Grub Menu for 2023

 One Week (7 day) Grub Menu for 2023

For 2023 I am packing enough grub for three months.  All grocery supplies are off-the-shelf items.

I drink hot water alone with supper, and cold or hot water for other meals.  I have become intolerant of caffeine in drinks such as tea and coffee.  Water is sterilized by boiling for one minute or by a filtration system. The latter removes bacteria and parasites (but not viruses, so is technically not sterilized).

This year I am using Daryl's Bars protein bars (Cinnamon Honey bar).  These bars replace the Clif® Builders® Vanilla Almond and Crunchy Peanut Butter bars used last year.  The Daryl's Bars are a Canadian product (which also ship to the USA).  Unlike many competitor products in the 20g protein range they contain no artificial colours, flavours or sweeteners and have a healthy low sodium content; Daryl's Bars also have a good selection of bars containing no cocoa or chocolate.  I have become intolerant of the caffeine in cocoa or chocolate; another reason to avoid chocolate-coated bars is that they tend to melt, as do those containing caramel.  Daryl's Bars are a good find, as I am no longer able to source large quantities of any American made bars.  I am using Daryl's Bars Cinnamon Honey bar because it reportedly should be the most stable for long duration at room temperature; I have tested all the non-cocoa non-chocolate bars and find them equally tasty and nutritious.  A special thanks to John Murray of Daryl's Bars for his advice on bar selection and assistance in placing a large order.

https://darylsbars.com/

Other changes in the menu:

- Dash™ Seasoning Blend no-sodium spices (Extra Spicy and Lemon Pepper) (replacing Montreal Steak Spice and standard Lemon Pepper)

- Bulk Barn® Chicken Soup Mix No MSG Low Sodium (replacing standard Chicken Soup Base) (also replacing spice packets in oriental noodles)

- Bulk Barn unsalted shelled roasted pumpkin seeds (replacing salted)

- doubling amount of butter in bannock (replacing shortening) (mixes easier and tastes better)

- increasing amount of whole wheat flour in bannock (replacing rolled oats and wheat bran which are overkill when using whole wheat flour)

- adding ground flax seed to bannock (replacing toasted wheat germ which is more difficult to source)

- increasing amount of baking powder in bannock

Average daily nutritional intake based on this 2023 menu:

4672 calories, 385g total carbohydrates, 61g fibre, 245g total fat, 231g protein, sodium 3.3g

Breakfast - 7 days:

1 protein bar Daryl's Bars Cinnamon Honey 58g (22g protein)

¼ bannock cold or hot if freshly baked (See contents below.)

Breakfast - 5 days:

seed mixture ¼c (hemp hearts, chia, buckwheat toasted, pumpkin shelled roasted unsalted)

peanut butter smooth 1tbsp

Breakfast - 2 days:

grated Parmesan cheese ¼c

real bacon crumbled ¼c (stores well unrefrigerated if not aliquoted until first used, for two months at a time)

Lunch - 7 days:

1 protein bar Daryl's Bars Cinnamon Honey 58g (22g protein)

¼ bannock cold

vitamins

almonds roasted salted ¼c

Mini Babybel™ cheese 20g (stores well in its wax cover unrefrigerated if cloth-wrapped to protect from damage)

Excel® (Eclipse® in USA) sugar-free gum

Supper - daily:

grated Parmesan cheese ¼c (in most dishes)

1 protein bar Daryl's Bars Cinnamon Honey 58g (22g protein)

fresh salad 3c (most commonly: fireweed; or alder, birch or willow leaves/catkins)

fresh fruit if available ½c

    (lingonberries, bunchberries, blueberries, red currants, raspberries, highbush cranberries, cloudberries, rose hips, Saskatoon berries, pin cherries, crowberries, bilberries)

Supper - 1 day:

macaroni and real cheese 2c (Kraft™ Deluxe Original Cheddar or Four Cheese 400g)

Supper - 2 days:

oriental noodles 2x85g (Chicken Soup Mix No MSG Low Sodium 1tbsp replaces 2 spice packets)

or stuffing mix 120g

Brunswick® sardines 106g can (in soy oil plain label, olive oil, or lemon sauce, or hot peppers)

Supper - 1 day:

orzo ¾c (plus nutritional yeast 1tbsp, Chicken Soup Mix No MSG Low Sodium 1tbsp)

fish fried (coated with cornmeal ⅛c, Dash™ Extra Spicy 1tbsp), fried in Crisco™ shortening (½lb saved and used over a period of two weeks)

Supper - 1 day:

fried fish sauteed in ghee with couscous (See recipe below.)

Supper - 2 days:

fish chowder [fish diced, boiled in double the usual amount water before adding potato flakes 1c (with added nutritional yeast 1tbsp, Chicken Soup Mix No MSG Low Sodium 1tbsp)] plus Parmesan cheese ¼c and ghee 2tbsp

OR

small game instead of fish (roasted over coals, or meat sliced and sauteed in shortening 1tbsp)

Bannock ("Butter" Bannock):

3¾c (~572g) premixed before the trip (whole-wheat flour 1⅜, currants ½c, cornmeal ¼c, chickpea flour ¼c, skim milk powder ¼c, ground flax seed 2tbsp, baking powder 2½tsp, sugar 1tsp, salted butter 12tbsp).  Add ½c cold potable water to make soft dough, mixing with a spoon then kneading.  Sprinkle a thin layer of 1tsp cornmeal in mixing pan before flattening the dough; lift bannock and sprinkle another layer of 1tsp cornmeal in pan before flipping bannock so both sides are coated.  Bake ~350°F for ~30 minutes, or slanted in pan in front of fire.  I premix batches of eight bannocks at a time and package in doubled medium Ziploc® bags, stored 4 per large Ziploc® bags.

Sauteed fried pike or walleye recipe:

Sautee freshly fried fish in 2tbsp ghee, turning to coat both sides.  Break up the fish into small pieces.  Add a mixture of ¼c Parmesan cheese, 2tbsp sugar, 1tsp Dash™ lemon pepper, turning the fish to coat.  Next add ¾c whole-wheat couscous (cooked in 1c boiling water with added 1tbsp nutritional yeast, 1tbsp Chicken Soup Mix No MSG Low Sodium), mixing with the fish to soak up the ghee.

Northern Saskatchewan Overview 2023

My 2023 canoe trip of 12 weeks starts on May 28 and ends on August 15.

The return journey follows the same inbound portion except for the last 10 km when I exit via a river and a series of downstream rapids to go directly to my parked vehicle.

There are four notable animal encounters.  On August 5 at camp 9 a humongous black bear walks towards me at camp as I return from shore startling us both.  At the same camp a very young snowshoe hare affectionately referred to as "my bunny" grows too used to me although I give him no encouragement even trying to scare him away.  On August 10 at camp 11 a small black bear approaches camp as I am sitting under the Tarp shelter again surprising each other.  Also at the latter camp during the night a small animal claws several holes in the canvas Tent door before I scare it away, at first ignoring the sounds thinking it is just a small mouse.  The bears fortunately run away without further incident but in both camps I comment that all these animals are telling me it is time to move on (which I do).

Fishing for the required four meals of pike per week is successful (no walleye), total number of 49 varying in size from 17-34" (five between 28-34").  There is good picking of blueberries at only two camps and lingonberries also at two.  Otherwise most suppers are supplemented with greens of some sort (mainly leaves or catkins of birch, alder, willow and some fireweed).

Because of a multitude of issues I choose to forgo going up the target river that I wanted to explore as an alternate route across the divide to the Foster River system emptying into the Churchill River from the north.  The issues include:

- heavy wind and rain that leads me to label the island camp at the mouth of the target river as "vortex island" because the weather circles around it so that shelter never seems to be in the correct spot

- landscape recovering from extensive 2010 wildfire making travel difficult through thick brush and bush

- a dearth of sheltering campsites because of the forest fire eliminating most mature trees

   

Total distance paddled is only 179 km.  Number of portages is 40 which includes those travelled more than once, most relatively short.  The majority of portages are those taken from camp 9 to explore various small lakes.  The 1700 metre trail over steep terrain past a series of waterfalls is difficult in the spring for two reasons: not clearing the long path well enough so that I have to drag the canoe about half the distance; and not being completely over the effects of long-COVID.  The five week period at camp 9 probably aids recovery.  On my trip back out I clear the falls portage well and have no issues like those in the spring, feeling much better, good in fact; also helping is taking the canoe on the second carry unlike doing it last when I first start the trip.  Only two short rapids require wading upstream.  Rapids at the exit river are run with no problems.

There is some quite hot weather but for relatively short periods.  The amount of cool wet weather is a blessing in that regard as well as limiting risk to wildfire in the area travelled unlike most other areas in Canada this year.  I do experience smoky conditions often no matter the wind direction a testament to the fact there are remote fires in all quadrants.  Many portages require wearing headnet against blackflies but there are few issues otherwise with bothersome bugs, never using the Bug Tent all season.  Wind is strong at times making me windbound.  Jeanette as usual capably provides reports via satellite phone about the nature and location of fires and weather.

New replacement equipment:

- replacement spare blade for Silky Big Boy 2000 Professional folding saw.  This saw is indispensable and am very happy with its performance.  With the amount of firewood and stovewood sawed and trees cleared on portage trails or campsites I usually have to replace the blade near the end of each season so buying a new spare blade is a routine requirement each year.

- new Felco® 13RH pruner to replace the old which was worn out after 11 years of service.  This pruner is indispensable for cutting brush up to thumb size on portage trails or campsites.  Previous cheaper tools did not cut well and broke.  Over the years I did replace the Felco® spring and blade twice.  I clean the tool after each season plus oil the pruner's hinge point periodically during the season.

- MAYZERO™ Water Shoes Fluorescent Green.  These wading shoes worked well but were only required twice to wade up rapids so I still reserve judgement.  The soles and insoles have drainage holes that hasten drying.  The shoes are low top but would prefer high top to help protect ankles and to help keep them more secure on my foot; so far I have not found good high top wading shoes.  These shoes are a big improvement to high top canvas runners that I have used several pairs over the years whose soles do not grip well and take longer to dry.  I do wear neoprene socks inside wading shoes of any kind to help protect feet and insulate against cold.

- various small equipment replaced as usual.

New replacement ineffective equipment:

- Sabre Frontiersman bear spray holster with no retaining flap.  When I purchased the holster to replace my previous worn out one I did not give any thought to the absence of a flap.  The bottle caught on brush several times coming out of the holster but luckily not getting lost; once the trigger caught on something and accidentally discharged int the Tent, not a pleasant episode (camp 6).  I have written the manufacturer but received no reply on any action taken other than an acknowledgement.

A follow-up report on my return home is in an Afterword with the camp 13 post.  It summarizes the extent of forest fires generating the smoky conditions experienced, regrets, looking forward to next season's canoe trip and my final long-COVID follow-up. 

As always, no matter the problems, I look back fondly on the trip and forward to next season's journey.  Although it is great to be back home, I never feel better than when in the north country.  

Northern Saskatchewan 2023 Camp 1 (May 28 - 29)

The first lake 50 metres from camp.  Note the forest fire smoke especially visible at horizons.

First camp, 200 metres from the bush road which is one km from the gravel highway.  Thanks to Jim for letting me park at his place and to Cory for giving me a ride from my vehicle.

The spruce boughs over the barrels are to help provide shade.  The barrels are tied to spruce trees and close enough to the tent that hopefully I would hear the bells on the ropes if a bear intrudes.

A very safe firepit dug in the sandy soil.

My 16 year old canoe needed two repairs after last season's trip, a crack in one of the bulkheads and two holes worn in one of the keel's old skidplates (which I had installed myself, hence the sloppy glue work).  Thanks to Jeff McDougall of "The Old Boathouse YYC" for doing his usual excellent repair job.  http://www.oldboathouseyyc.com/

 

Hat scarf worn because of bothersome blackflies.

**********************

Summary:

Glad to reach my first campsite after a long drive from home.  Forest fire smoke haze and smell.  The first blackflies already.  Portage 200 metres from bush road to campsite beside first lake.

Preamble:

I have planned a trip to try to access the height of land to reach the Churchill River from northern Saskatchewan by a different route.  My 2019 trek could not be completed because the river I had to ascend was too high to wade, too fast to paddle, too wide into the bush to line.  Ironically this year I am concerned about water levels being too low as it was a very dry winter with little snowfall.  Concerns about the COVID-19 pandemic are much less now and Jeanette and I no longer mask routinely but we will continue the new regimen of sanitizer and thorough hand washing forever.  Unfortunately the spring is early and dry and there have been severe forest fires in Alberta and central western Saskatchewan in early May already with thousands of people evacuated, not a good omen.  Despite precautions Jeanette and I both acquired COVID-19 in mid-September of 2022.  To make matters worse I came down with long-COVID which affected my autonomic nervous system causing heart, blood pressure, breathing and digestion issues, functions that we take for granted.  I had to back off on my routine exercise program and build back gradually.  Fortunately within seven months my symptoms were mostly resolved and I felt comfortable proceeding with the canoe trip.  I had continued to make preparations so am ready to leave by the end of May.  The planned route is through an area that burned significantly in 2010 when I had to flee as it approached, luckily under my own steam with no need to fly out.  When I subsequently returned in a month it was to see the region razed far and wide by the fire.  It is now 13 years later and am hopeful, but not completely optimistic, that I will be able to ascend a different river than I planned in 2019.  There will be significant portaging and lining/wading and I am also concerned about my physical ability after just recovering from long-COVID.  Much as I hate to admit it I may have to take it easier than usual.  But I am committed to keep on keeping on.  One piece of good news is that my right shoulder injury of the 2022 season is much better; I have continued to use physiotherapy exercises as part of my routine which have aided in regaining almost full mobility.

Saturday May 27:

Up by 03:00 at home for an early start, I make good time, weekend truck traffic minimal.  I spot many antelope along the highway in Alberta.  With minimal stops, I drive straight through to La Ronge, arriving at the hotel at 16:15.

May 28:

With an early start, I drive the gravel highway, quite rough in spots, stopping a few times to check and tighten canoe straps.  On the way a wolverine crosses the road, a rare sight; there are many young snowshoe hares at the roadside, one spruce grouse, six mallard ducks on the road and one black bear running madly away in the ditch before heading into the bush.

Supper is at 17:45 in camp.  There are a few mosquitoes landing on me but not biting as I shoo them away.  The meal is a simple one of LifeStraw® water, mixed seeds and three protein bars.  Having not eaten a good diet today, my stomach feels unsettled.  Playing catch-up, I have been drinking lots of LifeStraw® water since portaging gear 200 metres from the bush road.  I am weary after driving 1500 km over two tiresome days; I hate the driving, but I like the arriving.  The nylon tent and Tarp shelter are up.  The latter shields me from a hot sun; an onshore breeze from the lake feels good.  There is forest fire smoke haze at the horizon across the water but so far no smoke smell.  After supper I get undressed to bath in the lake but standing at water's edge the breeze is quite cool and I chicken out after dipping a foot in the cold water.  Getting dressed again I have only had a fresh air bath.  To the tent for the night by 19:30 still in full daylight.

May 29:

Waking at 06:00 I have slept 10 hours after an excellent rest, much longer than my usual seven hours.  Starting unclothed laying on a sheet, by morning I have pulled on long underwear pyjamas, snuggled in a fleece shell with sleeping bag open and pulled over me.  On exiting the tent, I can smell smoke and see a light layer of ash on the fly, smoke visibly layered over the lake.  Blackflies are bothersome so I don a hat scarf.  After digging a firepit in the sandy soil, I periodically stand in the smoke to chase blackflies away.  A lone Canada goose honks as it flies overhead, probably nesting locally instead of migrating farther north.  Two gray jays softly talk to each other nearby.  I have left the pail with gas stove, Coleman fuel and a "Platypus® Water Filter System" in the van and hope forest fires do not make me regret it.  A cool wind from the lake causes me to put on a heavy long-sleeved shirt over my light one.  To fill the pots from the shallow lakeshore for boiling I get my leather boots wet, an indication of the low water levels.  If I need more water I will put on my rubber Crocs™ sandals.  The all-butter bannock is definitely tastier and more wholesome than that with shortening; I eat a quarter bannock each breakfast and lunch.  By midafternoon, temperature rises to 23°C but the breeze makes it feel much cooler.  To warm up I go for a walk and pick salad greens (young birch leaves and alder catkins) to accompany supper.  At 19:20, with the intent to move on tomorrow, I fill in the firepit and turn in.

Northern Saskatchewan 2023 Camp 2 (May 30 - Jun 6)

All set to leave camp 1 on May 30 at 05:54, smoke hanging over the lake.

Thick coat of tree pollen on the lake surface.

Breakfast stop near the outlet of the lake.

Approaching the lake exit into a creek.

Heading down the long meandering creek about one km straight distance but much farther with all the loops.  There are many shallow spots but I manage to make my way without having to get out of the canoe to wade.

The next lake, obvious smoke at the horizons.

At the next campsite a male spruce grouse (identified by the red eye comb).  For the duration of my stay he makes his presence known twice a day by the distinctive heavy-winged sound of flying from tree to tree and ground to feed.

When I first paddle up to shore, I see a black bear running away.  I am not happy about the welcoming committee but then he probably is not happy to see me either.  Momentarily thinking of moving on to another site, I realize that it is just chance to have glimpsed the bear.  I would have tied the barrels up anyway but perhaps the knots are double-checked this time.

Low water levels at the shallow shore where I build a stone dock of sorts to make it possible to fetch water without getting boots wet.  It also makes for easier loading of the canoe.  Note that while away from camp I take the in-use barrel with me.  (Ironically years ago before I used barrels, in case a bear visited camp, I took a food pack in the canoe while cutting a portage; I pulled the canoe on shore and placed gear underneath where a mother bear and her cubs ransacked the food.)

On June 1, I paddle one km to check the next portage.  At the upper end of the 1700 metre trail I clear thick brush to make it passable.  Black flies force me to wear headnet.  Most of the trail has been somewhat cleared since the last time I was here in 2019 so I think there is no need to trim it further.

A beaver greets me at the upper end of the portage.

Tarp shelter and warm fire are welcome in the presence of rainfall.  There is a pile of birchbark tinder and kindling under the Tarp to keep dry.

Baking bannock in front of the fire.

Lunch menu of protein bar, almonds, cheese and vitamins.  This year I am using "Daryl's Cinnamon Honey" bars. 

The Daryl's Bars are a Canadian product (which also ship to the USA).  Unlike many competitor products in the 20g protein range they contain no artificial colours, flavours or sweeteners and have a healthy low sodium content; Daryl's Bars also have a good selection of bars containing no cocoa or chocolate.  I am intolerant of the caffeine in cocoa or chocolate; another reason to avoid chocolate-coated bars is that they tend to melt, as do those containing caramel.  Daryl's Bars are a good find, as I am no longer able to source large quantities of any American made bars.  I selected the Daryl's Bars Cinnamon Honey bar because it reportedly should be the most stable for long duration at room temperature; I have tested all the non-cocoa non-chocolate bars and find them equally tasty and nutritious.  By the end of the 12 week trip I am happy not only with taste but with their stability.  A special thanks to John Murray of Daryl's Bars for his advice on bar selection and assistance in placing a large order.  https://darylsbars.com/  

Pants and boots are wet from rain-soaked underbrush.  I adopt the fashion sense of comic Martin Short's Ed Grimley character to hasten drying of pant legs near the fire.  Hat and leather mitts are also wet from fetching firewood; just do not dry too close to the fire.

A pile of stacked firewood.

A red squirrel's large midden of spruce cone leavings.  The forest fire of 2010 missed this peninsula, leaving a good campsite intact.

A hot shower on June 3.  I am not ready to brave the very cold water for bathing yet.

Rain stops and a bit of sunshine allows hanging bedding to air.

Continued rain makes me move the nylon tent to free the space for canvas Tent.  The bottom photo is of the tent moved and partly staked out to dry when the rain chooses to stop.

Gear transferred to Tarp shelter in order to move the tent.

The canvas Tent and stove allow me to be more comfortable and to dry clothes.

With gear stored now in canvas Tent, I use the Tarp shelter to saw stovewood.

The canvas Tent window cover was fiddly to roll up when opening for fresh air.  The cover is now sewed permanently at the top, much easier to use.

Thanks to Jeff and staff at Calgary Tent & Awning Ltd for the adjustment.  https://calgarytent.com/

During the storms, rainwater accumulated on top of the two grub barrels stored outside.  Why does one lid have very little water the next day?  The barrels appear undisturbed and did not leak.  My theory is that some animal drank the water.

Low water levels allow me to walk along the lake shore to catch a pike in deeper water.

An illustration of the strength of a black bear that broke open an old woodpecker nest in this pine tree, probably to get at ants.

The yellow murky water is a collection of tree pollen on the lake surface brought in by wind and waves.

Cloudy rain-bearing skies on different days during my stay at camp 2. 

**********************

Summary:

Canoe down a long shallow creek to the next lake without having to wade.  Just before landing at camp 2 a bear runs into the bush but I decide to stay anyway.  A long day of paddling 26 km.  One three km winter portage proves to not have been cleared since a 2010 forest fire; next trail is good.  Spruce grouse accompanies me during my stay.  Rainfall over seven days delays moving on and leads to burning lots of firewood before setting up canvas Tent and wood stove.  Frustratingly still have some effects of long-COVID.  Canoe one km to clear the next portage which fortunately does not require much work.  Catch first pike of the trip for supper chowder.  The switch to Canadian made Daryl's protein bars proves to be an excellent choice.  However another change to some lower sodium food, although healthier, proves to be less tasty and unpopular.

May 30:

Up by 03:15 (even though 03:00 alarm was accidentally shut off).  By 05:50 I am leaving after carrying gear 50 metres to the lakeshore.  Forest fire smoke hangs over the water.  It is very cloudy, with light rain for one km of travel.  The lake surface is covered with tree pollen mostly from spruce and pine trees.  Stopping for breakfast on a sandy beach, I sit on a boulder to eat.  Moving on a short distance to the lake outlet, I enter the small rapids of the emptying creek.  Thinking I will likely have to wade I have placed wading gear at the top of my pack.  However I manage to make my way down the continuously winding waterway without having to exit the canoe.  It scrapes bottom twice on rocks where the creek widens; the canoe grounds once when I misjudge the correct channel but manage to push back to deeper water.  After leaving the creek to enter the next large long lake I stop after three km for a stretch and bathroom break.  I almost ground in shallow water over a deceiving sand bar that juts far out into the lake; it would be ironic if now I needed wading gear.  Luckily there is a quartering tailwind so make good time, stopping for lunch at noon.  There are three potential portages to take me towards the target river I wish to ascend.  Before checking the first location which is a three km winter portage I stop at two nearby potential campsites.  The first site is possible but because of the 2010 fire not sheltered very well.  The next spot is unsuitable; there I stumble on a spruce grouse nest, scaring the female off a clutch of eggs, making her lure me away by faking a broken wing.  From my journal: "I tell her 'Sorry!  I won't hurt you or your eggs.'  I make a big detour through the bush so she can ignore me."  Next I paddle up a small creek mouth where the winter portage should be.  However, it obviously has not been cleared or used since the forest fire and is undiscernible in thick brush.  I will only use it if I have to and would need to cut a new trail which I am not anxious to do for up to three km.  I think about landing to explore to see if any of the trail survived farther inland but decline to do so.  Moving on I make my way to a campsite on a peninsula spared from forest fire.  Just as I near shore I spot a black bear running into the bush close to shore.  Weary after a long day of paddling I really want to stop.  From my journal: "I momentarily debate whether to land ... but go where?!  Figure if I hadn't spotted the bear, wouldn't have known about it.  So landing it is."  Time is 17:15 when I start the "SPOT™ Satellite GPS Messenger" to notify contacts of my location.  I have travelled 26 km (24 km plus two extra km checking the winter portage and two possible campsites), farther than the 16 km I consider a good day of flat water paddling.  Taking my gun I check the area the bear ran from; there is no evidence of food it might have been eating.  Hopefully the bear will not be back again.  Camp set up, I almost forgo raising the Tarp shelter, but will regret not doing so if it rains tonight.  It is nice to have a dry spot to eat near the fireplace with some stored tinder and kindling.  Forgoing a campfire I eat a cold meal.  After supper I take a walk around the main part of the peninsula finding no evidence of the bear.  By 20:30 I am in bed.  A spruce grouse flies nearby from tree to tree or ground, feeding as I fall asleep.

May 31:

Sleeping in until 06:30, it is cloudy, cool and still raining, having rained steadily all night.  With smoke constantly visible at horizons, I give thanks for the rain.  Thank goodness last evening I erected the Tarp shelter and stored some kindling, otherwise the ground under would be soaking wet.  To fetch water I build a stone dock to step on so I only get boot soles wet.  After digging a firepit I boil water for breakfast.  The little birchbark there is near camp is damp and fails to light well so I use Vaseline®-coated cotton balls to start a fire with split kindling.  Under the Tarp shelter I stretch a clothesline to hang damp gear including rain jacket while I eat.  By noon rain appears to have stopped.  It is calm with some white cumulus in a blue sky, smoky at horizons.  I fetch lots more firewood plus spruce boughs to provide a clean floor for the Tarp shelter and the front of the tent.  While fetching wood a male spruce grouse watches me, bravely sitting on the ground, not running or flying away.  After putting up a long clothesline in a sunny spot I hang bedding and heavy shirt.  With the bedding safely back in tent I hang my clothes but just before standing under the shower it starts to rain again so I move all to the Tarp shelter.  A hot shower sure feels good; I dress under the Tarp.  Mosquitoes have been few but by evening they become bothersome after supper while I am doing a puzzle in the shelter.  On the bed sheet by 20:15 I am sweaty and weary, soon falling asleep without doing any more puzzles as I intended.  After supper and through bedtime I have an irregular heartbeat, probably still the effect of long-COVID ... aie!

June 1:

Up by 03:30, it is very cloudy, 16°C, with thunder accompanying a brief rain shower.  After breakfast, I paddle one km across the lake to the next portage.  The canoe is loaded with some gear to clear the trail (Kitchen Barrel, Rubber Pack, Tool Bag, medium tarp, gun, bailer, sponge, PFD, two paddles).  Gear remaining in canoe covered with the tarp, I leave the canoe in the water tied to shore; I know a bear has no compunctions about entering water but I hope it is somewhat of a deterrent.  I am going to check the 1700 metre portage trail that climbs past the series of falls, taking with me the gun and Tool Bag (containing saw, pruners, leather mitts, rain jacket, LifeStraw®).  The trail was burned in the 2010 fire.  I last used the portage in 2019 but it has been cleared since then and I think most of it is okay.  Near the upper end I cut out thick brush with the pruners in two 20 metre long spots.  A beaver greets me at the top with a loud slap of his tail.  Along the trail I pick supper salad of fresh fireweed shoots.  By 09:25 back in camp, it starts to rain but only light intermittent showers.  Glad to have risen early, I give thanks for no rain while clearing the portage.  For lunch I bake the first bannock of the trip at the fire; the three bannocks eaten so far were baked at home.  Even though temperature rises to 18°C, it is completely overcast and the breeze is cool.  Thinking about moving on tomorrow and whether I should prepack I decide to stay another day.  I am no judge of weather until after it has occurred.  I sure do not want to do the long portage in the rain.  Mosquitoes are quite bothersome as I sit beneath the Tarp shelter to do a puzzle so I head to the tent early.  Frustratingly, my heartbeat has been irregular since supper.

June 2:

Up by 06:30, I hang bedding but have to put back in tent when it starts to rain by 08:00, keeping up all day.  The rain proves I was right to stay in camp.  From my journal: "Eating breakfast at 09:00, killing mosquitoes landing on my knees.  I'm not very hungry, even missing the occasional meal so far.  Appetite will develop later!  Wish mosquitoes would stay under cover outside rather than beneath the Tarp with me.  Sure glad I didn't prepack yesterday or leave early today.  Would be a miserable long portage, 1700 metres and steep.  Some steep rocky places would be more dangerous when wet.  Younger self said 'Do it.'  Older self replied 'Might be wrong about rain but delaying one day or more not a problem.'  Occasionally we do talk to ourselves."  Luckily bannock is baked before the rain starts in earnest.  Throughout the day I gather firewood, including poles and large standing long dead spruce and pine trees; I saw them in sections and drag to camp for limbing which provides good kindling.  Having to add to the fire frequently, no matter how much firewood, the pile seems to disappear too quickly.  I sit under Tarp shelter doing some puzzles.  I also fell several spruce trees to limb at the fire to place under the Tarp and in front of fireplace.  Boots and jeans are damp from the underbrush.  Very cloudy, 14°C and damp; the fire feels good.  When rain slackens I stand near the fire to help dry my jeans.  I wear rain jacket while working outside but get sweaty which dampens my shirt.  I tend to only wear rain pants if having to sit in the canoe paddling; activity in the bush and camp tends to damage the pants.  It would be nice to have the canvas Tent and stove set up.  From my journal: "By suppertime have stood close to fire multiple times as rain permits.  Clothes are much drier.  Pants dry better when I stand by fire à la Martin Short's Ed Grimley; just need the top-knot.  One hurdle when raining is going to the bathroom.  There are no big trees with widespread branches to keep me dry.  Dig a hole very close to front of Tarp shelter where my Toilet Bag is within reach.  Rain has not stopped all day, just slowing sometimes.  Definitely not moving on tomorrow.  Need to dry out properly.  Even younger self would agree.  Certainly burned a lot of mostly bigger firewood today."  Before bedtime I have a hot water wash which sure feels good.

June 3:

After starting fire to heat water for breakfast, I fetch a bunch more firewood, making my jeans wet again up to the knees and shirt damp from sweat.  Weather is very cloudy and foggy, dead calm, 13°C; the high humidity makes it feel warmer.  It feels damp in the tent, the sleeping bag even more damp from perspiration and humidity than yesterday.  A warbler cheerfully sings nearby, as it has done each morning.  A merganser makes a pass overhead several times while I am in tent; I hope she's not thinking of landing on tent or Tarp shelter (which has happened to me before).  Bedding hangs outside all day hopefully drying as temperature rises to 21°C, but at least is getting a good airing.  After lunch I have a glorious hot shower.  Even though weather does not look promising I am planning to leave tomorrow, but do not prepack.  My grouse lands in a tree within plain view as it is feeding.  Not very hungry, I have a lighter supper than planned, including an alder leaf salad.

June 4:

Waking to heavy rainfall during the night, I turn off the alarm.  Every time I wake up I hear rain hitting the tent so stay in bed until 06:30 when I cannot sleep anymore.  After procrastinating, I decide to erect the canvas Tent and stove, which I wish I had done a few days ago.  I have to move the nylon tent to make room so I pack gear inside the tent before exiting.  All the packs are carried to the Tarp shelter, getting damp from the continuous rain in the process.  I drag the nylon tent onto a patch of Labrador tea to dry when rain stops.  Outside by 07:15, the Tent is up by 09:15 with all the packs carried inside from the Tarp shelter.  Hungry, I eat a cold breakfast in the canvas Tent, a bit chilled, pants and boots a lot wet below the rain jacket.  Next I fetch the stove from under the canoe.  The stove is set up after carrying soil from the firepit for in and under the stove.  I now use a four litre canvas pail to carry soil for the stove instead of the 20 litre plastic pail; I no longer bring the pail to do laundry while camping, just changing to a fresh set of clothes half way through the trip.  With dry kindling and birch bark from under the Tarp shelter, the stove is soon lit.  Once burning well I place the two smaller pots of raw water to boil and close the Tent door after lighting a mosquito coil.  While waiting at least 30 minutes for the coil to burn down, I saw stovewood under the Tarp shelter.  On return to the Tent, I open the screen window as well as the screen door.  Some items on the line over the stove are dry already so I hang the bedding and all my clothes.  Next is lunch while sitting unclothed in the back corner, tolerable with door and window screens open as stove goes full blast.  My grouse lands close to the Tent; maybe he is checking out this new happening.  After lunch, I turn stove damper down and close door and window while I exit to saw more stovewood.  The grouse flies several times over at least two hours while I am working.  Temperature is 13°C, completely overcast but rain has stopped for the afternoon.  However at 17:45 suppertime there is light rainfall.  When I go to the lakeshore to pick alder leaves for salad, the far shore is shrouded in heavy fog or drizzle.  By 20:40 I am falling asleep doing a puzzle after having a hot washcloth bath.  Clothes are mostly dry and I let the stove die for the night.  It rains lightly during the night with periodic lightning flashes in the distance.  Thankfully no mosquitoes surface in the Tent.

June 5:

Very cloudy, very humid and damp, dead calm, 15°C, no sign of sun.  Start stove to finish drying clothes and to heat water for breakfast and then let the stove die.  By noon it is 21°C, calm, some blue sky but very humid making me sweat.  Mosquitoes are bothersome so I shoo them away with my hat before entering Tent.  Starting the campfire I bake a bannock for lunch.  I find several good birch bark cylinders for tinder, pick alder leaf salad, saw more stovewood.  By early afternoon there is more sunshine and less humidity, temperature rising to 25°C.  The nylon tent fly is dry but the inner tent bottom and the rear vestibule are damp so I move them into better sunshine before packing.  Planning to move on tomorrow I pack the stove.  Midafternoon I see and hear a thunderstorm with lots of lightning slowly approaching so move everything to the Tent; I had planned to eat outside under the Tarp shelter.  Just as I start to take a hot shower heavy rain starts, pouring down to accompany my shower, refreshing indeed.  Tonight I finish the last of the hard cheese so will need to start catching four fish meals per week now.  By early evening the storm has moved on, thunder still rumbling far in the distance.  I had started a large pot of raw water to boil at the campfire which got mostly extinguished by the downpour.  Managing to get the fire going again from a few live coals under the covering firewood, another heavy shower extinguishes the fire for good.  Now not planning to leave tomorrow, I wonder if putting the stove away was a good idea.   

June 6:

At 03:00 just as I think to go outside to check the weather, it rains again.  Arising early, after doing usual first morning chores, I decide to go fishing.  It is still very cloudy but there is some blue sky, a bit of sunshine and a moderate wind.  I make sure to close the canvas Tent door rather than just use screen door; a bear or other animal might stop at a closed door but may not even see the screen.  When walking to the lakeshore as I pass the two tethered barrels I notice one has no rainwater on the lid but it was full on the downslope side yesterday.  The other barrel's lid is still full of water.  I remove the suspect lid to make sure there is no leak into the barrel.  The only explanation I can think of is that an animal drank the water (unless a wendigo is playing silly beggars with me).  Because I have to untie the rope from the barrel I decide to top up the Kitchen Barrel while the lid is off.  I also untie the other barrel to redistribute some grub from one barrel to the other to even their weights.  It is doubtful that I will notice much difference in weights after only two weeks ... heavy is still heavy.  After assembling fishing rod and gear I walk along the shore casting at a few different places.  I will have to be really careful not to get hook snagged on rocks in the shallow water so have to retrieve the lure quickly to prevent sinking to the bottom.  Because of low water levels I can walk along the shore quite a distance to the outward facing point of the peninsula.  Success ... I catch a 21 inch pike.  Casting again the hook does get snagged but manage to retrieve it by moving far along the shore as I release line.  From my journal: "Whew!  Lucky to get lure back without having to take canoe out.  Now I realize I don't need another fish.  This one is perfect for a single meal.  Early in the trip I'm not hungry like I will be after a few weeks.  Only need one more fish this week.  Have had hard cheese that I bring at the beginning of the trip so I don't have to fish right away."  After filleting the fish on the spot I dice it for supper chowder.  Walking back 300 metres to camp I pass a large standing dead pine tree that has an old woodpecker nesting hole.  A bear has clawed out several thick pieces of wood beside the hole to get at ants, illustrating how powerful these creatures are.  Nearby the lake water is thick with a soupy mix of yellow pollen from pine, spruce and smaller trees like alder.  Back at camp I bury the doubled Ziploc® bags of fish in thick moss.  Temperature rises to 22°C by midafternoon with some blue sky and sunshine.  Flies and mosquitoes are bothersome.  By evening heavy cloud takes over.  Pike chowder is not as tasty as I am used to; I switched chicken soup base to that with low sodium, no MSG;  although healthier I already know that I will switch back to the regular product next year.  Nighttime is cold and I soon snuggle into sleeping bag all night.