Day 3 - September 9th

Day 3 - Leg 3 (click to enlarge pics)

Backtracked on Portage Bay, then LakeTemagami to Cross Lake

(Distance 7.5 miles)

I tried to bake some cookies for early morning coffee and Bible study time.  It was a bust!  Burned to a crisp! That’s what happens when you get out of practice!  I forgot the heat distribution plate from the bottom of the oven pan.  Critical! Without the plate the cookies were directly exposed to heat, like putting them in a frying pan!  Oh well, I had backup Pecan Sandies for that purpose, so threw away the cookies and moved on.

After study and some reading I made breakfast.  Blueberry pancakes and sausage with OJ.  I was using a new fry pan and as usual it takes a while to get the correct heat setting.  Worked so-so, not my best pancakes!  Will try to do better next time. 

By the time I was finished, pulled in the lines and backed away it was 10 am. Usual departure time for me. I try to travel about 3-5 hours, 5-7 miles a day, give or take. Then skip a day.  I had contemplated staying at this location because it was quiet and off the beaten track but the goal of Cross Lake I could not shake!  The boat wanted to stay though!  I could not get it off the beach!  I used a paddle to try to help, but that was counterproductive since I put my weight on the bow, not the right location.  So, I just used the motor to work it back and forth and eventually got off. I motored out slowly since the area was full of rocks and reefs.

My next problem was to get out of Portage Bay!  There was a narrow channel to the NW I hoped had adequate depth, but no guarantees!  However, once I got there it was clear I could likely get through, even if it was shallow and narrow. So, I escaped my trap and headed down lake, lots of fishing boats passing me by. 

I set up the solar panel on my little folding table on the bow, so I could charge up the solar power battery which I use to recharge my drone and laptop batteries.  Worked great since I was heading into the sun. Got it recharged by the time I headed back north

Saw three other houseboats in Cross Lake, two together on one site as I worked my way north. I was hoping my remote site would be open.  It looked ideal for kayaking with lots of nooks and crannies and a short portage into a more interior lake.  Turns out it was open! However, there was an unmarked site within sight that someone could come and take, not desirable.  I do not like boat sites within sight of each other.

Boat Site - North Central Cross Lake

Boat Site Walk Through

Very nice boat site! After I got tied up I took the fire ring ashore for later on.  Flew the drone some more without the floats and performance was better.  However, I could not get some of the intelligent functions to work finally gave up and decided to try later.  

Went to do dishes, I do those in the afternoon before or after dinner which is early each day since I do not eat lunch.  Although I did snack a little. I took some cheese, crackers, nuts, and wine ashore and took a break just enjoying the day and the scenery.  Later I started the grill.  Tonight it will be steak, baked potato, coleslaw, and red wine.  Afterward I will try to fly the drone again.  

40 Watt Solar Panel - Charging Solar Storage Battery Underway 
Fire Ring on Ceramic Tile to Protect Deck

Solar Storage Battery Pack & Drone Battery Charging Station 
(w/3 battery slots. solar battery pack is a KaliPAK 401 - 348 watt capacity. 2 standard 12 vdc and 4 USB 5 vdc outputs)

Home Made Kayak Tow Rig
(PVC pipe with rope running through, pipe insulation for flotation, locking snaps for all connections) 

BT Stereo Speaker in Window (1 of 2)
(Connected to phone with downloaded Pandora stations since there is no internet)

Drone Landing Pad, DJI Spark Drone Mounted on Floats w/ Controller

Greater success with the drone!  Did some pics with the standard camera and also with my DJI Osmo Mobile 2 gimbal phone arrangement.  Played with some motion lapse pics.  Have to experiment to see what works best?  Sat around the fire ring but I just don’t have the energy to stay up.  

I did manage to read a little from a novel in bed but I get sleepy very fast. I’ve been sleeping soundly at night except the bed is a little to firm, so I roll over more often.  I don’t have heat on at night but do need it in the morning.  Cool nights!

Drone Overflight of Boat Site Area

Facing South - Kayak Launch Site

Fire Ring Used Ashore In Lieu of Wood Fire

Day 2 - September 8th

Day 2 - Leg 2
Trapped in Portage Bay!
(Distance 7.8 miles)

Video: Underway On Portage Bay - Kayak in Tow

The night's boat site was unplanned! I did not check carefully enough for outlets and there appeared to be one.  But, no there wasn’t!  The chart was a little deceptive. I entered the bay and passed close by High Rock Island boat site thinking I might stop there and hike the trail to the overlook but decided to stop on the return instead.  

I proceeded on to Cross Lake which connects to Temagami from the east.  When I approached the end of Portage Bay it became clear I would have to back track a mile or more to get back out of the bay! There was a portage you could throw a rock across, but not the boat! 

I had already traveled about 6 miles and did not want to go further, but there was a problem!  Though there was a portage there was no co-located boat site on this side!  I did not want to go back so I considered an alternative, a small rocky peninsula nearby that appeared it would work (see pics).  I approached from the portage side (west), but it was clear that was not going to work because it was to shallow! So, I tried to approach from the east and was able to nudge in and tie up.  Actually, a very nice site since I don’t require any shore side accouterments. Ended up being just fine for me.  

Portage Bay - Self Made Houseboat Site

Video of Portage Bay Houseboat Site

A Sliver of Rock!

Home Built Pontoons
Foam Sheathed With Wood Supported With Angle Iron

Short Video of Boat Interior

Flew the drone with floats attached, but I'm not happy with performance.  It was a little windy but it seemed erratic in response to the controls.  I made two or three flights but was not pleased with overall performance.  I may have to fly without the safety of the floats? See video clip below. Had to edit pretty drastically, but they should get better!

Drone Video - Portage Bay Site

Spent part of the afternoon rigging up the fire ring on the fore deck putting down some protective tile first.  The ring fit just fine.  Rigged up the shower and and tried to use it without the shelter but it was just too breezy and cool!  So, I put the shelter up but did not have it positioned well.  It worked okay but I need to work on the location a bit.  The hot shower felt great!  

Brought Along Chair and Fire Ring For Evening Enjoyment

Had grilled salmon, potato salad, coleslaw, fresh hot roll, and white wine for dinner.  Sat out by the fire for a while but I was just too tired at the end of the day to stay out and wait for the stars.  I even had trouble trying to read! I was just too tired with the fresh cool air and more activity than I am used to!

Enjoying the Fire Ring

(Motion Lapse)

Day 1 - September 7th

The trip from White Bear Lake, MN to Temagami, Ontario, Canada is about 830 miles with two days of travel.  I spent the overnight in Newbury, MI and passed through Sault Ste Marie and Sudbury on the way.  The drive was uneventful but enjoyable with beautiful sunny weather all the way.

Temagami Region 
(NOTE: Click to enlarge pictures)

I arrived in Temagami an hour before my allowed boarding of 4 pm to allow time to visit and get itinerary suggestions from the owners of Leisure Island Houseboats.  At 4 pm I began boarding while the owners added more water (3-6 gallon jugs) and changed the large propane bottle to ensure I had enough for two weeks.

I'm very pleased with the boat and its layout. Very comfortable! It took about an hour to load the boat, secure the kayak, and get ready to depart.  I was off around 4:30 pm which gave me about 2 hours at most to get to a site before dusk.  I motored about 3/4 throttle to conserve fuel which gave me about 4 mph. Slow but steady!

I was heading SW in the NE Arm of the Lake and planned to go about 6 miles before stopping for the night.  I headed into the site recommended for the night on the N side of the Arm, near the Tetapaga River. Unfortunately, this site was taken! I had the feeling that might be the case!  So I turned a 180 and went back across to the S. Tetapaga River entrance and a site, though available, was quite exposed. I had no choice since it was late, so I went in.

Leg 1-Leisure Island Houseboats to first campsite
(About 7 miles and 2 hours)

I was pushing daylight by the time I got pulled into the alternative campsite which was exposed to wave action from boats moving up and down the lake, not very desirable.  Fortunately, that ceased soon after dark.

The wind was blowing on the starboard stern so I had to put out an extra stern line (guy) to hold the boat in position.  It was very dark by the time I finished my burger, chips, and cold beer. Wine and chocolate covered almonds are my usual desert.  I sat on the fore deck for awhile and looked at the myriad of stars.  It reminded me of the passage from Psalms 147:4 "He (God) determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name." Difficult to wrap your mind around that as you look at all those stars!

 I was exhausted so hit the sack soon after, probably around 10 pm.  (No pictures today)

For videos about the houseboat interior, features, and how to tie up to shore, see the following YouTube link:

                                Temagami Houseboats - Informational Videos