July 4, 2019
Debbie had wanted to try out her outdoor shower again so this morning as she made breakfast I set up the privy and got things ready for her. I too, decided that I would try it again.
Throughout our travel this summer we have noticed a heighted effort to inspect water craft for invasive water species. We were checked in Chilliwack, Jasper and now here. The inspectors told us the the invasive molluscus are a major problems in the Manitoba lakes and lakes east of here. They wanted to know what lakes and rivers that we had paddled in since leaving Nanaimo. We were given a permit and they warned us that as we go east we may end up having our kayaks decontaminated.
The weather was still kind of unpredictable so we opted not to paddle on Clear Lake but rather go to a smaller more protected one – Katherine Lake. This lake is about three kilometers long and a kilometer wide. It is known to be the nesting lake for a pair of loons who use it annually. You could see the pair in the middle of the lake. The paddle was very enjoyable although the wind was a challenge several times as we were returning. With a bright sunny sky and a remote lake, it was and idyllic paddle.
On our return home from Katerine Lake we decided to stop at a point of interest called the Wishing Well. This spot is built at the end of a fairway of the golf course. The grounds and landscaping are very well done and looks over the end of Clear Lake.
As we were walking to the path I noticed a vehicle with British Columbia license plates. A group of four people were taking a ‘selfie’ so we offered to take their photos of them in return for ours. It turns out that John and Tammy are from Maple Bay and their friends Wayne and Linda used to live on Saltspring Island. These two couples have been friends for many years, as John and Tammy lived in Dauphin and Wayne and Linda lived in Winnipeg. John is a third generation owner of a cottage in Riding Mountain Park. They also know Bill and Carol, our friends who used to own a cottage here. John and Tammy come to the Park every summer, starting in early June. They then return to Vancouver Island in the fall. Wayne and Linda are here, visiting John and Tammy as well as other friends in the Park. Our conversations continued about our lives as well as theirs. Tammy invited us to their cottage for and afternoon drink. The late afternoon was spent with drinks on John and Tammy’s deck. We marveled at how people are connected to each other through friends and acquaintances. We exchanged email addresses and they promised that they would follow us on this blog.
We had to leave as I had to post some blogs and have supper. We returned to the Wigwam lounge and used their wifi. Tonight was live music night so within an hour the place was filling up and getting loud. The wifi was not very strong here and I was having problems so I abandonded the effort after about two hours and decided to try again tomorrow at a different location. The music was good, supper was tasty and the beer cold, so again a perfect end to a perfect day.
On our way back to our campsite we decided to drop in on John and Meg, a couple who own a Vintage Cadet travel trailer. They are travelling from Ontario to Mt. Robson with two young daughters. The Cadet is refurbished and remodelled inside. We talked about living in confinded spaces and the similar experiences. Meg wanted to see the Armadillo so Debbie and her walked to our site. They talked to 11:00 and until John came looking for Meg! They have to head out early tomorrow so we wished them safe travels and they promised to follow our blog.
Tomorrow we have to pack up and head north also. We will be staying two nights at a provincial park called Porcupine Mountain Provincial Park at Whitefish Lake.
Quilting in a Kayak 