05:48, 05:59 August 29, smoke tinged sunrise and thick clouds at camp 15.
08:21 - 10:20 August 29, paddling towards camp 16. Because of heavy smoke I wear N95 mask for two hours.
17:14 south, 17:15 west August 29, looking through smoke from camp 16.
07:17 August 30, smoky still.
Four common loons nearby while I am fishing.
Three nice walleye (14" and 17") caught from shore.
After getting hook snagged while fishing for the walleye I lay the rod down and fetch canoe to retrieve the lure.
15:40 August 30, because of strong gusting wind blowing directly into the Tarp shelter the front and back are tied down to heavy logs. Gear is sitting near the back to help shield from wind-driven rain that continues all night. Note that the fireplace is sheltered with large rocks serving as a windbreak.
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Summary:
Thick smoke forces me to wear N95 mask again. Having not seen or heard any motorboats I wonder if Sandy Bay has been evacuated. Heat, calm and smoke lead to stopping early. Give thanks for smoke finally clearing (for awhile) and for catching three nice walleye. North facing Tarp shelter is frustratingly exposed to wind driven heavy rainfall even though ironically the strong wind blows from the west. Consolidate all grub into the three barrels as I approach the third month of camping. Travel distance to camp 16 (old camp 8) is 11 km. Heavy rain starts so I wonder if I will be able to leave the next day as planned.
August 29:
Up by 04:00 using a candle for light, I cannot sleep anymore. Darker than usual, I see red sunrise through smoke and thick cloud cover that sure looks like impending rain. While loading the canoe light rain starts falling on and off over the next two hours. I don rain pants before launching but never do wear the jacket which with activity would make me damper from sweat than the rain would. With the ominous looking clouds my thinking is if heavy rain starts I will set up camp at the small isle half km away which hopefully would have better wind protection. I continue past that island into the channel to the east. From my journal: "When I reach 'blueberry peninsula' it starts to rain a bit harder. I say out loud 'That's it, better camp here.' However cannot dock at the closest place to a campsite because the steep rock slope is already slick from the rain; that would be just asking for trouble. So land closer to the point, a long haul inland to camp. Tie up canoe and exit to walk a short way. Not keen on stopping, I exclaim 'POI', untie canoe and continue up the channel. That is the last time it rains! As I move on, the sky starts clearing, even some blue showing gradually becoming predominant. However by the time I reach the lake proper I am surrounded by thick smoke from the west. Looking behind me the density of the smoke is obvious. A very light north wind temporarily created clearing but then switched to west. Now I put on N95 mask for the next two hours." I have not heard or seen any motorboats since portaging which makes me wonder if Sandy Bay has been evacuated; smoke alone can lead to evacuation, not just the fire threat. [In fact after returning home I determine that Sandy Bay was evacuated August 13 to September 10.] I stop for breakfast at a small island, taking off my mask to eat, drinking half the 500 mL canteen.
Continuing on I reach camp 16 (old camp 8) by noon, travelling 11 km. I eat lunch while setting up camp, drinking the last of the canteen. Again the first task after unloading the canoe is to boil water to drink and fill canteen, leaving cap off to cool. The missing rope is found when I am erecting the Tarp shelter; it is still tied to two trees where I had braced one that was the anchor point for the Tarp rope the last time I camped here August 5. It is dead calm, still smoky, mosquitoes bothersome. Month 2 (8 weeks) ends in two days and I finally consolidate grub remaining in the Food Pack across the three barrels. I have placed spruce boughs beneath the shelter to function as a table mat. From my journal "Had thought of canoeing another five km for a total of 16 km to include the 10 metre board portage. But the heat, calm and smoke are getting to me. Plus not sure if I could camp where I am thinking anyway. My younger self even considered travelling all the way to old camp 7, 25 km. It would be doable if no smoke and heat but not up to it." A much needed bath feels great. Supper at 18:05 is oriental noodles, sardines, protein bar, warm water. Mosquitoes and gnats, not discouraged by campfire smoke, are bothersome. Turning in early, ironically by next morning I am in sleeping bag with added heavy socks. The double layers of the tent help reduce the effect of smoke but the downside is spending longer in bed than my usual seven hours.
August 30:
Up by 05:00 I take fishing rod to the point on my island that is the only good place to fish. The dead calm continued all night. It is very humid and still quite smoky. Mosquitoes and gnats are bothersome. It is only partially daylight as I catch two 14 inch walleye fairly quickly using a heavy red and white lure that casts out quite far. Unfortunately the next cast the hook gets snagged near shore. I try retrieving it by releasing line to walk as far in either direction as possible and then using a long pole with a protruding branch with no luck. Finally I walk back to camp for the canoe. The longish walk is through thick tall grass wet with dew soaking my boots and lower pants. On arising I noticed the tent fly and underside of Tarp shelter are likewise heavy with condensation. Paddling the l00 metres to the corner I pick up the rod and backtrack the line to release the hook. Casting for another walleye I land a nice 17 incher. From my journal: "No problem, I'm hungry! Fish fry tonight. Speaking out loud 'Thanks for the fish; they will make a nice meal. Would be nice if you could blow the smoke away more.'" Having taken the fish kit in the canoe I fillet the fish at the point and repack the gear. From my journal: "By breakfast the wind picks up. Although from the west smoke source it starts doing what I asked. I don't understand it ... but if it works ...! I'm very thankful." The warmth of the fire and fresh bannock are welcome. For noon lunch I move to sit in shade on the boughs under the shelter. Bedding hangs to air and dry. Sun now out, 26°C, mosquitoes and gnats have finally gone to bed; there is lots of white cumulus and blue sky. But by 13:20 I shelter under the Tarp from heavy rain. Because of strong gusting wind blowing directly into the Tarp shelter, the front and back are tied down to heavy logs. Gear is sitting near the back to help shield from wind-driven rain. I remark that it is weird that though the wind is from the west, the north facing Tarp appears to be hit with wind from the north. I can only assume that the wind gets funneled around nearby land features, either that or is playing silly beggars with me. The rain stops by 14:20. I have lost any desire for a bath; I bathed yesterday and did not sweat much today. Loons are calling nearby. A woodpecker knocks on my 'door', one of the fallen pines behind the shelter. At 16:30, spurred on by a drop of rain, I light a fire to start supper; I also boil another large pot of water for drinking tomorrow morning before leaving camp. It is now 23°C, overcast again and smokier. Bugs are back, mosquitoes, damn gnats and now sandflies with a bite seemingly with no source. I am eating yummy supper of fried walleye before more rain. I have to rescue the open shortening container from its cooling spot in water at the edge of the lake. Like the previous downpour this one accompanies a thunderstorm passing through. Not sure how much of the cloud is smoke I think we are in for a lot of rain. I manage to finish prepacking; when rain slackens I place gear in the tent rear vestibule or under the canoe. With the redistributed grub the Kitchen Barrel is noticeably quite heavy now as I carry it to the tent front vestibule. Before the next rainfall prepacking is finished and I luckily get in a bathroom break. By 19:25, 19°C, I retire to the tent just as another downpour starts. The tent and Tarp will probably be wet in the morning for final packing. I wonder if I will be able to leave the next day as planned. It rains several times during the night sometimes heavily. By morning I am in the sleeping bag.