MARIE LAKE OVERNIGHT TRIP - AUTUMN 2019, PART 1 OF 3

Late summer I was itching to get into the park for at least a day trip, and possibly even an overnighter. A trip to Canadian Tire clinched the deal, as I noticed a decent looking three person tent on sale half price, weighing in at about eight pounds. Three weeks away Alexander had a PD day on a Friday, and a week later the two week forecast appeared to promise at least a good bit of decent weather for the weekend.

The forecast held, and we had everything packed and ready to go for leaving Tavistock and heading for the cottage on Thursday Afternoon. The plan was to drive to Barrie via Arther, pick up the last couple of supplies at MEC in Barrie, then drive to the cottage to spend the night. Friday we would leave for the park and make it in to our booked campsite on Marie Lake, and then Saturday head back out for a night at the cottage, driving back to Tavistock Sunday.

Leaving Tavistock at 4:30, we pulled into the MEC in Barrie exactly two hours later, and began looking for a few items... bear spray, a pot, a small dry bag, and an Led tent light Alexander wanted.  Assistance was provided by a gregarious and passionate young man named Brenan, who helped us choose the dry sac for sealing up and hanging the small quantity of food we were taking in, and selecting a nice pot. 

We got back on the road, and had a trouble free drive up highway 11 to Huntsville, and then across highway 60 to the cottage.

The next morning I attached the crossbars to the Honda roof rack, Alexander and I loaded up the canoe and our gear, and we headed off to the Sand Lake access, from Barry's Bay to Round Lake, across the Bonnechere on the one lane bridge and up Red Rock Road, then the Pembroke road to Alice, and across country via Station Hill Road and then Barron Canyon Road to the gate. We checked in, got our tickets, and then headed to the Brigham Lake parking lot and our put in.

Parked at the small lot at the Brigham Lake put in, the canoe is an unmarked H20 Composites 'Bob Special 15'.

About 200 yards from the parking lot is the upstream put in, for our trip up 'The Cascades', a series of small lakes and sections of river, peppered with a half dozen portages to get up to St. Andrews Lake.

A small lake on the first section of water, heading for the first portage. My bowman Alex impressed me greatly, this is one of very few shots of him with his paddle out of the water!

Setting out on our first portage, Alexander took  his pack and the paddles, and I took my pack and the canoe.

The take out for the second portage, approximately 245 meters, long, after a half kilometer of paddling on the Barron River.

Just between the portage trail and the river was an ancient timber shed probably used in the days they ran logs down the Barron River.

A view inside the timber shed, it looks like it only had three sides, so may have been a place for storing equipment, as the open side was to the east, away from the weather.

Approaching the take out for the third portage, which is very short, about 45 meters, after not even 150 meters or so of paddling.

Alexander coined this the valet parking at the third take out, two logs you can paddle your canoe between, the much can be deep, so step on logs and rocks.

Setting out on High Falls lake after portage number four, a mostly level but very bouldery 450 meter portage. High Falls lake is approximately a mile (1.5 kilometers) long, so a nice paddle but watch for submerged rocks at the north part of the lake.

Halfway up High Falls Lake the lake narrows considerably, with lots of rocks and small islets to negotiate, many rocks we passed had paint marks up to a foot above water from canoes passing when the water is higher.

Reaching the south end of High Falls Lake, the outlet of one arm of the Barron River is reduced to a trickle over the boulder pile, the take out for the portage to St. Andrew's Lake is just to the right.

BARRON CANYON - JULY 2013 (Part 1)

After a season generally away from canoeing for a number of reasons, including cataract surgery on my left eye last summer, Rudi, Alexander and I got back into it in grand style shortly after leaving for our first visit to the cottage over the summer holidays.

This year, we invited AJ, a friend of Rudi's from cubs, up for four days or so of paddling, and possibly an overnight trip in some fantastic country in Eastern Ontario. The canoes this year were a Swift Kipawa kevlar, and an older plastic on aluminum frame Coleman, borrowed from two of Katherine's friends. I am hoping to acquire one or two H20 Composites by the end of the summer, of course...

My bowman, Alexander this time, as we head downstrem on the Barron River from Brigham Lake

Rudi and AJ learning the finer points of steering a canoe down the channel.

The Barron Canyon opens up.

A view of the scale of the size of the Canyon. AJ and Rudi are in the red canoe in the distance, looking from our boat back upstream.

ALL LOADED UP...

I owed Jeff a favour, so talked to him a week or so before we headed to the cottage. It turns out he had two H20 Canoes that were special ordered, and needed to be delivered to Frontenac Outfitters, along with a kayak that had been sent to him for repair. Timing worked out quite well, the boats were loaded on the van the night before, just after we had the van packed for our two weeks or so at the cottage (along with a washing machine, and a wheelbarrow). Here is the van at about six the next morning, just before I headed out for Kingston. Katherine and the boys would head out later in the little car, and meet me later that day.

THIS IS CANOEING

I found the link to this video a short while back on the Canadian Canoe Routes Forums website. You can click play and watch it here, or visit the This Is Canoeing 'YouTube' web page. I think it's plain to see why I am eager to get back in the shop working for Jeff (H20 Composites Inc.) and can't wait for the arrival of spring! There is some incredible photography here, and for those who thought canoing just meant one thing, here is an example of the incredible diversity of Canoeing styles!

H20 COMPOSITES 2009 FACTORY CLEARANCE SALE!

I finally received the Excel inventory file from Jeff, and can now begin posting information on the boats that will be offered in the first ever "H20 Composites Factory Clearance".  The list Jeff compiled includes absolutely everything that we will have available for sale, and includes prototypes, demonstrators, brand new cosmetic defects, and used, as well as a small selection of boats from other top quality manufacturers (how else does one do research sometimes?)

As this represents pretty much all existing inventory from over four years of operation, there is quite a flotilla available! There are over a dozen canoes, a few kayaks and some recreational rowing shells, and about fifteen lightweight performance racing shells available. The boats are presently either finished and ready for sale, or unfinished requireing some work prior to sale. My plan is to offer the boats for sale starting with the ones that require little finishing, or are ready to go, and as we sell those, work on finishing and selling the rest of them.

Here is a short list of the first boats to be included in the sale:

CANOES

H20 Canadian 16-6' 2009 Superlight Kevlar red/white, 46lb, new, cosmetic blem and repair, retail $2695 now $2195.

H20 Canadian 16-6' 2008, Carbon Kevlar clear/white, 43lb, lightly used, two minor repairs, retail $2995 now $2100.

H20 Cottage Classic 14' 2009, shot fibreglass red, 58lb, new, retail $1095 now $745.

H20 Cottage Classic 15' 2009, shot fibreglass white, 65lb, new, retail $1145 now $795.

H20 Cottage Classic 16' 2009, shot fibreglass red, 70lb, new, retail $1195 now $845.

Alchemist (by H20) Saga 17' 2009, Carbon Fibre clear/white, 44lb, new perfect cond, retail $3095 now $2795.

ROWING SHELLS

H20 Offshore 21' 2009, Carbon/Fibreglass white/white, 40lb, new blem thin paint, retail $4495 now $3495.

H20 Offshore 16' 2008, Fibreglass lime/white, 45lb, used good cond, retail $3495 now $2200.

RACING SHELLS

MISSION/FISA Rec Racer 22' 2007, Fibreglass red/white, 55lb, used trade-in good cond, retail $3795 now $2400.

MISSION ROWING Rocket LT 25' 2008, Carbon black/carbon, 35lb, rentd 2008, excellent cond, retail $6995 now $4200.

KAYAKS

CURRENT DESIGN Kestrel 14' 2009, Kevlar orange/white, 40lb, demo excellent cond, retail $2995 now $2200.

PELICAN SOT 9' 2007, Polyethylene orange, 35lb, used excellent cond, retail $495 now $350.

Please email me at theaccidentalcanoeist@live.com if interested in any of these boats, or others that may be available. Payment may be made by MasterCard, Visa, Cheque or Cash, payable directly to H20 Composites. Retail sales taxes will apply to all new boats and those purchased using payment other than cash. For used boats and paying with cash payment can be made directly to me, and we can consider the transaction a private sale, as I am not a retailer.

AFTER SALE FEEDBACK

I recently emailed the purchaser of my H20 Composites Canadian 16-6 demonstrator, to ask how the canoe has been working for him, and to give him tips on winter storage of a canoe, having found how simple and quickly four grown men each with a beer can construct indoor winter storage in a basement or a garage. A few days later I heard back:

Thank you for the storage tips and the link to your blog. The canoe is seeing lots of activity and the feedback is all positive. For most of us it has been twenty years or more since going out for a paddle and now we realize what we were missing.

That's the kind of stuff I like to hear!

FALL CLEANING

Well Autumn is almost upon us, and Jeff and I are taking stock of what is left over from the year. This year, H20 Composites Inc. produced a few hundred canoes and rowing shells (can't tell you exact numbers), and it goes without saying that a couple of duds got in the mix. These boats are considered 'defective' in some manner or another, mostly due to some kind of cosmetic defect, usually gelcoat shrinking back during infusion, or sometimes incomplete infusion, where small areas had to have the catalysed resin rolled on by hand, and the occasional structural defect which has been repaired with the appropriate cloth. What is certain about these boats is that, apart from some apparent defect in the finished appearance, they are as tough, as durable, as light, and as good quality as all of the boats that end up at retailers, but they can be had for anywhere from a 20% to as much as a 40% savings or more off of the retail price. There aren't many, so stay tuned as I will put a list of these boats up here next week, and links to any ads I might have posted on Kijiji.ca

YOKES

On the way back from the cottage I decided to stop in on one of our suppliers in Quadeville, SlipStream Yokes. I had no idea of their location, so I found the General Store in the village, and walked in, finding two lady customers (one with a cute baby) and the storekeeper. They were in conversation (about babies, a friend of theirs having twins - my comment was although very happy with 'number first' and 'number last', the ideal number of kids in my opinion was anywhere between zero and seven!) and when we had finished, the storekeeper asked if I needed help. I told her I was looking for a gentleman locally who was known to manufacture the world's finest canoe yokes, and at that the lady with the baby laughed, and exclaimed: "That's my dad!".

Although most H20 Composites canoes are fitted with high quality Teal yokes, a retailer in Nova Scotia has requested all H2O canoes delivered to his store be fitted with SlipStream Yokes. They are more expensive of course, but then again, isn't a Lexus more expensive than a Toyota? And that's the difference, the Teal yokes are high quality, durable, with a great finish... The SlipStream Yokes are extremely high quality, durable, with a finish that doesn't just approach, but rather redefines perfection! If you want the most beautiful and comfortable canoe yoke in the world, they are available at select outfitters, or online if your local outfitter doesn't carry them.

H2O COMPOSITES PROSPECTOR 16

I recently picked up my other new boat, an H20 Composites Prospector 16 from Frontenac Outfitters. It had been previously lent to them to fill out their rental fleet, and as I had just dropped off four brand new canoes, and we were now within a half dozen boats of filling our 2009 order, Matt had no issue with letting me take it away. This is a fibreglass boat, very light for a glass canoe at 58 lbs, and like the Canadian, is fitted out as a rental, with a standard ash Teal yoke, webbed ash seats, and aluminum handles and thwart. I like the Frontenac Outfitters logo, and will probably leave that on. It handles quite differently than the Canadian, and I was surprised I could actually tell the difference, but it was significant. The Prospector loved to turn, and I guess about a half dozen paddle strokes could turn it in a circle, wheras it would take at least twice as many to turn the Canadian. It also wanted to move off course, yet was easier to return to course with a J-stoke of minimal effort. Probably great for slow little meandering rivers, and lakes where you want to explore the shoreline, rather than open lakes like Carson. I think it will be the Canoe of choice for our August paddle down York River into Conroy Marsh!

CANADIAN 16-6 ON THE WATER

H2O Composites Canadian 16-6, being put through her paces by Peter and John on the choppy waters of Carson Lake. The boat is a Kevlar standard, fitted out as a rental.

CANADIAN 16-6 ARRIVING AT SHORE

H2O Composites Canadian 16-6, paddled by Peter and John, arriving at shore after a half hour run on Carson Lake. She certainly is beautiful (and they aren't that bad looking either!)

OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE NEW

I recently dropped off one of my new canoes at the Cottage, and took the old one away for repairs. The new canoe is an H20 Composites Canadian 16-6 Kevlar 'rental' (Notice the Aluminum thwart and carry handles) This was a 'factory defect' as it has a fairly large cosmetic defect, a slight rectangular crease so to speak, where the materials did not press properly into the mold, and left a 'relief imprint'. Otherwise a beautiful boat, and light at 44.5 lbs. I think it looks magnificent compared to the old Coleman beside her in the picture. The old canoe weighed in at about 75 lbs, and needs thwarts replaced, the float tanks fixed, and some fiberglass repairs here and there, which I will do in late July or early August, then return to the cottage as the complementary boat for our renters. I am already planning a couple of trips for Rudi and me in the new canoe, now that we have something we can actually carry. I am looking forward to a trip on the York River into the Conroy Marsh, and possibly a paddle up or down the Madawaska from lake Negeek.

ON PRIZE WINNING TOMATOES AND CARBON FIBRE CANOES

So there we were at the 2008 Tavistock Fall Fair, having just found out our Roma and Yellow Cherry tomatoes had made the one-two sweep of their respective categories, giving us a whopping $2.50 payout each. And then I spotted it. It was absolutely gorgeous, with long, sleek lines, and a brilliant polished finish. On closer inspection, the top was a clearcoat over black carbon fibre cloth, with a white bottom under the waterline, and a large white sticker amidships under the 'gunnels' (no correction needed, I know it is gunwale!) reading "H2O". The interior was painted a flat green, kind of a mix of forest and olive green, which set off the wood interior beautifully. The level of fit and finish was absolutely impeccable, and I almost started to drool!

It was set on a display stand just behind and to the right of a amall table with product information about the company "H2O Composites Inc". Also on display was a single person rowing shell, with outriggers and oars, finished just as magnificently as the canoe. There was a note on the table which read "Back in 10 Minutes", a stack of business cards, and a placard to the left side of the table with a sign reading "Please Inquire About Possible Employment Opportunities". And that's part of how this little adventure began!