time on the road and arrived at the Brent entrance permit office at 6 AM.  We snuck in another hour of sleep before the office opened and then headed off down the Brent road to Cedar.  Meaghan didn't have to wait long for her first moose sighting.  Just before the Brent crater lookout tower we encountered a large cow running down the road.  She paced us for about 500 meters before turning off into the bush and disappearing. The way she ran down the road reminded me of a cartoon I once saw.  Those of you who are Bugs Bunny fans will know what I mean. We arrived at Cedar to find the parking lot empty.  I guess coming in on a Thursday has its advantages.  The lake was calm and the sun was shining, so we loaded up the canoe and headed up Cedar towards our first portage. We managed to make our way through Little Cedar, Aura Lee and Laurel in good time and decided to take a break at Little Cauchon for a snack.  Cheese and pepperoni sticks were our meal here.  The bugs began at this point as the sun was higher and the temperature was rising.  Little Cauchon Train Bridge The paddle up Cauchon seemed like it took forever.  The wind picked up slightly while we were on the lake, which didn't help, but it just felt like the lake was never going to end.  We passed several cottages along the way but there were no signs of life anywhere.  We were totally alone on the lake.  Near the end of the lake the shore line rises into steep cliffs.  Here we watched a father hawk, (I'm guessing by its size), teaching several young how to soar on the thermals coming off the lake.  They floated around effortlessly above us and circled the canoe several times as we paddled.  I guess we were as much a curiosity to them as they were to us. Cliffs on Cauchon The portage to Mink was Meaghan's first test.  We landed the canoe and I sent Meaghan and Kevin off ahead of me while I prepared the canoe for the second trip.  It was only about 1PM so I decided that we should take it easy and double the portages today.  I had to break Meaghan into it slowly.  Meaghan's pack contained the kids clothes, some odds and ends like glow sticks, a fuel cylinder, the first aid kit and one of our frozen bottles of water.  She handled it like a pro and led the way to Mink Lake.  Mink had a slight breeze going across it but it didn't bother us as we crossed the bottom tip.  It was here that we finally saw other canoeists.  They were halfway up the lake and I could just make out the canoes within the heat waves coming off the water.  The portage to Club was easily traversed and we decided to take a fewe seconds to get a look at the structure that is located at the end of the portage.  Some remnant of past logging days. Structure on Mink to Club Portage   The channel leading to the southern part of club was a little tricky to find at first, but we eventually located it and travelled down to the lower part of the lake.  A pair of Canada Geese at the Club Lake end of the Portage We decided to camp at the site on the eastern shore of Club's southern half.  The campsite was spacious, clean and supplied.  The last people here left us a large assortment of kindling and small logs for the fire.  All were neatly piled under the log bench.  Thanks to whoever that was.  We set up camp and the kids relaxed while I fried up Mom's Macaroni and cheese over the fire. Meaghan, Kevin and Snowflake the French Poodle The Macaroni was amazing and it really hit that particular spot after a long day of paddling.  We relaxed around the fire for awhile and played cards until the sun went down.  We had all been up prety early this morning, so we scurried off to bed not long after dark.  Before going to bed I managed to get this shot of sunset on Club. Kevin was the first up the next morning and he woke me unzipping the tent.  We noticed a small brown rabbit with us in the camp as we emerged from the tent, but it didn't remain long enough to get a picture. The sky was just beginning to brighten and a mist covered the lake.   Club Lake pre-dawn We ate a breakfast of instant oatmeal and washed it down with hot chocolate and coffee. We then broke camp and were on the water again by 7:30. At the head o fthe Mouse Lake portage I stopped to take some shots. Looking back on our approach to the Mouse Lake Portage   Stream emptying into Club  We traversed the portage easily and crossed Mouse with ease.  The lake was like glass and still we saw no other humans.   Mouse Lake Spring 2007 Trip Log - Part Two