Saturday, May 13th: Departure Day

Holy cow! Did it ever rain through the night! We woke up to showers on and off. It was still warm at 11°c. My tent was dry inside. Having most of the tent under a tarp was a blessing last night. Bo and Sheila were not so lucky. Driving rain had wetted some of their stuff inside. I hate packing up in the rain. I think we decided to leave around 10:00 am. I had to dry off my little stove I'd left out in the rain, before it would light. By 6:30 am only Bo and Sheila were still sleeping. The rest of us were making coffee and starting to pack up some gear. It was a slow, lazy-feeling day. The rain was not helping things. Markus and Preacher were talking and I could see Dogbyte busy as usual and Stewart was out tending his team of horses.

Early morning around camp.

Rainy morning, looking on out White Partridge.

By 9:00 am, Bo and Sheila got their tent packed away and by 10:00 am we were loading up the wagon for the trip back. Bo was holding the horses as Stewart hooked them up.

Getting the wagon loaded up for our trip back.

Once the horses were hooked up, there was no fooling around. The horses were all anxious and ready to go. Stewart got in the drivers seat, while Bo and Sheila joined him up front. Everyone else was chit-chatting with some fisherman from the other camp. All of a sudden, the wagon took off! What the?! The three of us jumped on and away we went. We held on for another thrilling ride, back to our cars.

The view from on board.

We had to get off for a large hill and then walked around 100 meters. Once the horses were rested-up, we got back on to finish the ride. Ninety minutes after leaving camp, we were at Stewart’s truck and horse trailer. Once we got back to our own vehicles, we unloaded the wagon, sorted our gear and took some group pictures. I was a little sad once again, that another Algonquin trip had ended. After a farewell to Stewart, Bo led the way to find the Radio Observatory site. We stopped at a flooded road beside the old abandoned CNR right-of-way. It was the wrong road. We stopped once again at Poplar Rapids and took some pictures from the bridge there.

From the bridge at Poplar Rapids, looking down the Petawawa River.

Looking towards Travers Lake.

Bo checking out the Poplar Rapids portage.

Beavers know how to stop water ... near Poplar Rapids.

At this point Bo, Sheila and Preacher took off to the Achray campground to meet up with another Algonquin personality .. CLS and her family. We were all supposed to go to have a supper get-together. Perhaps Markus and I might stay a night at Achray campground.

Dogbyte joined us, to search after the large radio dish. We found the large sign and two roads locked with a gate. Which one did we take first? Yep, we took the wrong road. We walked up the road to an old abandoned facility. We walked around and took some pictures. Travers Lake was behind a large house-like building. Perhaps this was where everyone lived when the Observatory facility was running. We walked back the way we came. Along the way, a Gray Jay was making some noise sitting in a pine tree. I put out my hand and called for it. The Jay flew and landed right on my hand. The Jay looked around in my palm and pecked my hand with a mad gesture for me not having any goodies for him. He went back to the tree. I once again called him back. He took off and flew around my hand without landing this time. He took off. You can’t fool a Gray Jay twice.

We continued on and crossed the road where we were parked. We walked around the lock gate and within a few minutes, the 46 meter radio dish came into view. I've never seen such a huge dish!

On the road approaching the radio dish.

In 1966, the 46 meter radio telescope was erected to study radio sources far out in space. The dish is decommissioned, but the area looks somewhat maintained. The three of us walked up to and around the dish, with amazement. So much equipment is sitting around the site. Seem like such a waste now.

With Dogbyte beside the dish, you can see how huge it really is.

After a half hour or so, we headed back to our cars. Dogbyte had to leave for home and didn't have enough time to go to the Achray campground with us. After a farewell, Markus and I made way down Lake Travers road. We passed the only campsite right beside the road, located at a small lake called Pretty Lake. It was vacant when we came in, but now a huge mobile home with all the goodies was parked at the campsite. Home away from home I suppose. Not my way to camp.

We came up to the Achray road and turned right. We got about three quarters of the way down the road, but not before we passed some people fishing by a creek. Bo and Sheila were coming out. We stopped to see what was happening. It seemed they couldn't find CLS. We didn't know her real last name, so we couldn't ask about them at the office. Bo and Sheila were headed back home. Preacher also left. We never got a chance to say goodbye properly to Preacher. Thanks dude! It was great tripping with you. Hope to see you again in the future.

Markus and I decided to turn around and head home. Perhaps the crappie weather had kept CLS and her family at home. Okay, here's the kicker! That family we'd passed going in and we passed going out? Well, that was CLS and her family! We found that out later, once we were home. I was bummed-out that we missed them!

The drive back to Toronto felt so long, for some reason. Markus drove all the way. We stopped a few times for gas and food. Once back at Markus’ place, we unloaded his car and transferred my gear into my van. We loaded Swifty on the roof and made a few checks to make sure nothing was left behind. It was around 8:00 pm, and I still had a 4 hour ride back to the Windsor area. After a very grateful farewell, I was on my way for home.

I knew at this point, that I would indeed hook up with Markus in Algonquin Park in the future. We got along great and I would like to think we never got under each others skin. I know friends of mine, after a week in the bush, might start to get on my nerves. Meeting people on-line and taking a chance camping for a week and getting along is a gamble. Well, I got lucky indeed. I would have no problem tripping with the members of the White Partridge Express trip anytime. My wife Laurie was happy to see me arrive home after midnight. I was home early for Mother’s day!

Special thanks to Barry Bridgeford for his awesome website AlgonquinAdventures.com. This trip would not have been possible if it was not for your website. Thanks Barry!

More thanks are needed:

    To Bo (Ken Born), for organizing the trip and being our only musical entertainment. The song you wrote about us was great.

    Stewart Hammel, our White Partridge Express driver. You made the trip fun!

    Sheila for your always welcomed, warm discussions.

    Dogbyte (Dererk Specht), for your adventurous nature and scotch!

    Preacher (David Sullivan), for always being so nice to talk to. Nothing like your on-line nick name dude!

    Mark Rubino, for being a great canoe partner and friend.

It was a great time that I will always think back on, smile and laugh.

Thank you

Mike Burns.