Photos A Walk in Nature

CelloDan said:
Spectacular nature and knives shots 👍 … and the FOOD 😋 😎
Click to expand...
Many thanks! We weren't sure if there would be any fire bans in effect, so I had to prepare for meals that could be made on the camp stove, that could also be simple and convenient for camping. That's when I came up with that idea for an easy beef stew. I just used a few packages of the pre-cooked beef tips that you can find in the meat section of the grocery store, added some beef stock, broccoli for some vegetable nutrients, and finally a package of pre-cooked frozen wild rice mix. Not gourmet by any means but it actually came out pretty good, much better than canned, and was especially satiating after our 10-11 mile hike that day.

As you can see we were in the end allowed to have fire (got in just before a ban actually), so I was able to do the forearm workout that is campfire popcorn. There's a satisfaction from the process though that makes it taste better out there, and the leftover pairs oddly well with the next mornings coffee by the fire.

And the figs... Oh, man, don't get me started. To say I have a bit of an obsession with them in the summertime would be an understatement. I've never been a fan of dried figs, but fresh ones in season are a delight to behold. Pairs so well with my wee after dinner dram of whisky 😋
 
Home safe and sound :)

On Friday my Dad and I did 17 km from Kingston to Upper Brewers lock.

It was windy and in the "wrong way". Predominant winds are from the SW (this was NE), that's why the recommended direction for small vessels is to go from Kingston towards Ottawa.

The motor acted up a little and we thought a fuel line may be causing it as it seemed to go away after a while.

I then continued alone

On Saturday I did 40 km. I was 9 hours aboard Esperanza but a good portion of it was spent going trough locks and fishing at a couple spots.

As I am arriving at Newboro the motor starts loosing power and getting noisier.
I checked the oil and sure enough the dipstick is not getting a reading.

My heart sank and I was mad at my own negligence for not doing something so basic which I had been meaning to do but somehow or another did no do.

The lockmaster gave me some hope that someone at a small marina nearby may be able to help me.
The forecast was for 100 % rain starting that night and all Sunday. On top of that my wife was in Toronto and could not come pick me up so I was sort of stuck.

It rained that night. Early the next morning I was able to get some oil from the marina attendant.
The motor was back, stronger and smoother than ever ( and much quieter too lol )

So off I went :thumbsup:. The day was grey, cool 15 C, and very windy, still in the WRONG direction but luckily no rain.
I wanted to go long again all the way to Poonamalie but after 3 hours I could not take the beating for another 3 more so I veered right and went to camp at Colonel By island

https://imgur.com/QcKZKeC
0eUQFxk.png


It was incredible to see how different things were on the other side of the island in more protected waters ... there was barely a breeze.

I had a good time, relaxed, fish, cooked fish, ate fish LOL
8J1XKFn.jpg


Knife content LOL
(also, it does look like a lot of fish but I had not eaten since breakfast and that's all I ate ... with some pickles, very slowly, washed down with yerba mate of course LOL

yUJayqw.jpg

Very finely ground Panko did the trick :)

So this morning the sky is blue, the air fresh and I am ready :thumbsup: to go all day for as long as I can hold up.

As I leave the protection of the island is more of the same ... except that the sky is blue.

https://imgur.com/6hoZC0G

I took another 3 hours dose of that.
I did find some refuge to eat, fill up the tank and rest a bit on the lee side of a small island.

Finally I entered protected waters in the final stretch as you leave the big lakes and the waterway narrows to the size of a small river.

2 km from the lock I was navigating to the side of the main channel when the propeller hit a rock and broke the sheer pin o_O
I got the oars out and pulled up to the dock of a cottage nearby.
I was not able to take out the broken pin to replace it so the last 2 km were done rowing and looking backwards :p.

RRtWDvN.jpg


My wife picked me up an hour and a half later :)

My GPS read a total distance of 102 km for the whole trip ( 100 under engine power + 2 km under muscle power :D )

yj4abS3.jpg



I think I could benefit from a bigger boat ... something like this .. right ? :p

eb8UYhZ.jpg


Esperanza 1.0 in the foreground and 2.0 in the background :cool:

9IUXeWm.jpg
 
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CelloDan said:
Home safe and sound :)

On Friday my Dad and I did 17 km from Kingston to Upper Brewers lock.

It was windy and in the "wrong way". Predominant winds are from the SW (this was NE), that's why the recommended direction for small vessels is to go from Kingston towards Ottawa.

The motor acted up a little and we thought a fuel line may be causing it as it seemed to go away after a while.

I then continued alone

On Saturday I did 40 km. I was 9 hours aboard Esperanza but a good portion of it was spent going trough locks and fishing at a couple spots.

As I am arriving at Newboro the motor starts loosing power and getting noisier.
I checked the oil and sure enough the dipstick is not getting a reading.

My heart sank and I was mad at my own negligence for not doing something so basic which I had been meaning to do but somehow or another did no do.

The lockmaster gave me some hope that someone at a small marina nearby may be able to help me.
The forecast was for 100 % rain starting that night and all Sunday. On top of that my wife was in Toronto and could not come pick me up so I was sort of stuck.

It rained that night. Early the next morning I was able to get some oil from the marina attendant.
The motor was back, stronger and smoother than ever ( and much quieter too lol )

So off I went :thumbsup:. The day was grey, cool 15 C, and very windy, still in the WRONG direction but luckily no rain.
I wanted to go long again all the way to Poonamalie but after 3 hours I could not take the beating for another 3 more so I veered left and went to camp at Colonel By island

https://imgur.com/QcKZKeC
0eUQFxk.png


It was incredible to see how different things were on the other side of the island in more protected waters ... there was barely a breeze.

I had a good time, relaxed, fish, cooked fish, ate fish LOL
8J1XKFn.jpg


Knife content LOL
(also, it does look like a lot of fish but I had not eaten since breakfast and that's all I ate ... with some pickles, very slowly, washed down with yerba mate of course LOL

yUJayqw.jpg

Very finely ground Panko did the trick :)

So this morning the sky is blue, the air fresh and I am ready :thumbsup: to go all day for as long as I can hold up.

As I leave the protection of the island is more of the same ... except that the sky is blue.

https://imgur.com/6hoZC0G

I took another 3 hours dose of that.
I did find some refuge to eat, fill up the tank and rest a bit on the lee side of a small island.

Finally I entered protected waters in the final stretch as you leave the big lakes and the waterway narrows to the size of a small river.

2 km from the lock I was navigating to the side of the main channel when the propeller hit a rock and broke the sheer pin o_O
I got the oars out and pulled up to the dock of a cottage nearby.
I was not able to take out the broken pin to replace it so the last 2 km were done rowing and looking backwards :p.

RRtWDvN.jpg


My wife picked me up an hour and a half later :)

My GPS read a total distance of 102 km for the whole trip ( 100 under engine power + 2 km under muscle power :D )

yj4abS3.jpg



I think I could benefit from a bigger boat ... something like this .. right ? :p

eb8UYhZ.jpg


Esperanza 1.0 in the foreground and 2.0 in the background :cool:

9IUXeWm.jpg
Click to expand...
Now that’s an adventure Dan! 😎👍
 
CelloDan said:
My GPS read a total distance of 102 km for the whole trip ( 100 under engine power + 2 km under muscle power :D )
Click to expand...
Sounds like quite an adventure! I bet it will sound like even more of an adventure by the time you get to tell about it to any future grandchildren :D.

Glad you made it home safe and sound!
 
CelloDan said:
Home safe and sound :)

On Friday my Dad and I did 17 km from Kingston to Upper Brewers lock.

It was windy and in the "wrong way". Predominant winds are from the SW (this was NE), that's why the recommended direction for small vessels is to go from Kingston towards Ottawa.

The motor acted up a little and we thought a fuel line may be causing it as it seemed to go away after a while.

I then continued alone

On Saturday I did 40 km. I was 9 hours aboard Esperanza but a good portion of it was spent going trough locks and fishing at a couple spots.

As I am arriving at Newboro the motor starts loosing power and getting noisier.
I checked the oil and sure enough the dipstick is not getting a reading.

My heart sank and I was mad at my own negligence for not doing something so basic which I had been meaning to do but somehow or another did no do.

The lockmaster gave me some hope that someone at a small marina nearby may be able to help me.
The forecast was for 100 % rain starting that night and all Sunday. On top of that my wife was in Toronto and could not come pick me up so I was sort of stuck.

It rained that night. Early the next morning I was able to get some oil from the marina attendant.
The motor was back, stronger and smoother than ever ( and much quieter too lol )

So off I went :thumbsup:. The day was grey, cool 15 C, and very windy, still in the WRONG direction but luckily no rain.
I wanted to go long again all the way to Poonamalie but after 3 hours I could not take the beating for another 3 more so I veered left and went to camp at Colonel By island

https://imgur.com/QcKZKeC
0eUQFxk.png


It was incredible to see how different things were on the other side of the island in more protected waters ... there was barely a breeze.

I had a good time, relaxed, fish, cooked fish, ate fish LOL
8J1XKFn.jpg


Knife content LOL
(also, it does look like a lot of fish but I had not eaten since breakfast and that's all I ate ... with some pickles, very slowly, washed down with yerba mate of course LOL

yUJayqw.jpg

Very finely ground Panko did the trick :)

So this morning the sky is blue, the air fresh and I am ready :thumbsup: to go all day for as long as I can hold up.

As I leave the protection of the island is more of the same ... except that the sky is blue.

https://imgur.com/6hoZC0G

I took another 3 hours dose of that.
I did find some refuge to eat, fill up the tank and rest a bit on the lee side of a small island.

Finally I entered protected waters in the final stretch as you leave the big lakes and the waterway narrows to the size of a small river.

2 km from the lock I was navigating to the side of the main channel when the propeller hit a rock and broke the sheer pin o_O
I got the oars out and pulled up to the dock of a cottage nearby.
I was not able to take out the broken pin to replace it so the last 2 km were done rowing and looking backwards :p.

RRtWDvN.jpg


My wife picked me up an hour and a half later :)

My GPS read a total distance of 102 km for the whole trip ( 100 under engine power + 2 km under muscle power :D )

yj4abS3.jpg



I think I could benefit from a bigger boat ... something like this .. right ? :p

eb8UYhZ.jpg


Esperanza 1.0 in the foreground and 2.0 in the background :cool:

9IUXeWm.jpg
Click to expand...

"Esperanza 1.0 in the foreground and 2.0 in the background."

You speak of the The Kawartha Voyageur or that butt ugly misshapen piping bag looking thing? :confused: Oh dear, you wouldn't have any stories to share riding around in that thing.

Sounds like you mostly had a great trip with a few potential disasters avoided. Glad to be home though right. Esperanza always keen for your next expedition. Thanks so much fo sharing. Has been a fun vicarious boating summer with you.
 
bigfish64 said:
Now that’s an adventure Dan! 😎👍
Click to expand...
Gracias Todd :)
JohnDF said:
If you had a boat like that, you'd never dock and never stop.
Click to expand...
On second thought, I think that will get boring rather quick.
I do dream though of building a mini shanty boat to cruise the Rideau to be able to stay longer, anchor at a little bay and sleep in the boat etc
I even have the plans for one that several people have built themselves. I would need help from a construction carpenter as I don't' have the skill for it ( or the funds right now ) ... but that's the dream :)

Just Tom. said:
Sounds like quite an adventure! I bet it will sound like even more of an adventure by the time you get to tell about it to any future grandchildren :D.

Glad you made it home safe and sound!
Click to expand...
Gracias Tom :)
I'll make sure to spice up the adventure a bit for my future grandchildren :cool:
RayseM said:
"Esperanza 1.0 in the foreground and 2.0 in the background."

You speak of the The Kawartha Voyageur or that butt ugly misshapen piping bag looking thing? :confused: Oh dear, you wouldn't have any stories to share riding around in that thing.

Sounds like you mostly had a great trip with a few potential disasters avoided. Glad to be home though right. Esperanza always keen for your next expedition. Thanks so much fo sharing. Has been a fun vicarious boating summer with you.
Click to expand...
Right on my friend:thumbsup::)
I was joking about the big Kawartha boat but neither boat would ever do for me even if won the big lotto.
I am a minimalist and do enjoy the simplicity of my little adventures way more.
As I was telling John, perhaps one day I can build a little "mini shanty boat out of home depot lumber. fiberglass, epoxy etc so I can sleep inside and go for a little longer.

I was talking to a boat owner and mentioned that with about 6 liters of gas I can do 100 km and he laugh out loud, said that 6 liters would only warm up his engines. He had two big engines and two tanks of 75 gallons each. I think he said that with both tanks full he has a range of only 150 km ... wow
He did not want to tell me how much $ to fill both tanks LOL

I am on my way to drop my GOOD OLD FAITHFULL little 2hp Honda outboard to the mechanic for the WORKS :)
It deserves it ... I love that little piece of metal :)

Lj6y6lh.jpg
 
Kind of smokey out again today, so instead of looking for views we went lake and waterfall hunting. Come along while we go for a nice 9.2km stroll along Karst Spring Trail.

View from the parking lot.

7WoySPv.jpg


Right outside the parking lot, we were greeted by multiple sightings of very berry filled bear scat, but that was all we saw of them. Another hiker mentioned a momma and cubs were spotted in the parking lot recently.

Down the trail a bit, and we came to beautiful Watridge Lake

0p9tUJz.jpg


Past the lake, the trail turned into a skinny boardwalk until the ground firmed up again

NFxvUEq.jpg


CMg1dkf.jpg


Came upon the flow from the spring

6MplAm4.jpg


Up we go :)

4aU8zm9.jpg


Had to pause to take another of the same selfies as all the others we have ;)

sOuMnKd.jpg


At the top, here’s where the water comes up.

3IxJ00v.jpg


Looks pretty calm, but 10 feet away is a different story.

LXNC0Bw.jpg


Educational signage

7kuZXsE.jpg


Was pretty neat to see. Here’s a quick video with a surprise appearance from the better half


On the way back down I remembered I hadn’t taken a knife photo yet :D

OpwZz9U.jpg


Some drowned trees just off the path

mOcl83A.jpg


And last but not least, turkey sandwiches waiting back at the car!

Xusbofm.jpg


Bonus shot for Dan… On the way home we hit a traffic jam while some mountain sheep paused to lick the road

X0kBaG0.jpg
 
Crazy Canuck said:
Come along while we go for a nice 9.2km stroll along Karst Spring Trail.
Click to expand...

Thanks for taking us along Mike :) :thumbsup:
Breathtaking scenery ! Loved the variety that nature offers along that trail.
I can't help but wonder if it would be ok (safe) to drink from the spring right at the spot where the water comes out.

Crazy Canuck said:
Bonus shot for Dan… On the way home we hit a traffic jam while some mountain sheep paused to lick the road

X0kBaG0.jpg
Click to expand...

Thank you for the bonus shot my friend :thumbsup::cool:
I so would have been out of the car trying to get close to them for a knife pic 😂 ... ( I think the Porch knows that already lol ;) )
 
Here we go again :)

The smoke continues. Christina swore it was going to get better, and she wanted to go after a view today. That decision made, decided to try Mount Lipsett.

When we got out there, looked up, and it didn’t appear the smoke was going away…

nVvaObu.jpg


Decided to go for it anyway. To heck with the view :D

First car in the parking area.

3jgtFzt.jpg


Starting up. Trail meandered gently upwards for the most part.

iB5xBAv.jpg


Case 47 stockman rode along

famsBPX.jpg


After a while, a group of 20 somethings overtook and passed us. They all had walking sticks, and the last guy had two he was carrying. Offered one up to Christina, and she was happy to accept (she left her poles on the trail accidentally a few weeks ago).

omZkyOz.jpg


Overall, a pretty trail and not too strenuous, though we stopped regularly to take breaks.

HdQb8i6.jpg


HLXG6Ua.jpg


UTGMqEh.jpg


Above the trees it started getting a bit steeper. Destination is the little hill ahead.

5qWJYzf.jpg


View from the top was still okay, even with the smoke!

8yoAufP.jpg


NBZBJBC.jpg


3 hours up, just under 2 back down. Was a good day, but feel like I smoked a pack of cigarettes! ;)
 
What a fantastic thread! I’ll have to post some of my outdoor adventures as well.
CelloDan CelloDan - Your posts of the Rideau remind me a great deal of a fellow on YouTube called Roger Barnes, who is president of the British Dinghy Cruising Association. He makes excellent videos of his adventures sailing a small dinghy around the canals, rivers, and coasts of England and France. Since finding this thread an hour or so ago, I’m looking forward to the next update of your travels in Esperanza - keep it up!

I live in the city and have just started a corporate office job out of university, so I relish any chance for outdoor escapism - even when it’s virtual!
 
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