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Published: August 21st 2007
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On Foot
Saturday, 4 August 2007
We had been told by Mary that the traffic on Highway 71 on Saturdays was pretty hectic, as Saturday is traditionally the day that week-long cottage stays end or begin, so we decided I should avoid bicycling today. Bob had laundry to do, plus I wanted to get some groceries and some more wine and/or cider. Fortunately there was a small shopping plaza nearby that made all of the above possible.
While he started the laundry I took Panna, and we went for a walk along one of two trails recommended to us by Mary. It started about ½ kilometre from the plaza, and there were some moderately informative maps available at the entrance. We pretty much followed the path indicated, which was also well-marked by signs on the trees. There were a few hiccups, such as when a downed tree blocked our path, but it was nice to be out with my girl off-leash, making our way through the woods as we do so often at home. I’d even forgotten to put on insect repellent but bugs were not a problem at all, not even the biting flies.
When we
got back, Bob was able to take charge of Panna while I went to the grocery store, which, conveniently, was also the liquor outlet. I also was able to get a sandwich made up to eat before I continued the 2nd portion of my day on foot. I was really in the mood for some fresh corn on the cob to have with dinner, but the supply at the store was unexciting.
By that time Bob was finished with the laundry, so he drove me to the start of the 2nd trail I’d planned to try. It began just behind the local tourist information office, which was manned (?) by what appeared to be a boy of 10-12 years of age. He was very polite & sociable, but didn’t really know a whole lot about the area, as Bob had stopped there on Friday when he was trying to locate Lakeview Lodge (seems he’d driven right past the sign) and the boy hadn’t a clue as to where it was.
To say that trail was in a sorry state would be an understatement. I realize it was meant to be a trail through boreal, virgin, forest, but somebody
must have forgotten that it still needed a certain amount of maintenance. Even with the map provided, just as for the first trail I tried, it was difficult to determine where the trail began. And although there were frequent markers on the trees to indicate the path, I found myself concentrating more on what lay beneath my feet, as there were large tree-roots, rocks with foot-sized cracks in them, to say nothing of poison ivy, all well-hidden by overgrowth. Even if there had been something really neat to see, as some deer or other wildlife, there’s no way I’d have seen it because I was concentrating so much on staying on my feet and on the hint of trail which was there. Finally, although I could see the next marker about 20 feet ahead of me, there was no way I could determine how to get to it, so I took a photo or two of a marshland then retraced my steps.
My next path would take me along the highway on foot to the actual town of Nestor Falls, which has Lake of the Woods, a huge lake, to the west of it, and Lake Kakibikitchewan to the
east. The junction of the two lakes results in a small but attractive waterfall, Nestor Falls. There were quite a few resorts, cabins, etc along the highway, and some stores & restaurants, and I finished up with some ice cream at a picnic area just beside the falls, where we’d arranged that Bob would come to pick me up.
Meanwhile, he had tried fishing off the dock at Lakeview using a bass lure recommended by a gal at the fishing supply store at the laundry/grocery store/bakery/post office/liquor store/fishing supply store plaza (all things to all people). It was only the 2nd time he’d tried fishing on this trip and he actually caught two fish! They were both bass, both pretty small, maybe 10-12”, but, hey, he hadn’t been fishing in around 30 years! Of course he put them back in the water, as he hasn’t yet found anyone willing to clean and prepare them for him…
That night we had burgers and potato chips, hmm, what’s nutrition got to do with it??
One thing Bob has noticed at night here is how dark it is when he takes Panna out for a late-night potty-break. Since the bear
incident he’s become a lot more aware of the possibilities outdoors, especially in the dark, in a wooded area. Hmmm…
DAY 39: 10.4 km, all on foot (and the traffic really wasn’t that bad, not compared to what I’ve already experienced…oh well)
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