RENDEZVOUS CANADA 150

Wayne, Marti, Odie, John, Sharon and Bill arrived at Blue Cedar RV Park in Prince George. The general organization of the team was discussed and a list of basic food and supplies was compiled. The ingredients for the June 4th dinner were also determined. That done, we walked to the nearby Bon Voyage restaurant for a good dinner and lots of time to chat.

Items on the list generated the night before were purchased. The entire team assembled at Cottonwood Park in Ft. St. James. Genuine, heart felt greetings were exchanged among old friends and introductions were made of those not known by all. Team members were:

Wayne (Denare Beach, SK), Captain; Sharon (Eau Claire, WI), Co-Captain; Karl (Erickson, MB), Photographer; Bill (Eau Claire, WI), Historian; Marti (Sequim, WA); Jackie (Erickson, MB); John (Menominee, WI); Odelia (Eau Claire, WI); Bob (Kelowna, BC); Lorraine (Kelowna, BC) and Al (Rocky Mountain House, AB).

The canoe was unloaded so the trailer contents could be reorganized to accommodate gear, food storage and Marti and Wayne’s sleeping quarters. We did a quick review of paddling North Canoes to establish commands and techniques our team would use. It was then time to sort and organize the gear and food and prepare dinner. The dinner menu was prepared by Sharon and Bill and consisted of Italian Sausage soup, tossed salad and garlic bread. Many helped in the preparation.

After dinner, Wayne held a short team meeting. The above “assignments” were announced. It is anticipated that for the Fort (St. James) to Fort (George) Brigade portion of the trip, launch would be at eight. We decided that six would work as a wakeup time and we would try it out in the morning.

The wakeup occurred in “shifts”. Breakfast included oatmeal, dry cereal, coffee, etc. After breakfast we carried the canoe down to Stuart Lake and Wayne, Marti, Bill, John, Odie and Al paddled over to the Fort. There we joined the rest of the team who had walked and we all spent time touring the fort. The hikers and the canoeists were greeted by the friendly staff at the museum and encouraged to view a historical movie which provided background on the activity of the fort in the late 1800’s. All were then free to wander and explore Canada’s largest collection of wooden buildings faithfully restored to 1896 when wealth was measured in fur pelts and salmon. Each building had interpreters in time appropriate dress who told stories and answered dozens of questions about the Carrier First Nations people and the European fur traders, the goods they traded, the homes they lived in along with the farming and fishing. Sharon, Wayne, Jackie, Karl, Lorraine and Bob canoed back and the others walked.

About 4:30, the entire Brigade paddled to the fort. Before doing so, Brigade Water Captain Lyle Dickiesen went over safety rules and described the Brigade Salute that would be used for Fort to Fort Brigade. Once at the Fort, we gave the Brigade salute and Norm asked for permission to come ashore. Once on shore, gifts were exchanged. Our team was unaware of the gift exchange, but Odie came up with a Birkebeiner bandana which she and Wayne presented to the Tribal Elder.

We then proceeded up to the fort where we were treated to a delicious salmon dinner with rice, coleslaw and apple pie. An outstanding meal. There was left-over salmon which was given to the Brigade. Al picked up three packages which were used for several lunches. Gifts were exchanged between the Ft. St. James Historical Site and Rocky Mountain Historical Site. Merle represented the Brigade. After visiting with friends, we canoed back to the campground for a good night’s sleep in anticipation of the kickoff paddle.

The Brigade Salute: When the Water Captain called out “Prepare a salute”, all canoeists raised their paddles high in the air. When he said “Salute” we lowered the paddle with one sounding bang on the gunnel, raised the paddle, lowered with two hits on the gunnel, raised the paddle, lowered with three hits on the paddle and the yelled “Hey” while raising the paddle one more time.

It was “rise and shine” early at 6:00 AM to be ready for the 8:00 departure. Final packing, breakfast and camp teardown had to be done before hitting the water. This was the standard for the Fort to Fort Brigade portion of the trip.

Our crew functioned like a well synchronized, seasoned crew. We were at the waterfront at 7:30 and our canoe was on the water at 7:45. Others followed and about 8:15 Captain Lyle arrived with the canoes that camped at the Fort. The Brigade consisted of eleven teams: Rocky Mountain Voyageurs, Canadian Voyageurs, Pileated Paddlers, Lake Amisk Voyageurs, Boona, James, NW Brigade Paddlers, Pathfinder, Tillitcum, Waccan’s Mannabe and Red Rogues totaling 102 canoeists. After introductory remarks on safety and on-water protocol details such as lead and sweep canoes, we gave the Brigade Salute to those on shore and we were off.

The Amisk Lake Voyageurs paddlers today were Al (Seat 1), Bill (2), Odie (3), John (4), Bob (5) and Sharon (6). There was a west wind and some rolling white caps as we headed out. After making a large arc to avoid a point and risk becoming sideways to the waves, we headed to the mouth of the Stuart River. There was one nice rapid that had a straight shoot with a big standing wave at the end that we easily navigated. All canoes got through without problem. From then on it was a slow beautiful river with outstanding scenery. Wildlife sited included two moose and some swans. Several “pipes” were made and we ate a “rolling” lunch on the water.

There were twelve canoes today. Invariably after a break, we were at the back of the pack...the sprinters took off. With Al setting a very even pace, it was not long before we were up to the lead boat and we had to reduce our power to keep from passing them. For a group who had never paddled together and two who had never been a North Canoe before, the power and consistency of the team was amazing. Credit to our avant (Al) and Gouvernail (Sharon) for making this possible.

After paddling 73 km (41 mi.) we arrived at camp where the ground crew of Wayne, Marti, Karl, Jackie and Lorraine had everything set up, including the tents and camper for those in the canoe...definitely set a very high bar for future ground crews.

We camped at Bison Ranch. The dinner was prepared by SFN Catering, a Saik’uz First Nations business. The food was delicious...three kinds of smokies, two salads, beans, fresh vegetables, baked potatoes with fixings, watermelon slices, two kinds of cake and cookies. NO one went hungry. After dinner, a scroll was signed by all and will be sent to the Canoe Museum in Peterborough. Wayne and Jackie were responsible for getting the Brigade signatures. A Brigade photo was taken by Karl. After that it was back to camp and it was not long before all were soundly asleep.

Jackie (1) Marti (2), Karl (3), John (4), Lorraine (5) and Wayne (6), paddled today; Sharon hooked a ride with the Red Rogues. Odie, Al, Bob and Bill were on ground crew.

Sharon reported: The Stuart River is amazing to canoe for so many reasons.  The river itself is fast and swift with the snow melt and the scenery is beyond comparison with its mountains and forests.  No worries stopping for “pipes” along the way as the river carried us down river quickly.  Bio breaks were a bit more challenging.  All canoes had to maneuver eddy turns with the fast water and land at one’s chosen spot with precision.  Wide grins as the canoes came to rest on shore.

The local historian, George LaBrash, landed in the Red Rogues canoe today.  All canoes nearby were treated to history of the glacial history of the Stuart and the shoreline features.  The Stuart in eras gone by actually flowed the other direction up to the Arctic.

The highlight of the day was traveling to a Chinlac First Nations sacred ground where many lives were lost.  George (the historian) provided preliminary background and introduced the First Nations Elder who dramatically and emotionally told the story of his ancestors.  His son was present as well as a group of interns from Nechako – Lakes School District #91.  At his behest several pieces of charcoal were passed around to smudge mark our faces as a sign that we understood the solemnity of the sacred grounds.

The historian then provided a tour of the earlier First Nations archaeological sites that were discovered and explored but now abandoned due to funding.

The ground crew took a leisurely pace to get to the night's campground near the old Isle Pierre Ferry Landing. Some stopped for showers, some for laundry, some took care of personal items. They all made it to the campsite about two, set up camp basics and then had a relaxed afternoon. The Brigade arrived shortly after five; Wayne Wilson followed their progress on SPOT via his blog, so there was no surprise as to their arrival. The landing spot was only big enough for two canoes at a time, so it took a quite a while for all canoes to come ashore. Everyone pitched in and before long all canoes were parked and overturned for the night.

Dinner was served by the same caterers as the night before. And it was again an excellent dinner...roast beef, baked potatoes, two types of salad, a veggie tray and roles with carrot cake and watermelon for dessert. We are enjoying being spoiled with such great food. The remainder of the evening was spent sharing stories and getting ready for the next day. The camp was peaceful and quiet before too long.

The last day of the Fort-to-Fort Brigade: team assignments for the day were Wayne (6), Odie (5), Bill (4), Bob (3), Sharon (2) and Al (1). Marti canoed with the Red Rogues. Jackie, Karl, John and Lorraine were ground crew.

We canoed a total of 67 km on the Nechako and Fraser (short distance) Rivers with some exciting, heart pounding rapids and a solid, swift current the entire way. Isle Pierre rapids had standing waves, some four-foot deep, that hit the canoe not only straight on, but from an angle. We made it through without a problem thanks to the path set by Lyle, the Brigade Water Captain, and the fine work of Al and Wayne in bow and stern, respectively. We did have to bail a significant amount of water once through them. Further down the river we encountered Mud Rapids that had a ledge three quarters across the river. Key was to be far right early as the strong current wanted to push you to the left and straight to the ledge.

All but one canoe made it through the chute and big standing waves at the bottom. The brigade responded in outstanding fashion for the rescue of the capsized canoe. Our canoe picked up one swimmer and the other four paddlers were safely pulled from the water by other canoes. Still other canoes helped do a CANOE OVER CANOE rescue of the 26' long North Canoe. Everyone was safe! No gear was lost, only a few water bottles and some of them were picked up downstream. The water captain got all canoes to shore and gave ample time for those in the capsized canoe to get on dry clothes and eat some food and for all paddlers to relax before heading down river.

During this time, the ground crew drove the vehicles to Prince George and stopped to purchase groceries for the next few days. They then headed to the Park for the brigade arrival.

The Brigade stopped at Wilkins Regional Park for a long lunch break. Time to rest, eat, geocache and change into voyageur regalia. Four racing canoes from the Prince George racing club joined us for the remaining paddle to Exploration Place in Prince George.

People lined the shore as the Brigade approached the landing point with the canoes lined two by two. Our canoe was paired with the lead canoe. Several Brigade Salutes were given. A First Nations drum team played and sang as we entered into the pond where we were to takeout. Before landing, Norm Crerar asked the Carrier Band Elder for permission to land. His request was followed by requests from the Rendezvous Canada 150 team captains. Wayne asked for permission for people from Alberta, Manitoba, British Columbia, Wisconsin and Washington to land. Bob asked permission for people from British Columbia and Washington and Merle for Alberta. We then landed one by one with lots of assistance from the locals carrying the canoes up to a grassy area. There was an exchange of gifts between team captains and the Tribal Elder. Just as the Mayor of Prince George was to speak, a strong wind hit the area breaking some small branches from trees. The ceremony came to an abrupt end as everyone scrambled to their canoes to carry gear to team vehicles and load the boats onto trailers.

With the Fort to Fort Brigade completed, the adventure changed gears into the Rendezvous Canada 150 trip consisting of three teams: Rocky Mountain Voyageurs, the Red Rogues and the Amisk Lake Voyageurs.

Rocky Mountain Voyageurs and our team went to the NY Burger Bar and Grill for dinner. Then each team headed to Purden Provincial Park to camp. The park was heavily forested with a mix of evergreen and deciduous trees. Campsites and facilities were very nice.

This was a travel day. We left Purden Provencal Park about nine. Each vehicle made stops as they chose...get something to eat...fuel the vehicles...view waterfalls...check out scenic overviews...hike to the Athabasca Glacier...and more. The day’s drive to our campsite on the shore of Lake Abraham covered 526 km (329 miles). Once camp was set up, we went to the David Thompson Resort about 5 km west of our camp for dinner.

When we returned to camp, the entire group gathered around the campfire. Stories were exchanged, drinks were poured and lots of laughter could be heard. Merle lead a blessing to Manitou, the Great Spirit of the Water. He then discussed possible activities for tomorrow. It was agreed that 18 paddlers would leave camp at 9:00 and drive to near the headwaters of the North Saskatchewan and paddle about 20 km to Preacher's Point. They would also hike up Siffleur Canyon to the waterfall. After lunch, the remaining paddlers would do the same. Bill and Sharon presented bandanas printed with a logo designed for the trip to the group.

When we awoke, it was cold and rainy. The initial decision was to delay departure but the continuing rain caused canoeing to be canceled for the day. This proved to be a very wise decision as the temperatures dropped to freezing and sleet and snow blanketed the ground.

Sharon reported: Carloads of canoeists headed to the Nordegg Museum where the Miner’s Café was the first stop. Soups, sandwiches, breads and muffins all homemade topped off with tea and coffee were ordered. Delicious! But absolutely the favorite item ordered was the Bumbleberry Pie with ice cream, of course. Outstanding!

The café and gift shop featuring a variety of local artisan art and gifts were located in lovely historical building with authentic furnishings and decorative touches from the area. The author of Paddling, Portaging and Pageantry, Doreen Guilloux, was in the lobby signing her book. Dave Derochie who participated in the 1967 Race was so happy to meet her and get a signed copy of her book.

A few in the group decided to take the Brazeau Collieries Mine Site tour. The tour consists of a collection of industrial structures, related machinery for coal mining operations, a few vandalized homes and other shops that supported the mine. Tour guide was very knowledgeable. Support buildings were constructed of wood and brick but the huge coal processing structures, the tipple, boiler and briquette plant are clad in metal sheets. Eerie sounds emanated from the building as we headed up and down the staircases. Ghosts of the past we mused but no it was the giant sheets of snow melting and sliding off the roofs. The building have now been designated as a National Historic Site of Canada.

A few stayed in camp to catch up on things, read or just take it easy. By the time the gang returned from Nordegg, the sun was out and the temperatures had risen to the forty's. Walks completed the afternoon. Some were along the lake. Odelia, Lorraine and Marti walked to the David Thompson Resort, about 5 km up the road. They picked up recyclable trash along the highway, left it at the lodge, got a couple new garbage bags and filled them on the way back to camp.

Jackie and Karl cooked an excellent dinner...chicken, stir-fried vegetables, white and brown rice and all the “fixins”. No one left hungry and there was even some rice left that was incorporated into the next day's breakfast.

Dry but cool when we arose. Breakfast was prepared by Jackie and Karl. The outstanding food continued with scrambled eggs loaded with onions, veggies and more, rice, toast, coffee and juice.

The first group of paddlers, Jackie (1), Marti (2), John (3), Karl (4), Odelia (5) and Wayne (6), left at nine and canoed the stretch planned for yesterday (a stretch of the North Saskatchewan past Preacher's Point to Lake Abraham to camp). The canoes were loaded back onto the trailers, we had lunch and the trailers and the afternoon crew drove back to the starting point to canoe the same stretch to Preacher's Point. The afternoon paddlers were Sharon (1), Al (2), Lorraine (3), Bob (4), Bill (5) and Merle (6) from the Rocky Mountain Voyageurs team. Bob (morning) and Odie (afternoon) provided the transportation.

The stretch to Preacher's Point was fast. One point required picking a path between a whirlpool and a strong eddy. Shallow areas had to be avoided and there were places where the fast current carried you along a wall. It was a fun run and care needed to be taken at all times. The afternoon crew covered the 20.2 km stretch in 1.5 hours at an average speed of 13.5 km/hr. Max speed was 19 km/hr. The morning crew canoed an additional 18 km to our camp. The wind picked up and the last half hour was not easy.

A dinner of pork chops, stir fry vegetables and beans was prepared by John and Jackie and awaited the paddlers when they returned. How long could these excellent meals continue?

After dinner, some went to Nordegg to watch the sixth game of the Stanley Cup and some hiked the trail to the falls on the Siffleur River. Others enjoyed a night in camp.

Our team is definitely in a rhythm and is functioning like a well-oiled machine. Pork chops and vegetables from last night were added to scrambled eggs and along with toast, juice and coffee, made for a another delicious breakfast. The cooking was done by Sharon, Al and Bill. Shortly after breakfast the first crew left for the put in below Big Horn Dam. The morning crew of Wayne, Jackie, Karl, Marti, John and Odelia canoed 25 km to Road T. They experienced braided sections with low water and the canoes had to be walked more than once. They also encountered debris which required tight maneuvering. One canoe had to portage to another channel to make it down stream.

The afternoon crew of Al (1), Bill (2), Marti (3), Lorraine (4), Bob (5) and Sharon (6) did not encounter the shallow braided water the morning crew did. Instead, the low water challenges were in the form of gravel bars that extended out into the fast moving water. The current was fast and required accurate reading of the current, varying the stroke power and having the bow/stern paddlers on the proper side of the canoe to successfully avoid potential dangers.

About a half kilometer from the takeout, the Red Rogues took on water and capsized. They were a slight bit late in moving to river right and the back of the canoe got caught on a rock. The sudden stop ejected two of the paddlers from the canoe and one had his hand pinned between the gunwale and the rocky bottom. Fortunately, bruises and scrapes were the only injuries. Two paddles and a dry bag were lost. The loss of the paddles meant there were only four paddlers to negotiate the next ledge which they did successfully.

We took out at Saunders and stopped at Nordegg for ice cream on our way back to camp. Wayne and Marti prepared a very tasty vegetable spaghetti dinner with garlic bread and a salad. That evening, the Red Rogues returned to the river in search of the missing gear.

Camp departure was scheduled for nine; Lake Amisk Voyageurs were packed and ready to leave at eight. Jackie (1), Karl (2), Marti (3), Odie (4), Lorraine (5) and Wayne (6) paddled today. Bill, Sharon, Al, Bob and John were on ground crew.

Jackie reported: We left from camp on Abraham Lake & drove with all 4 vehicles to Horburg - last stretch of the road was very wet and full of potholes. We put in and start to paddle approximately 10:00. Stretch of river about 42 to 43 km. Shortly after departure the cool and cloudy weather turned cold and rainy. A silent group consensus was reached to stay out of the big waves and rapids. We followed Merle’s boat and everyone managed fine. Devils corner, Fisher rapids and another set near the take out.  Water levels were very high and the river very fast. What we thought would take a minimum of 3 to 3.5 hours took only 2.5 hours with a shore break for lunch. Rain let up for the last 45 minutes making it a bit nicer. Our road crew met us at Ft. Rocky Man House and we had a nice hot fire in the kitchen shelter and changed into regalia for the 3:00 pm reception with the young workers at the Fort.

Meanwhile, the ground crew drove to Rocky to meet the paddlers. Bill and Sharon stopped to hike to a spot to photograph the paddlers as they came through the Devil's Elbow. However one portion of the trail required a rope to get back up. It was raining and the trail was slick, so they made the decision not to proceed down to the water.

At RMH all paddlers warmed up at the stove, ate lunch and changed into our regalia. Karl, Bill and John joined the crew for the couple hundred yard paddle to the formal welcoming at Rocky Mountain House National Historic Site and gift exchange. Pictures were taken by the local newspaper and others before we proceeded to the Highwater House for finger food provided by the Site. Crackers, lunch meat, fruit, vegetables, cake, tea and coffee were served...more than enough for the voyageurs. Those that paddled the full section then canoed to the takeout at the Route 11A bridge.

It was then over to Nick and Leslie's Family Restaurant for a light dinner. After dinner some headed to the Aquatic Center for showers (at no cost). We camped at Danny and Joanne’s ranch about 15 mile east of town .

Today was a day off. Most headed into town to do laundry, visit the museum and to take care of other needed things. Sharon shopped at the Co-Op grocery store for food for the next four days.

Dinner of perogies, Ukrainian sausage, sauerkraut and dessert was prepared by Lorraine, Bob and Al. After dinner there was a team meeting to discuss the next few day's schedule. The Amisk Lake Voyageurs and the Red Rogues then spent an enjoyable evening around the campfire visiting, solving the world's problems and exchanging stories.

This was Al's last day on with the team. Family needs prevented him from continuing. He was a fun, strong and experienced paddler and he was missed.

Travel day today. After spending two nights at Danny and Joanne's place, it was off to Pike Lake Provincial Park, a distance of 413 miles. The three crews arrived midafternoon to early evening. Sharon and Bill with the help of others prepared roasted corn on the cob, sweet potatoes and ham for dinner. Dessert was strawberry shortcake with frosted donuts substituting for the short cake (shortcake shortage in the store), strawberries, blueberries and kiwi all topped with whipped cream. YUM!

It was a nine o'clock departure today for both paddlers and ground crew. The put in was off a gravel road just south of the park with a short carry to the water. Paddlers today were Bill (1, 3), Jackie (2), Bob (3, 1), John (4), Karl (5) and Sharon (6). The South Saskatchewan was a wide river with numerous sandbars that sometimes extended move than half way across the river. Wally in the Rocky Mountain Voyageurs canoe did an outstanding job of scouting and maneuvering to avoid them...no canoe got caught today.

Our crew was in power mode...paddle hard then float was the order of the day. We did the 39.3 km in 4.25 hours with several floating breaks and a lunch stop. A family hiking riverside was given the Brigade Salute. They came down to see us at lunch and the five year old girl was excited about getting into a the canoe.

It was a fun stretch of river. There was sufficient current, the temperatures were ideal for canoeing and the scenery was a drastic change from what we had just experienced in the Rocky Mountains. We arrived at the Saskatoon Canoe and Kayak Club takeout about 1:30. The ground crew was waiting our arrival.

The team with the exception of Bill and Sharon headed to the RV16 Park; Bill and Sharon went to Canadian Tire to have the truck battery checked...they needed a jump start twice on the trip. After camp was set up, a few folks went grocery shopping. John and Odie prepared a delicious ravioli, garlic bread and green salad dinner. Many took advantage of the very clean and nice showers.

The entire brigade gathered for a team meeting to discuss options for the Assiniboine and Winnipeg Rivers. The former is VERY twisting and winding while the latter has been enjoying high water. Different options were discussed to minimize the effect of several dams on the stretch of river of great interest. Tales of past adventures and more were exchanged and it soon was time to hit the sack.

Travel day. Wayne and Jackie prepared pancakes for breakfast. Camp was then struck and we were on our way by nine to the Duck Mountain Motel campground in Kamsack, SK. The vehicles traveled separately, each taking their own route. The last one arrived at camp about four.

Relaxing, hiking, a bicycle ride and catching up on things that needed to be done occupied the remainder of the afternoon. Jackie and Karl where the chefs tonight...ham with pineapple and mango sauce, brown rice and Greek salad. Mighty, mighty tasty.

We awoke to a light, intermittent rain which continued through the morning. We had a quick breakfast and broke camp leaving for the put in at 7:30.

Today's paddlers were Wayne (6), Sharon (5), Lorraine (4), Odie (3), Marti (2) and Jackie (1). Jackie and Marti traded positions for part of the trip. The put-in was at the bridge over the Assiniboine on road 357 to Togo.

The put-in was a challenge. There were barbwire fences on all accesses to the river. The one on river right just downstream from the bridge was the best but it still required maneuvering down a steep slope with guard rails, bushes and a fallen log to get to the fence. The top strand could be detached. By several people carrying and handing down the canoes, all were carried to the put in area. The canoes were headed down the river a little after nine.

Sharon reported: Heading out on the Assiniboine we knew we were in the prairies of Western Canada. The river and landscape were level and so flat. It was a dramatic change from the mountains and hills of Alberta. This stretch was fairly typical of a prairie river being wide and meandering with one major channel and flattened embankments. Everyone donned their rain gear as the clouds were threatening with a light and pleasant cloudy mist over the river. Shorelines were striking in full spring green and dotted with all sorts of bovine characters curious as could be about the trio of river riders. Abandoned settler homesteads in expansive fields of green were also seen. Paddling was smooth and easy and serene providing plenty of time to joke and chat and share stories.

The ground crew (John, Karl, Bill and Bob) drove to Roblin with the intent of doing a little grocery shopping. However, the only grocery store in town was closed for four days to move to their new store. From there we drove to Pyott West Campground and parked two of the vehicles to reserve our place. It was then back to the highway 5 bridge and the Ricker's boat launch were we met the canoes. The anticipated group of children were not there, so we denied the voyageurs permission to come ashore....but surprise, they came ashore anyway. Lorraine switched out and Bob took her place.

A large group of people were on hand to meet the canoes when they landed at the campground.

Wayne's son Rob, daughter-in-law Connie and Kathy, a family friend, all from Yorkton joined us for dinner and a visit at camp. Dinner consisted of ravioli, pasta, asparagus and salad.

The trailer carrying both the Rocky Mountain Voyageurs and our canoes burned out a wheel bearing. Merle diagnosed the problem and with some help from fellow paddlers removed the burned bearing. That done, he prepared his renowned “tea” so we could offer our blessing to Manitou since we would be canoeing a river in a new province tomorrow. The Rocky Mountain House team also shared some Father’s Day ice cream cake.

It was a leisurely morning with the canoes leaving camp at ten. Merle and Wayne left before breakfast for Roblin to purchase new bearings for the canoe trailer, Marti and Sharon made breakfast burritos, the Red Rogues gave canoe rides to the owners’ family at nine, Merle and Wayne's run for the bearings was successful and the installation was well under way when the canoes left on scheduled.

Our canoe consisted of Bill (1), Karl (2), Bob (3), John (4), Lorraine (5) and Wayne (6). The sky was bright blue and the water was calm at departure but the forecast was for thunder showers around noon. The 19 km paddle on Lake of the Prairies required that we dig in to try to beat the storm. About two-thirds of the way down the lake we stopped for a bio-break and something to eat. The lady who owned a nearby house and her three grandchildren stopped to visit.

To the north were dark storm clouds with thunder and to the south was sheet rain. The lady said we could come to her house, but since it was not raining where we stopped the decision was made to head down the river. Rain gear was donned, the break cut short and we were quickly back on the water. The Canoe Gods and Manitou were definitely with us. Both storms moved east and by the time we reached the area where we saw the sheet rain, it was clear and we made the crossing to the east side of the lake were our take-out was located. We only had small waves to deal with and the sun was shining when we got to the take-out. Paddling time was two hours fifty minutes.

The canoe trailer repairs had been completed and it was waiting for us at the landing. The canoes and gear were loaded and the entire brigade was on its way to our night's campground in Russell, MB.

Team members had a leisurely afternoon at the campsite and groceries were purchased for the next few days. Marti and Wayne prepared beef stew and salad along with leftover pasta for dinner.

Today was a travel day...Russell to Ste. Agathe...259 mi. Some headed straight to camp, some visited Ft. Ellis and some went to Karl and Jackie's near Erickson, MB. There we took a 2.5 mile hike on their beautiful property...magnificent place and home, gardens and trails were all done by them.

Arrival at camp was about five and it wasn't long before we were eating grilled chicken, potatoes with mushrooms, beans and salad for dinner. The salad fixings were fresh from Karl and Jackie's garden.

We stayed in Parc Cartier in Ste. Agathe, a fitting place for the Brigade to stay. The park is named for Sir George Etienne Cartier, the Father of Confederation.

Camp departure was set for 8:00. As in the past, our team was ready to leave a half hour before the planned time. Everyone drove to the put-in at St. Norbert. Jackie (1), Bill (2), Marti (3), Odie (4), John (5) and Sharon (6) were in the canoe. There was a slight “mist” at the start which developed into an intermittent light rain during the first half of the trip. From there it became a steady rain that lasted to the Winnipeg Boat Club where we landed.

The first part of the trip had a nice current and we made good time (~10 km/hr.). However as we progressed down the river, we encountered spots of “sticky water” and our speed for the entire trip dropped to 8km/hr.

When we landed at the Boat Club, most of the paddlers were wet despite their rain gear. We changed into our regalia and the ground crew joined us for the short paddle to The Forks.

The Brigade stopped under the Canada Hwy 1 bridge for a short while to avoid the heavy rain. Once it let up, we continued a few hundred yards to the confluence of the Assiniboine and then a few hundred yards more to The Forks take-out. The Forks is an old railroad station that has been renovated and made into Winnipeg’s meeting place featuring dining, shopping, entertainment, museum and other attractions. We spent about an hour and a half enjoying the Forks before canoeing back to the Boat Club.

Bill and Sharon walked back to the club and left to meet a friend before driving to Lac du Bonnet. The others drove directly to the Champaign RV Park in Lac du Bonnet where we stayed two nights. Everyone got together to celebrate Bob's seventieth birthday complete with gifts, four kinds of pie and ice cream.

Today we canoed 13.4 km on the Winnipeg River from the bridge below the Seven Sisters dam to Lac du Bonnet. On the 2008 David Thompson Brigade, we took out here as we paddled up the Winnipeg River. Then the current was fast enough to allow us to surf the riffle just up river of the put in. The first crew consisted of Jackie (1), Bob (3), Lorraine (2), Karl (4), Odelia (5) and Sharon (6). The second crew to canoe this stretch was Marti (1), Kris (Red Rogues, 2), John (3), Bill (4), Sharon (5) and Wayne (6).

The current was very fast and the distance was covered in about an hour and 15 minutes in the morning. It was ideal paddling conditions. The second crew encountered a quartering wind and it took them over 20 minutes longer to canoe the same distance.

When not in the boat or driving, it was showers, laundry and relaxation at camp. Karl and Jackie headed home to attend their niece’s graduation and will rejoin us at North Bay, ON. John and Odie prepared a “Wisconsin” dinner...hamburgers with fixings, baked beans, coleslaw and potato salad.

Traveled today to Ted and Rita's place in Kenora. Each vehicle traveled their own separate way. It was a 120 mile drive.

Bill and Sharon stopped to do laundry in Lac du Bonnet where they met Sheldon Sveinson, owner of the laundromat who is an artist, playwright, composer, you name it. An enjoyable but very odd character who spent so much time talking with us that he was scolded by a person working on a joint project.

All had arrived at Ted and Rita's by four. Ted and Rita served a spaghetti and meat ball dinner with garlic bread sticks. Apple pie was served for dessert. We then watched the videos from the 2008 and 2011 David Thompson Brigades. So much fun and lots of laughter as many participants of those brigades were in the room and were recognized.

A day off that started with pancakes, bacon and eggs for breakfast, wonderfully provided and served by Ted and Rita. It rained in the morning and most of the brigade headed to Kenora for the day. Shopping, geocaching, haircuts, canoeing with the Red Rogues on Lake of the Woods. Cocktails and dinner at Lake of the Woods Brewing Company completed the fun filled day.

Drove 302 miles from Ted and Rita's to the Thunder Bay KOA. Mild rain with at least one heavy downpour was the rule for the day. Bob and Lorraine took John and Odie to pick up their truck at a local Boy Scout camp where it was left at the start of the trip. Bill and Sharon stopped for a couple geocaches, Wayne and Marti went to Old Fort William. A dinner of Red Curry Thai chicken, brown rice, fresh fruit and ice cream was prepared by Sharon, Odie, John, Lorraine and Bob. Bill was banished from the kitchen because of his cold.

The KOA camp was an added stop made possible by combining a canoeing day (Red River) and travel day (to Lac du Bonnet). This extra day was used to break up the Kenora to Wawa day followed by Wawa to Pine Valley originally planned. However, it did cause come confusion for KOA on our arrival. They were expecting 27 tents, not a contingent of trailers and campers with a handful of tents. All worked out thanks to the flexibility of the KOA management and contingency funds in the Brigade budget.

Another driving day. Some of the vehicles drove the 310 miles straight to the Wawa RV Park. Odie, John, Marti and Sharon recruited Kris and Val from the Red Rogues to fill our canoe and join the other two teams on an 8 km paddle on Lake Superior from the Red Rock Marina canoe launch. It turned out that part of the paddle was on the Nipigon River where it meets Nipigon Bay.

Sharon reported: Before heading out the group marveled at the facts about Lake Superior. One that was striking to the group was that one drop of water takes almost two centuries before exiting the Lake’s only natural outflow the St. Mary’s River at Sault Ste. Marie. The sun was shining warm and bright so sunscreen was lathered and hats and sunglasses a must.

There was a bit of discussion about where to head with our limited amount of daytime to be shared with road mileage needing to be covered. Three canoes had different ideas but all then headed north across the waterway to where the steep cliffs meet the rivers. We spotted what some of us thought was a white pictograph of a giant canoe with paddlers and paddles. We were intrigued enough to aim for straight at it and all laughed to find as we made our approach that it was just the coloration of the layers of rock.

But soon after reaching the soaring wall of rock and paddling west, we were rewarded with genuine pictographs painted with red ochre on the rock canvas. Lake Superior known for its mercurial conditions of reflecting waves, rip currents, and offshore winds had none of that on this day. Beautiful clear weather and no winds provided awesome paddling with absolutely no concerns about an unwanted entry into the frigidly cold Lake Superior waters.

It was close quarters at the park...bumper to bumper parking to squeeze all the vehicles into the agreed upon sites. A delicious salmon dinner with salad and sweet potatoes was prepared by Marti and Wayne.

The last of three successive travel days and it was a long one...502 miles. Odie and John left camp about 5:30 to drive to the airport North Bay to pick up Karl and Jackie. The rest of us left camp between 6:00 and 7:00 am. Marti, Wayne, Lorraine and Bob drove straight to Pine Valley Resort on the Ottawa River near Stonecliffe. The group had dinner at camp. Sharon and Bill took a more relaxed drive stopping to take care of some personal items, find a few geocaches and to eat dinner along the way.

Rain was intermittent throughout this driving day. However, blue sky and sunshine greeted us upon arrival at camp. The resort was nice with large campsites next to the river.

A canoeing day! We drove from the Pine Valley Resort to the Ottawa River put in at the Deux-Rivieres boat ramp. Jackie (1), Odie (2), Marti (3), Karl (4), John (5) and Sharon (6) paddled about 35 km to the crew change point. From there Bill (1), Jackie (2), Lorraine (3), Marti (4), Bob (5) and Sharon (6) canoed the 14 km stretch to the Rapides-Des-Joachims Dam take out.

Sharon reported: It was a beautiful warm and sunshine filled morning. The azure blue sky was striped with several stratus cloud strands. The Ottawa River here is beautifully clear, very wide and lined with hills of dark green coniferous forests. The current was moving along very nicely and within a short distance of the put-in we could hear and then spy a few waterfalls cascading into the river from the heavy spring rains. Water birds and the usual spring song birds could be seen and heard. Thirty five kilometers later and we were at the crew change and ravenous. Our ground crews had a wonderful variety of fruits, sandwiches and snacks for lunch that were eagerly devoured.

After a sunny morning, rain once again threatened in the afternoon. Distance thunder and very black clouds were seen. Once again Manitou was with us and we only had a few sprinkles, were able to stay between the storms clouds and did not to have to deal with winds and heavy rains. By the time we got to the take out, it was bright blue skies.

Meanwhile, the ground crew was experiencing their own adventure...they (more correctly, Merle who they were following) got “lost” while driving to the campsite. They decided to head to the takeout and were there when we arrived on the Quebec side of the river. We then followed Merle to the campground.

We camped in the parking lot of the Auberge Lodge Les Guides De La Vallee Dumoine operated by a young couple, Etienne and Kerran Desnoyers. That night we were treated to a delicious dinner of chicken and ribs, salads and desserts...better than very good.

Today was a long and once again rainy day. The plans were to paddle to a change point north of Petawawa where all could change into regalia with the ground crew joining in for the short paddle to the takeout and welcoming ceremonies. Unfortunately, Mother Nature and road closures did not allow things to go as planned.

Bill, Sharon, Lorraine and Marti were on ground crew. The ground crew drove to the Petawawa Historical Park where the Brigade camped that night. There they left the trailers, picked up some Timmy’s coffee and doughnuts and headed back to the meet the crew.

Jackie and Karl reported: Odie (1), Jackie (2), Bob (3), John (4), Karl (5) and Wayne (6) were in the canoe at the start. The forecast was for a rainy day, but it started out calm and cloudy when we put in at Deep River. However, as we paddled out from shore a gentle drizzle ensued, which steadily increased over the next hour or so. Luckily it was not cold and windy, so we made steady progress, all decked out in rain gear. We paddle past the Chalk River nuclear facility, then continued eastward along a relatively narrow stretch of river into a freshening east breeze. Eventually the river turned to the south and opened up considerably.

As usual there was some discussion of precisely where we were and where we were going and to further this discussion we stopped on an island to get a viewpoint and check the map. Now we were on an open reach of water and both the wind and the rain had picked up. The last few hours were hard work with a challenging crossing wind. We were all soaked and tired by the time we made the rendezvous point, and very happy for the coffee and doughnuts that were waiting. The ground crew reported they could see the canoes come out of the mist as we approached and that there was a big smile on Odie’s face as we reached shore.

The last leg to Petawawa was expected to take about an hour. Odie, Jackie and Wayne wanted to continue. Lorraine replaced Bob, Sharon and Bill replaced John and Karl. We were keen to get going as conditions kept getting worse - pouring rain and increasing wind and we were getting cold standing around. While the paddle was not long - it seemed that it was. We actually encountered some rocks and unforeseen shallows enroute so that Odie could practice some bow draws and cross bow draws on short notice! We arrived at about 4:00 pm (about an hour earlier than planned). We were all cold and wet and keen to change into dry clothes. A welcoming ceremony had been planned, but there was no one there when we arrived, probably because we were early. Given the conditions and our miserable state, we didn't stick around, but rather left to find our campsites and get changed into dry clothing.

We were treated to a “mighty fine” pig roast dinner...salads, vegetables and cake served in the old church building in the historical village. The pig was roasted on site and the meat carved off as we entered. Tasty pig skin was also shared. Fiddlers played and Odie, Jackie, Val and David showed their dancing skills. The historical society allowed brigadiers to sleep in their warm and dry buildings out of the rain.

Travel day...drove 96 miles to Wesley Clover Campground west of Ottawa. As in the past, each vehicle decided its own route to get there. It was a grand reunion with Skeeter, Bill and Deb Bresser, Ellie James and their team at the campsite. Sincere hugs and greetings were shared along with a few hearty toasts. Marti cooked vegetarian stew for dinner.

Our three canoes now joined with the South Wind Brigade of the Four Winds Sesquicentennial Brigade for the anticipated paddle into Ottawa. We left camp at 7 am following Skeeter to the put in. Our goal was to be at the put in by eight. The caravan to the put in was interesting. Becoming separated and after more than one stop and start, we eventually reached our put in just below Hartwell locks.

Sharon reported: It had rained the previous night and there was a light rain when we arrived. Wayne, Marti, Sharon, John, Odie, Karl and Lorraine paddled Lake Amisk and Jackie joined Rocky Mountain Voyageurs for the first stretch. We had a bit of a march down to the Rideau Canal. As we unloaded the gear and wheeled the canoes to the dock, a veritable deluge of water pelted the gathering voyageurs. The rain was fierce. Folks sought shelter in the historical building, under American Basswood trees and umbrellas with the rest securing their hats and hoods to withstand the onslaught.

Our group of four canoes decided to head down the channel in hopes the paddling would warm us a bit. The narrowness of the waterway allowed for jovial camaraderie and the sarcasm, jokes and stories were in full swing. However, by the time we hit the open water of the Ottawa River, we were no longer smiling and totally drenched.

Skeeter in the lead canoe with great wisdom led the now dejected group to Malone’s Bar and Grill to get a bit dry and warm up with a second breakfast. And all this happened in just 1.6 km!

Bill and Bob drove their vehicles to the Ottawa River takeout at Massey Lane and got a ride to Malone’s in shuttle vehicles provided by the South Wind Brigade. They joined the “wet ones” for the second breakfast and hot drinks and all were relatively warm by the time we got back into the canoe. Marti (1), Sharon and Odie (2), Lorraine and Bob (3), Bill and Karl (4), John (5) and Wayne (6) paddled the 7.5 km stretch to the Ottawa River. Fortunately, the rain had stopped and the sun came out for our much anticipated entry into Ottawa.

The Rideau Canal was relatively narrow as it wound its way to the Ottawa River. We arrived at the last set of locks and joined the other South Wind canoes going through the locks. It was magical being part of a group of about ten voyageurs canoes going through the hand operated locks. Once through the locks, the canoes tied up to the dock and we spent time touring the historical buildings along the Canal, getting something to eat, posing for photos in the National Park’s ”Red Chairs” and going to the official Canada Day program at the pavilion.

Assembly for the paddle to Victoria Island was scheduled for 2:00. Some teams had to scramble in and over two or three canoes to reach their canoe. Eventually, we paddled in a magnificent Brigade “String of Pearls” formation winding our way past Parliament and ferrying the Mighty Ottawa to Victoria Island. Our arrival as reported Dawn Callen in Paddle Canada’s August Edition of Current Strokes:

“Early on July 1, Algonquin elders were present to formally invite all paddlers to land on Asinabke (Victoria) Island in the Ottawa River at the foot of the Parliament buildings. Asinabke – a traditional meeting place for First Nations for over 5,000 years – is sacred Algonquin territory, and paddlers of all cultures joined together in sacred ceremonies, heartfelt speeches and a lunch to mark the occasion.”

While attending the celebration, the North, East and West Wind Brigades arrived. We connected with old friends from previous Brigades and enjoyed hamburgers, snacks, apples and drinks provided by our hosts. There was ample time to relax and take some final paddling day team photos. After enjoying the hospitality, we canoed 9.4 km east to the boat launch at Massey Lane to conclude the Rendezvous Canada 150’s month long adventure. Canoes and gear loaded, we headed back to Westley Clover Campground.

The remainder of the afternoon and evening was spent sorting gear and repacking for tomorrow’s travels that will take us in separate directions. A satisfying dinner was put together from the supply of remaining food. The Red Rogues headed into Ottawa for Canada Day celebrations. The Rocky Mountain and Amisk teams were joined by Skeeter and his harmonica, Ellie and her sister (Millie), brother (George) and sister-in-law (Judy) for a relaxing evening in camp. Some walked to the road to find a good vantage point to watch Ottawa’s Canada Day fireworks.

Check-out time was eleven, but paddlers accustomed to early starts began leaving long before that. Some were flying or driving straight home. Other were heading home, but in no hurry while other were leaving for new adventures. Heartfelt hugs and goodbyes were exchanged with old and new friends and a few tears were shed. The “Brigade Bug” was ever more firmly entrenched in each adventurer. Hopefully it will not be too long before we will be gathering once again to share our passion for paddling “those big canoes”.