DTB June 17 Update

June 16 was a day off. We were camped beside the Community Hall in Lc du Bonnet. As we were used to getting up early, many team members were up and looking for a coffee shop in this small town. It was funny, watching Voyageurs wandering around a town with no town's folks up and about. Finally, we found the only place available at Casey's Cafe. We more than filled the place and probably provided the best cash day they have had in a while. The rest of the day was taken up with doing laundry and getting supplies and camping gear ready for the first camp out in three days. The daily Captain's meetings were usually held at 7 pm and at this one wasw typical of our trip up the Winnipeg River. The River was in flood and very difficult. *take Sharkey's Channel and watch for old wier-stay right; at Otter Falls, stay riught; stay left at Big Bend to right; portage 200 meters just past Nitimik Lake, stay right; Scott Rapids above Namon Lake, very fast water; Slave Falls Dam, portage on right; Point du Bois Dam, stay left, beach 1 mile below and trailer canoes to camp and community at top of dam. GPS co-ordinates were available and downloaded and questions answered. A start time, usualy 6 0r 6:30 am would be agreed to and off to bed we went. It usually took the group two hours from the get up time to on the water time. This meant a 6 am start meant a 4 am wake up call. Some people did it easily and some with great difficulty.