Close to shore, canoe placed in front of tent as a wind shield.
July 12 at 07:26, stormy looking clouds.
Before rainfall starts, Tarp shelter with fireplace at least a metre away.
Breakfast, wearing two shirts, sitting close to well stoked fireplace against a cold morning. The two heavy grub barrels are tied to small birch trees beside the Tarp shelter.
Midmorning, rain causes me to move fireplace to within two feet of Tarp shelter. Damp items are hanging to dry beneath the Tarp, above a supply of firewood.
Nearby evidence of a black bear tearing up dead logs in search of ant pupae and larvae.
Wild lily-of-the valley flowers carpet much of the open forest floor.
Two pike (21", 19") caught from shore for supper chowder.
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Summary:
Late midday departure from camp 4 because of exposure to intolerably strong wind. Unable to make headway against a headwind I retreat back to the island where I stopped two days ago for breakfast. Camp 5 is in a negative three km direction but a welcome sheltered spot. Spend most of the day in camp snuggled up to a warm fireplace. Manage to catch two pike for supper in spite of the waves rolling in from the open expanse of the lake. Prepack to move on tomorrow but not optimistic about my chances.
June 11:
When I depart camp 4 because of exposure to intolerably strong wind it is already past noon, long after the time I usually leave. I try to paddle in the direction of my route plan, hoping that if I get close to mainland shore it will help protect me. However no such luck, I am windbound against that direction. So I begrudgingly turn the canoe to run with the wind back to the island where I stopped two days ago for breakfast. Now I am making negative progress, retreating three km. But in Yogi Berra's words (1925-2015) 'Yeah, but we're making great time!'; with a strong tailwind I soon arrive at the site that will be camp 5. [18:10] From my journal: "Supper done. Time wash dishes and myself with hot water. Good place to bathe here if it's warmer." In bed by 20:30 it is cool, as it has been all day. It rains lightly during the night.
June 12:
On arising it is 8°C. The strong north wind has maintained itself all night, bringing some more light rain this morning. Out of my bay the open surface of the lake is full of whitecaps on the waves. At 09:45 I eat breakfast in front of the fire built up with big often punky logs. Thankfully there is lots of down wood, large and small, some torn up by a black bear in search of ant pupae and larvae. I do feel the wind here in camp which is well protected from every direction except east, not like old camp 4 which will still be getting the full effects of the wind. The sky is completely overcast with grey thick cloud. The best site for the Tarp shelter was over a copse of small thick balsam fir which when cut serve as a welcome floor. At midday lunch snuggling up to the fire still feels good. A large sawyer beetle lands on me; I toss it away at least two metres and it comes marching back! Midafternoon I manage to catch two pike from shore casting out as far down the somewhat sheltered indented bay as possible, into waves rolling in from the lake. Luckily the hook does not get snagged on rocks in shallower water close to shore as it is retrieved. Large brown dragonflies surround me as I fish, amazing to see them catch the little flies, zigzagging in all directions, sometimes even reversing. From my journal: "Will prepack to move on tomorrow but not optimistic about the wind. No point to leave, struggling to go three km to maybe reach old camp 4, when with favourable wind I can do the entire 17 km to the next target in one day." At 18:00 after fish chowder supper I finish a sudoku and update my journal. Washing dishes and rinsing myself with hot water, the last time I had a bath was six days ago at camp 3. Deciding to retire to the tent rather than adding more wood to the fire, I am in bed by 20:15.