Training Log Archive: OutdoorsMama

Paul, Charlie and I rode to a new brewery near Blenheim...carried one tall boy home in my front pocket of my hydration vest. Then circled down to Erieau for lunch at another brewery. Pretty darn hot day....stopping in Wheatley on the way home for cold drinks was agreed upon by all. Very quiet gravel roads, as usual. The retirees were pushing the pace (couple mph faster than what I would normally do), so I was pretty well knackered by 100 miles

C • Rides 1

A few laps of the tiny kettle lake by our campsite. The beaver(s) woke up after the first lap then expressed their displeasure with me. Ironic, as their tail slapping and nocturnal chewing were noisy enough to warrant filing a report with the park warden about rowdiness, had they been "normal" campers in an adjacent site :)

Two years ago in May, I pulled off the highway here on the way back from Timmins. There was still ice on the lake and I hoped that I could make it back to explore it some day. Made it! To my surprise, the campground was 99% occupied. I thought it would be held at partial capacity to limit the number of people using the facilities/help with physical distancing, but nope. However, there was only 1 canoe and 1 kayak out in this part of the lake. Pretty darn peaceful.
After an hour of steady paddling around the perimeter, I spent some time putzing around checking out a beaver dam and watching a beaver swim back and forth, checking me out.
Paul caught a couple fish, but released them.

Cruised the gravel roads around Val Gagne (accent aigu). Highlights included masses of lupins! (why can't I grow them in my garden? too far south/hot?) And 2 bear sightings. We saw one on the highway on the way up.....that was my first eastern Ontario black bear. Then saw #2 at the back of big field of oats today, then #3 on the other side of the highway (both while biking). With a bit of research, could put together a longer route in that area. Minimum maintenance roads add some flavour to any ride!

From Timmins to my beloved Hersey Lake Conservation Area, some SO sweet single track at the park, ride back to town, then a tour of some of the trails in town curated by my son. We had a short swim at the park.....very welcome as it was at least 30C even up there. Oh yes, bear #4 of the trip suddenly appeared right in front of me on the mountain bike trail. I rang my bell a lot more often after that.

Barber's Bay. It is supposed to be a good fishing destination, but we didn't catch anything when we were here 2 years ago. So we paddled out to Frederickhouse Lake. It was oddly muddy (which is the way it is, I guess). Cast a few lines, but nothing, so went back into Barber's Bay and fished the edges (nothing). But the loons were fun to watch and I love checking out the flora of the boreal as I made my way around the edges of the bay. A couple 30 minute paddles before and after fishing.
A bald eagle made a slow circle of the bay a couple times while I was out there....gorgeous!

More time poking around on the trails at the park.

A late afternoon of paddling/fishing on one of the larger lakes at Kettle Lakes Provincial Park. The water was obviously 3-4' higher than it had been at one point, judging by the long dead trees along the shore line. I didn't have much luck in the fishing department, so paddled the perimeter of the lake. At the far end, there was a beaver dam......hence the relatively new, higher water level. Beautiful forest surrounding the lake.....no rocks to speak of, just boreal forest. Paul caught a couple "fish stick" sized fish, but put them back to grow some more. There was a huge splash between us at some point....probably a massive pike (glad we didn't catch that one).
So peaceful.....

"Bike trails" at Kettle Lakes Provincial Park ..... essentially double track suitable for mountain bikes and, adventure bikes! The lady's slippers were magnificent....I have never seen so many/such large ones. Such beautiful forest!