This posting will put a bit of icing on the cake that was the BC 150 Canadian Voyageur adventure on the 2008 David Thompson Brigade. I first want to gratefully acknowledge the financial support of the Province of British Columbia through BC 150, a Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Arts initiative. We were proud to have the BC flag and the BC 150 flag affixed to our canoe or our Rustic Motor Home on our 70 day trip. I do not think there were too many of the thousands of people we met that didn't know we were from BC and that BC had its own anniversary celebration underway. We certainly did our part in the colorfull arrival ceremonies at all the communities along the rolute across Canada and our small side trip to Grand portage in Minnesota.
As well, we are in debt to the many others contributing in so many ways to the success of our trip. Don Kassa/ReMax, George Galbraith, Brian Postil, Wayside Printing, Watkin Motors, Banister Chev Olds, Rogers Foods and the many team members all made significant contributions and made the trip the success it was.
We are now packing away the canoe and camping equipment, paying the bills and taking a break before planning the next adventure. We await the roll out of the DVD vidographer Jay is working on and due out October 25th at the David Thompson Society meeting in Red Deer. Word is that Rodney Brown may be in attendance, he being the folk singer we all met at the end of the trip and whose music is the background on the DVD.
Monday, August 18, 2008
Friday, August 8, 2008
DTB July Update July 13
Yesterday, we were up early enough to get all the teams and canoes up to Stanley for a great breakfast by that community. The night of july 11, Rodney Brown again entertained us with his ballads at the Stanley Inn where we had our breakfast the morniong of the 12th. At 10 AM, we were all on the water and now, with 15 canoes in the Brigade, we rafted up for a bit of a float together. Rodnew Brown was in one canoe and he stood up and sang one of his songs with us all joining in on the chorus. The raft broke up just as we saw some rapids coming up. There was then to be a number of rapids and rocks to bump over on the two hour paddle to the Fort. We made our Grand Entrance on time at 2 PM. A great entrance is was with cannons firing , guns firing and lots of flag waving. We pulled ashore and into the fort with the canoes, speeches were made and hand shaking all around. There were about 1000 people in attendance with lots of our friends from Flin Flon and other places having come down to see us.
There was a great feast in the Grand hall, just like in old times. people in costumes playing their part and we Voyageurs doing our thing.
This morning, we were up and got everything packed to hit the road. A brunch was scheduled for 10 AM in the restaurant of the fort and we all gathered there for our last speeches, receiving of medals and hand shakes and hugs.
The event was over. We had paddled 3300 KM (2000 miles) from Rocky Mountain House to Old Fort William at Thunder Bay. 9 teams went the whole distance with other teams joining for a day or a province. In all, 18 teams took part in all or parts of the Brigade. Ages ranged from 4 years to over 80 with the average being 51. 308 paddlers and ground support folks got the 18 canoes to their destinations safely. Half of the participants came from Alberta, 7 Canadian provinces, one territory and they were joined by 4 Americans, 2 Scots an Aussie and a Kiwi.
Gib, Stew, Bob, Dick and i drove our bus and Suburban with trailers and canoes back to Vernon.
Would we do it again? Gib and i had been a part of the 1967 winning Manitoba team in the 104 day 6000 KM (3600 mile) Centennial Canoe Pageant. Being part of the 2008 David Thompson Brigade brought back many memories. It was great to take some of our friends along with us so they could understand and appreciate Canada, our waterways and the adventure we had in 1967.
We would do it again!!!
There was a great feast in the Grand hall, just like in old times. people in costumes playing their part and we Voyageurs doing our thing.
This morning, we were up and got everything packed to hit the road. A brunch was scheduled for 10 AM in the restaurant of the fort and we all gathered there for our last speeches, receiving of medals and hand shakes and hugs.
The event was over. We had paddled 3300 KM (2000 miles) from Rocky Mountain House to Old Fort William at Thunder Bay. 9 teams went the whole distance with other teams joining for a day or a province. In all, 18 teams took part in all or parts of the Brigade. Ages ranged from 4 years to over 80 with the average being 51. 308 paddlers and ground support folks got the 18 canoes to their destinations safely. Half of the participants came from Alberta, 7 Canadian provinces, one territory and they were joined by 4 Americans, 2 Scots an Aussie and a Kiwi.
Gib, Stew, Bob, Dick and i drove our bus and Suburban with trailers and canoes back to Vernon.
Would we do it again? Gib and i had been a part of the 1967 winning Manitoba team in the 104 day 6000 KM (3600 mile) Centennial Canoe Pageant. Being part of the 2008 David Thompson Brigade brought back many memories. It was great to take some of our friends along with us so they could understand and appreciate Canada, our waterways and the adventure we had in 1967.
We would do it again!!!
DTB Update July 11
Today is a planned day off. Everyone is getting ready for the last day of paddling into Old Fort William at Thunder Bay. Having made arrangements with the National Monument people at Grand portage, MN, I organized a side trip to that Fort. Only an hour drive from T'Bay, we took 8 canoes and 75 people and made a great day of it. After making a formal arrival ceremony, we were invited ashore for a great Voyageur lunch and a tour of the fort. While inside, we were treated to a viewing of film footage taken when the 1967 Centennial Canoe pageant went through there. As well, old scrap books were brought out and I helped the people identify some of the 1967 people. Back we went to Old Fort William and got ready for our arrival and the end of the trip
DTB Update July 9
We sent 4 nights at the French Lake Campground duem first to having cut two nights off the expected paddling time and then a day off. As well, the next paddle was to be two nights camp out and we dicided to do the first 20 km, camp back at French lake then paddle a long day with no camp gear (Cumberland team with us) to Savanne.
Attikokan was only 50 km from camp ground so went in a couple of times for supplies and had a chance to cisit with Don and Joe Meany. Joe did not make the Ontario team in 1967 so gat a team together and paddled a kayak to Montreal in a shorter time than we did in the 1967 Centennial Canoe pageant. It was good to see them again and catch up.
We arrived at Savanne and were surprised, upon not being sure if we were paddling up the right creek, to see a surveyor tape arrow in the weeds. These markings were usually used by the advance crew to mark back roads to crew change places. here was one out in the middle of nowhere and just where we needed it. Cumberland left us and headed for some houses they saw on shore. They would catch up in a couple of hours. Many teams were in before us as they were 20 km ahead of us when we started but as we had no camp gear in the canoe, we nearly caught them. Another long day.
This morning, we got up at 4:20 as we were to leave camp at 5:30. We now were in a new time zone and were crossing the great devide and were now going to be going downstream for a change. Many of the creeks the Voyageurs had used 200 years earlier were no longer passable so we had to truck it to the end of Slab Lake and had a great paddle down a winding river to Dog Lake. The going was a bit of a challenge only in that there were many turns and twists in the river and many channels due to the high water. Not having seen a lot of wildlife on the trip, this was a bonus day. First we came upon a big bull moose that swam across the river just in front of us and then we caught a calf moose in the water and paddled right up beside it. Further on, we saw a cow moose off to the side head deep in grass and willows with just her head up watching us go past. In Dog Lake, we had our last big lake to cross and had a good side wind to battle. The Cumberland boys took great pride in beating us into the beach in a last little sprint.
Some teams chose to camp here but we went on to Kakabeka Falls ion the Kamanisiqua River. We were unable to paddle down this river due to the flooding conditions and the fact the canoes would have been smashed to bits on the rocks. Camped at a Provincial Camp ground at the Falls which are quite a site. Good showers and laundry facilities with just a few ticks!
Day off tomorrow.
Attikokan was only 50 km from camp ground so went in a couple of times for supplies and had a chance to cisit with Don and Joe Meany. Joe did not make the Ontario team in 1967 so gat a team together and paddled a kayak to Montreal in a shorter time than we did in the 1967 Centennial Canoe pageant. It was good to see them again and catch up.
We arrived at Savanne and were surprised, upon not being sure if we were paddling up the right creek, to see a surveyor tape arrow in the weeds. These markings were usually used by the advance crew to mark back roads to crew change places. here was one out in the middle of nowhere and just where we needed it. Cumberland left us and headed for some houses they saw on shore. They would catch up in a couple of hours. Many teams were in before us as they were 20 km ahead of us when we started but as we had no camp gear in the canoe, we nearly caught them. Another long day.
This morning, we got up at 4:20 as we were to leave camp at 5:30. We now were in a new time zone and were crossing the great devide and were now going to be going downstream for a change. Many of the creeks the Voyageurs had used 200 years earlier were no longer passable so we had to truck it to the end of Slab Lake and had a great paddle down a winding river to Dog Lake. The going was a bit of a challenge only in that there were many turns and twists in the river and many channels due to the high water. Not having seen a lot of wildlife on the trip, this was a bonus day. First we came upon a big bull moose that swam across the river just in front of us and then we caught a calf moose in the water and paddled right up beside it. Further on, we saw a cow moose off to the side head deep in grass and willows with just her head up watching us go past. In Dog Lake, we had our last big lake to cross and had a good side wind to battle. The Cumberland boys took great pride in beating us into the beach in a last little sprint.
Some teams chose to camp here but we went on to Kakabeka Falls ion the Kamanisiqua River. We were unable to paddle down this river due to the flooding conditions and the fact the canoes would have been smashed to bits on the rocks. Camped at a Provincial Camp ground at the Falls which are quite a site. Good showers and laundry facilities with just a few ticks!
Day off tomorrow.
DTB Update June 30
I took a short side trip to Flin Flon, Man. courtesy of my brother and his airplane. I was picked up in Fort Frances and delivered back the 29th. Flin Flon was the home town for Gib and I and where we got our start in the paddling game. There was a big FF reunion with 4000 people coming "back home"
Back in Fort Francis, a big rain storm passed through the night of the 27 and 28th. Ground very wet and Rainy Lake very high. The paddling crew left for Lac la Croix and a camp out while the road crew took the spare vehicles to French lake camp ground. (this was supposed to be the start of a 6 night camp out trip with a restocking of food and supplies at Lac la Croaix the middle of the third day. Most of the crews arrived in Lac la Croix a day ahead of time) Lac la Croix was the start of the Quetico Park and the French lake Campground would be the north east end of the park. We met the crew at Lac la Croix and found they had had a good trip with mechanized transport over two small portages on the USA side of the border. We camped at Lac la Croix and then took off for what was supposed to be a three night camp out. Paddling in this area is in "the Shield Country" and very good with lakes, small rivers and creeks and portages between lakes. We made our way a lot faster than had been planned and only camped out one night. Many teams did take the full three night/day timetable but we and the Cumberland crew plowed on to the finish and a couple of extra days off. We did make one wrong turn, not having paid attention to the GPS, and made a couple of extra portages. This did not enhance the humour of the crews!
Portaging was a real exercise in teamwork. We found a way of taking all of the camp gear over in one trip and then the canoe in another trip. As well, the two crews would carry one canoe over then go back and get the other one. The problem was that the trails have been allowed to grow in to a narrow track suitable to tandem canoes or single canoes. Carrying a Voyageur canoe needs a trail 6-8 feet wide. The folks carrying the middle of the canoe were constantly walking over stumps and through brush.
We finally met other canoers and boaters. It was surprising to us that we had paddled almost 3000 km of waterways across a good part of Canada and had seen only one or two other canoers.
The Parks people joined the Brigade for a few days with a Voyageur Canoe and at French lake, challenged us to a race. I organized an event whereby all paddlers (except the Parks folks) were put in a hat and the canoes in another hat. A canoe then a 6 person crew were chosen and the event turned out to have 8 teams. The route was out, around an island and back. All had a good time and the Parks people came in 4th. It was a good chance for the paddlers to paddle in a different canoe with people they would not normally have had a chance to paddle with.
Back in Fort Francis, a big rain storm passed through the night of the 27 and 28th. Ground very wet and Rainy Lake very high. The paddling crew left for Lac la Croix and a camp out while the road crew took the spare vehicles to French lake camp ground. (this was supposed to be the start of a 6 night camp out trip with a restocking of food and supplies at Lac la Croaix the middle of the third day. Most of the crews arrived in Lac la Croix a day ahead of time) Lac la Croix was the start of the Quetico Park and the French lake Campground would be the north east end of the park. We met the crew at Lac la Croix and found they had had a good trip with mechanized transport over two small portages on the USA side of the border. We camped at Lac la Croix and then took off for what was supposed to be a three night camp out. Paddling in this area is in "the Shield Country" and very good with lakes, small rivers and creeks and portages between lakes. We made our way a lot faster than had been planned and only camped out one night. Many teams did take the full three night/day timetable but we and the Cumberland crew plowed on to the finish and a couple of extra days off. We did make one wrong turn, not having paid attention to the GPS, and made a couple of extra portages. This did not enhance the humour of the crews!
Portaging was a real exercise in teamwork. We found a way of taking all of the camp gear over in one trip and then the canoe in another trip. As well, the two crews would carry one canoe over then go back and get the other one. The problem was that the trails have been allowed to grow in to a narrow track suitable to tandem canoes or single canoes. Carrying a Voyageur canoe needs a trail 6-8 feet wide. The folks carrying the middle of the canoe were constantly walking over stumps and through brush.
We finally met other canoers and boaters. It was surprising to us that we had paddled almost 3000 km of waterways across a good part of Canada and had seen only one or two other canoers.
The Parks people joined the Brigade for a few days with a Voyageur Canoe and at French lake, challenged us to a race. I organized an event whereby all paddlers (except the Parks folks) were put in a hat and the canoes in another hat. A canoe then a 6 person crew were chosen and the event turned out to have 8 teams. The route was out, around an island and back. All had a good time and the Parks people came in 4th. It was a good chance for the paddlers to paddle in a different canoe with people they would not normally have had a chance to paddle with.
DTB Update June 26
We are now near Fort Frances. We paddled over the last of Lake of the Woods and into the Rainy River at Rainy River Community. From there, we traveled up through Emo to Fort Frances.
The Rainy River is the border between Canada and the USA. An old international agreement allows boaters to use the whole of the river as long as you don't make a landing on the other's shore. We were in and out of the USA according the river bends and wind. We caught up to a small fawn swimming across a small bay and were witness to many border patrol planes and helicopters flying over. The communities on the river realy went out of their way to make us welcome with meals and concerts. We met for the first time Rodney Brown (www.rodneybrown.ca) of Thunder Bay. Rodney specializes in folk songs of the fur trade. Great stuff! The Rainy River is also in flood and is another challenge with very slow going upstream
The Rainy River is the border between Canada and the USA. An old international agreement allows boaters to use the whole of the river as long as you don't make a landing on the other's shore. We were in and out of the USA according the river bends and wind. We caught up to a small fawn swimming across a small bay and were witness to many border patrol planes and helicopters flying over. The communities on the river realy went out of their way to make us welcome with meals and concerts. We met for the first time Rodney Brown (www.rodneybrown.ca) of Thunder Bay. Rodney specializes in folk songs of the fur trade. Great stuff! The Rainy River is also in flood and is another challenge with very slow going upstream
DTB Update June 24
June 24 and we are on Little Dog Island in the middle of Lake of the Woods.
We finished off the Winnipeg River with our arrival at Kenora and Lake of the Woods. We were happy to be off the Winnipeg as the flood conditions really made paddling difficult and slow. However, few mishaps and everyone made it although many teams were hours behind the faster teams on some days.
Kenora and Lake of the Woods now another challenge. Everyone here seems to have a motor boat and all go full speed everywhere. A person can even pull up to the Safeway pier and shop then back into the boat and back out to the family house on an island. Ran into old ski friends from Winnipeg and another time.
The first trip on Lake of the Woods would be a two day affair with a camp out half way. We were on the water at 0700 and were led by Rick of the Borealis team as this was his home area. The day was calm and we again were fortunate as this big lake could be nasty. Rick led us on a circuitous route through islands and channels and after a 9 hour paddle inhot and muggy conditions, we arrived at Little Dog Island, apparently a favorite camping place of David Thompson and the Voyageurs. It should have been called Tick Island, they were everywhere. Big thunbderstorm in the night and the tent floor was wet in the AM. Took off in windier conditions the next day and just around the corner was a great camping spot!
The wind picked up all day and finally we arrived at a crew change spot and the organizers felt the winds were too high to continue that day so we took our canoes by trailer to the camp spot, Asanabe Camp Ground. It was a very nice spot and a good place to finally rest up after two very hard paddling days.
We finished off the Winnipeg River with our arrival at Kenora and Lake of the Woods. We were happy to be off the Winnipeg as the flood conditions really made paddling difficult and slow. However, few mishaps and everyone made it although many teams were hours behind the faster teams on some days.
Kenora and Lake of the Woods now another challenge. Everyone here seems to have a motor boat and all go full speed everywhere. A person can even pull up to the Safeway pier and shop then back into the boat and back out to the family house on an island. Ran into old ski friends from Winnipeg and another time.
The first trip on Lake of the Woods would be a two day affair with a camp out half way. We were on the water at 0700 and were led by Rick of the Borealis team as this was his home area. The day was calm and we again were fortunate as this big lake could be nasty. Rick led us on a circuitous route through islands and channels and after a 9 hour paddle inhot and muggy conditions, we arrived at Little Dog Island, apparently a favorite camping place of David Thompson and the Voyageurs. It should have been called Tick Island, they were everywhere. Big thunbderstorm in the night and the tent floor was wet in the AM. Took off in windier conditions the next day and just around the corner was a great camping spot!
The wind picked up all day and finally we arrived at a crew change spot and the organizers felt the winds were too high to continue that day so we took our canoes by trailer to the camp spot, Asanabe Camp Ground. It was a very nice spot and a good place to finally rest up after two very hard paddling days.
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