Temagami 2010: Day 1, Saturday, July 17
Dad and I arrived in Temagami around 12:30 PM after leaving Grandma and Papa’s around 7:30 PM last night. The drive was long and uneventful, and everything ran pretty much as it always does except with the addition of hauling the boat. We stopped in Meadville for dinner at Cracker Barrel, Angola, NY for a stretch and snack, across the border by 12:30 AM, and made it to Barrie for our couple-hour snooze around 2 AM. This morning we stopped briefly at a really nice rest stop called Almaguin in Katrine. It had loop paths through the woods that I think were made for dog owners, and there was even a little playground. We ate breakfast at Rockpine (Marten River/Lake) and then rolled into Temagami Shores around 12:30 PM.
Got our room key but couldn’t check in, so we went into town to get our fishing licenses. At Dad’s we caught up with Jim. First thing I noticed was that he didn’t have any minnows; in fact, his tanks weren’t even filled with water. He said he lost over half his stock within the first moments of putting them in the water. Apparently no one can keep them alive long enough to sell them. Jim said the lake water was 76 degrees; the warmest it’s been since anyone can remember. That seems to be what is killing all of the minnows. Needless to say dad and I were bummed, but we bought our licenses and two-dozen night crawlers to get us started. Who knows what we’ll do about still fishing off the rocks at Caribou.
Back at Temagami Shores we unpacked the car and got the boat in the water without a hitch. Well, there were a few hitches, but nothing serious. Took it for a quick spin, found a place to dock it, and we’re now officially set for the week. It’s nice to have the boat up here instead of renting the aluminum boat. For one, if it rains there is shelter and there is just more room and it’s easier to maneuver.
Back to the cottage for a quick nap (Gina), collected our “dump water” (from the local spring that happens to be on the road to the old dump), bought groceries at the Co-op, and ordered a raspberry pie from Busy Bee. This place never changes. Everything is the same and it’s wonderful that way. I love that we come here and this town is exactly how we left it last July. Except for the dead minnows. Darn dead minnows.
Dad is making dinner – hamburgers and mushroom gravy, and then we’re going out on the boat for our first night of fishing. The weather has been warm overall, but today it’s been cloudy, sunny, windy (Stacy), and on and off rain. Just like Canada should be. Ha.
Update: Trolled around Island 4 (the usual) but didn’t keep anything. I caught a walleye, just small enough to throw back, probably about 14 inches. I think Dad caught a small bass. It was really windy, so we trolled along the south shore where it was protected. The water is really low this year – about a foot and a half lower than last year.
The sunsets are beautiful near Island 4.
A double rainbow out on the lake!
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