Hi Ho, Hi Ho it's off to work we go......

Sunday, August 31, 2008
-get up at 7:30 after laying awake for awhile. Left Phil in the tent and I am working on my trip report and doing my devotions. I had to wear my mosquito net and the mosquitos are clawing at it to get in. It is hard to concentrate on my notes because there are so many mosquitos.
-Phil and the others get up at around 9:30. Phil generally starts late in the morning. His theory is that it is too wet and foggy in the mornings. It is a bit of a sticking point for some. We have breakfast which is oatmeal and wild blueberries (which are everywhere), a breakfast bar and tang. It is late morning by the time we gather up all the gear and take the 280m trail to the pond. The put-in is very shallow and muddy so we step on as many rocks as we can to get out farther from shore but it is still very shallow and we have to pole the canoes out to deeper water. The takeout on the other side of the pond is difficult because of all the rocks and a submerged tree stump and root system that the canoes get hung up in. It is a 145m portage to the next pond. The put-in and takeout are rocky. We get to the other side of the pond to the portage where we will be working. The other group had started the trail and we have to finish it. It is an open area with lots of blowdown. Phil is operating the chainsaw and Dave moves the logs. Walt & I pull Labrador Tea. I have flashbacks of my summer jobs with the tree nursery and after about 30 minutes I begin to think the week is going to suck. It is very hot and I drank 3 litres of water. Lunch is salami, crackers, cheese and a couple chunks of semi-sweet chocolate which is a real treat. Granola Bars for a snack.
-at the end of the day we leave some stuff such as the chainsaw, gas, oil, etc. I start taking a pack and some gear back to the canoes and the other guys are to follow. However, at one point the trail forks and I don’t remember which way to go so I stop and wait for the other guys. While waiting I load up on wild blueberries and hope a bear doesn’t come to visit the blueberry patch. The other guys catch up and we take the fork to the right. We cross both ponds and go back to the campsite. We can’t go swimming at our campsite because we left the canoes at the other end of the 280m portage by the shallow muddy pond. The water by the campsite is shallow and we would sink in the muddy bottom if we waded out; we need the canoes to get to deeper water.
-Dave goes to bed (he has a gift for being able to fall asleep) and the rest of us veg out for a bit. It has been a very hot, tiring day
-Phil shows us how to sharpen the brush axes but somehow I end up sharpening them both.
-while getting supper ready Phil has me getting all the stuff ready, pump the water, etc. He tells Dave to take it easy since Dave says his stomach is not 100% yet. I am beginning to wonder if Dave was sick or if he is really smart and knew he could get special treatment by being “sick”. If I go on another trip I’m starting to get a Martha complex.
-Supper is chicken stew, green beans and potatoes. The chicken stew is awesome. Dave and Walt had said they got tired of eating freeze-dried food last year but they are both former chefs so perhaps they have more distinguished palates. We had pudding and oatmeal cookies for dessert.
-One of my goals for the trip is to see the Northern Lights. PC says they are usually seen between 12 and 4 so I set my alarm for midnight. I check out the window of the tent a couple of times after midnight but no Northern Lights.
-it was a very warm night

Favorite Phil Story: a group of canoeists were late from coming out of Wabakimi Park so the park superintendent called Phil to see if he could use his maps of the area. Phil said sure but they would cost him exactly what the park has charge him and the Wabakimi Project in park fees for the last few years (over $5000!). Phil didn’t give him the maps. There are other provincial parks where a portage cleaning crew would get free admission but Phil and the Park Super don’t get along. After hanging up the phone with the Park Super, Phil reviewed his maps and figured the canoeists would be in one of two areas. He called Mattice Outfitters and told them he would be there in 2 hours and to have the plane ready. They flew to the general area and found the canoeists in an old ranger cabin. One had a badly broken leg. They got them out and to the hospital.