Sunrise through dark cloud and smoke at horizon July 26 (05:11 - 05:20). For a welcome change do not need to wear mask today.
As I leave camp 14 to head down the river 11 pelicans rise from the shoals and fly upriver. I apologize for causing them to take off.
About to pass through Silent Rapids, the small rock island on the right where I caught the walleye.
Moving on downstream I stop at the green 'mountainous' island for breakfast, across from old camp 11.
Looking upriver during breakfast towards Silent Rapids.
Going through the next rapids at 08:16, the sky remains dark.
Sky clearing as I pass by a bald eagle nest, one parent and two big chicks perched on the edge. Wonder how long its burned tree will stay standing?
Lunch stop behind a small rock promontory to shelter from the strong west tailwind.
Down the last main rapids of the day, going with the current much easier than against.
Very cloudy July 27, camp 15 (old camp 10). This time I raise the Tarp shelter high enough that I can view the river while sitting beneath; it is also situated a bit farther inland but still exposed to the west wind.
Supper salad of fireweed flowers and seed pods plus blueberries along with stray leaves and green berries.
**********************
Summary:
Going downstream and with a favourable wind I make good time and distance, much easier and faster than the journey up. Prepare a welcome change of clean clothes at the six week mark, keeping the dry but dirty set in reserve. Photo of two bald eagle chicks and one parent on their nest. Distance travelled to camp 15 (old camp 10) 18 kilometres plus an extra three for a total of 21 kilometres (one kilometre each - a shortcut that was not, checking for a campsite upstream from Central Rapids and for a site on the other side of camp 15's island). That distance includes running three easy rapids 100 metres each.
July 26:
Arising to the 04:00 alarm I head out, all downstream today, certainly easier than going up. A row of 11 pelicans on the shoals opposite camp let me get uncommonly close before taking wing. After going down Silent Rapids I stop at the green 'mountainous' island opposite old camp 11 for breakfast. On through the next rapids I head into Black Bear Island Lake. Guided by map, I paddle to a shortcut between two islands. It proves to be a 'longcut' when the passageway is too shallow even though I can see the other side just a short distance away. Rather than turn back I continue on past other isles resulting in an extra kilometre of travel before getting back on track. For lunch I duck behind a small rock promontory to shelter from the strong west tailwind. Cool when not paddling I don my rain jacket. As I shove off a motorboat going downstream passes then turns back and stops, a welfare check even if not so stated which I always appreciate. Ronnie is a Cree whose wife is a sister to another Cree I know, small world. We chat for awhile. His cabin above Silent Rapids is near Fish River. He has another boat on Besnard Lake across a portage that he uses to reach his vehicle at the road. Apparently there is a new or resurgent fire on Besnard Lake so Ronnie is hoping his boat there is safe. We both move on and he is soon out of sight. Intending to camp above the next rapids, Central Silent Rapids, I stop at a point just before. However it has no decent tent site, is quite exposed, slopes too much. I paddle back upstream to check an open looking clearing but it is too high and sloped. Canoeing farther up I stop at a small treed peninsula which is also not suitable. I had hoped to fish from a camp here for walleye but decide to move on down the rapids to camp on the island of old camp 10. Not going directly to that campsite I paddle to the other side of the island to see if there might be a more protected area with no luck. Heading back to the main current I canoe to old camp 10, initiating the SPOT™ at 15:00. Setting the tent up in a slightly different position, it proves to be only slightly more level than last time. Distance travelled to camp 15 (old camp 10) is 18 kilometres plus an extra three for a total of 21 kilometres (one kilometre each - a shortcut that was not, checking for a campsite upstream from Central Rapids and for a site on the other side of camp 15's island). That distance includes running three easy rapids 100 metres each.
July 27 (brother Glen's birthday):
Up by 05:00 I walk downstream 500 metres along my island's exposed stony shore until reaching a small bay with water plants where I land two pike for supper chowder. While fishing a kingfisher 'krrrrr's' by in front of me, screeching terns are wheeling over the rapids, a small flock of blackbirds (common grackles) flies just overhead voicing their distinctive grating 'cack' call. While filleting and dicing the pike, as I rinse knife and hands in the river crayfish eat the morsels of fish. Temperature is a cool 15°C, very cloudy and overcast, looking like rain. Out of sight of camp I do carry the Waist Pack as usual but also Rubber Pack; if I lost the latter to a bear at camp I would lose too much important gear. Lunch is eaten under the Tarp shelter on a fresh bed of spruce boughs, besieged by small spiders crawling all over me from the green branches. The Tarp is situated better than last time but still exposed to the west wind. A cool moderate west wind has me wearing my rain jacket, sure feeling like it might rain. After supper, in tent getting ready for bed, I get out clean clothes to change into tomorrow at the six week mark. My in-use clothes are dry but dirty and get packed in the Clothes Bag in reserve. (Usually light shirts and jeans are so soiled that they are trashed when I return home.)