Canoeing: McClennan Lake Trip – July 9 to 15, 2006
   
Anne Marie (left) checked our gear, reviewed our routes and gave us some paddling instruction ...

... look at our body language ... think we're a little tense?

But, of course we're excited about embarking on our new adventure!
Day One
We lined up in the convoy to be escorted by the RCMP through the fire zone north of La Ronge.
We were lucky to be in the third convoy since the road closure. (Rumour had it that our vehicle would be compounded and we would be arrested if we stopped driving or left the convoy)
Churchill River Bridge with forest fighters in the background. Crews and equipment were all along the route as the fires were still smouldering along the road.
One of our escorts. There was one RCMP vehicle in the front and the back of the convoy.
McClennan Lake roadside camp area. It was a little late for any paddling so we decided to share our supper with the (horrendous!) mosquitoes and head out in the morning!
Day Two
Smiles all around for this gorgeous day! (L to r: Sharon Fran, Susan's foot and Anne-Marie's back).
L to r: Georgia, Linda and
Nancy relax in the sunshine.
Anne-Marie prepares a snack.
Susan and Fran mug for the camera while Anne-Marie stays intent on that snack!
Nancy (a.k.a. BRAT #1) shows her stern-ward paddling technique.
Janice (a.k.a BRAT #2) poses with a beautiful backdrop!
The wind was picking up so Anne-Marie and Linda led the way to a small island for a rest.
Rafting up for lunch.
Anne-Marie went for a dip.
Check out our kitchen facilities at "No Name Lake". Here we get our first taste of Anne-Marie's amazing "brick bread".
Notice our inventive camping table!
Susan (a.k.a. the Adopted BRAT) relaxes after a long day.
Day Three
Sharon (l) and Nancy repair Georgia's expensive ($14.99) rain pants.
Duct tape to the rescue!
Linda and Susan saw wood with Fran's assistance. It's pouring rain and we have two fires to keep stoked if we want to stay warm.
Some of the beautiful foliage.
Can you believe our view?
Amazing colours!
Serene beauty!
Picture postcard perfect!
Day Four
Thus begins the portage
portion of the adventure!
Hey Sharon, shouldn't you be helping haul that canoe out of the water?
Oooo ... this is going to be a little muddy!
Anne-Marie shows everyone how it's done!
Janice sings as a little
portaging song ...

Which way to the water?

Uh-oh! Forest traffic jam!
Hey! How did Linda get off so easily? That looks a LOT lighter than a canoe!!!
Striking camp at Lake Zacharias.
Hanging out the sweaty stuff...
... and the wet stuff to dry.
Setting up the kitchen at Lake Zacharias. We wanted to catch and cook the beaver that slapped its tail all night! :-)
A game of dice ...
... and a few laughs.
Day Five
Susan reviews the map before we head out.
Georgia takes a tumble...
... luckily Linda's body helped break Georgia's fall!
Janice (l) loves to split wood and over the week, she taught Nancy (r) ...
... Sharon (shown) and Susan her craft.

Watch for Janice at the Exhibition where she plans to enter the logging competition ... rumour has it that she has a slinky sequined outfit already picked out!

Day Six
Kitchen area on McLean Lake.

This would to be our toughest day yet! It took so much out of us to ...

... soak up the sun ...
... catch a snooze in the sunshine ...
... and play silly games in the lake!
Will the agony of this day
never end? :-)
Our last night in camp together.
We each shared a story about something we had learned about one another over the course of the week ...
Some tears were definitely shed.
Our last day ...
Cooking up our last breakfast, Georgia (l) and Nancy (r) model the latest fashions in canoe trip sleepwear ...
... while some "unidentified" paddlers in our group model the latest in wilderness canoeing fashions! :-)
Reluctantly returning our rented canoes.
Saying goodbye ...
... but relaxed and ready for our next adventure! (Left to right: Fran, Linda, Georgia, Anne-Marie, Janice and Susan. In truck, l to r: Nancy and Sharon)
It doesn't get any better than this!
Despite roughing it for seven days, we all brought our little luxury items on the trip:

Janice: Three bathing suits, Susan: Three pairs of sunglasses, Anne-Marie: A sarong, Linda: A bug jacket (we all had them, but Linda was the only one who managed to look elegant in hers), Sharon: Her new Clipper canoe and a razor?!?, Fran: Her paddling skills and melodic singing voice, Georgia: A visor with a glass holder and Nancy: A fiesta of colours: turquoise bandana, pink PJ's and a vibrant green dry sack
   
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