Killarney July 24

Our last day we went through a few very narrow waterways.

We were enveloped in a beautiful world of lily pads.


But still there is the evidence of mankind having gone through leaving his mark behind.


The end of this portage ended in a water meadow. To the right, beyond where you can see, there was a beaver dam we had to "lift over". Then we had to slowly make our way through a channel that slowly weaved all the way to where you can see the open water. It was so gorgeous, and also so shallow! Several times we went half a foot of the main part of the hardly noticeable channel, which would get us mildly stuck. We'd have to back up, then try again.

Loading up the canoe was a bit muddy here, but not nearly as muddy as at one portage where we were muddy over our knees, and almost lost our sandals in the guck!


When Nathan saw my "new" shirt he said

"Mommy, I like your white shirt. It looks just like you're going to get married!

Killarney July 23

We had two rainy nights, but this was our first rainy day. Packing up camp happened in the rain, but by the time we were paddling on the second lake, it was misty, no longer raining.

Things look so lovely after it has finished raining.

Bright and shiny rain gear.





Sitting at the end of the longest portage, we contempated whether or not it was worth going all the way to Muriel and back just for one night.
And we made it all the way back to Kakakise, and ended up at in our original site again.

Dinnertime.

Killarney July 22

On their own in a boat

or maybe we should wait a few years for that?

This was the view from the site we spent 3 of our 5 nights.

Not bad, I thought.

At the end of a really short portage was a clean rocky beach where we enjoyed a little break. As always, the water was lovely!




The last portage, ending at Muriel Lake. We had to meander around the edge of this marshy area.


This time it was cloudy and the water was less than spectacular

so swimming was not encouraged.

Daniel found the rocks at this beach to be less than spectacular in taste.

Despite this being our hardest day, we all made it to the last lake in relatively good time.

The kids and I dumped our pile of junk in the middle of the wilderness while Phil, as usual, trudged back for the second load.

We even had time to check out both of the sites on the lake, and picked the one which had the "ruggedest" look.

Four loons came to check us out at our site.

They were probably hoping for fish remnants, but we weren't sharing.

It was a gorgeous evening.

Killarney July 21

We didn't move camp this day, but paddled across the lake and hiked 1.5 km up a hiking trail to "The Crack" to see the view.

It was a touch more than warm exerting ourselves on a hot summer day, but as the walk was not too long, and the nagging mother insisted we pack a days worth of water up to the "peak", none of us suffered worse then heavy perspiration and fatigue.

It was a lovely view from the top.

Looking east to Killarney lake, and O.S.A. lake beyond it, we could get a bit of an impression of our next day's journey in the distance. The day after we would be trekking to the farthest of that blue, and then one small lake beyond it yet. From here it looks rather daunting!

The kids were far more thrilled with the wild blueberries that we found than the glorious view. At least it kept them from running and jumping in dangerous places. The blueberry patch worked remarkably well as a grazing ground from our hungry "cattle". It also made them forget about their blisters. ;)

Killarney July 20

As per tradition, I was required to take a full boat picture.
(a day late :o )

Surprisingly we can fit six people (all be it, several small ones) and six days worth of camping gear and food into a 16 foot canoe. I had reserved a 17 foot, but alas, they did not deliver to my specs. At least they did not over charge-otherwise they would have heard it from me!


Nothing better than a canoe for lulling kids to sleep in the most awkward positions imaginable.


Daniel napped pretty much every lake we crossed, and Nathan did not nap at all. And neither caused any (major) problems.


Gear is so much fun to play with; Nathan and Melanie buckled the adult life jackets to the log, and then when tired of that, they buckled a whole bunch of life jackets together in a bundle.

We spent three of our five nights at this campsite.
I loved the peacefulness of it

BUT Philip wished it was more scenic.
Trust me, I know all too well how hard he is to please!

Killarney July 19

Our first day in, and what gorgeous weather!

With such a lazy day (read: no portages) we had plenty of time to enjoy the waters of George lake on our very own beach.

Organizing requires messy beginnings

The one room in the house that is almost always neat is a disaster right now.

Sad but true, the newer things are easier (read: more fun) to maintain. Hopefully this is not the case when I deal with my children. :o

These wonderful children are also packing kitchen stuff for their own camping trip, as I refused to let them help me pack. I will not even allow their father to interfere in the food packing department, so they did not take it personally. I think Nathan did most of the packing, Melanie most of the supervising, Matthew most of the entertaining, and Daniel most of the interfering.

(Some of the entertainment.) These shoes look a bit more challenging to walk in than heels, but I am only guessing.

Should be packing

Lots of people have been saying that all my kids look a like, so here is one of Daniel looking very Daniel like, and not very Nathan, Melanie or Matthew like (to me anyways).

I think he looks and behaves more like Asher than my other boys.

A close friend is moving far away. This bar stool from her will never fill the void, but it will fill some space in the kitchen, quite elegantly too, perhaps.

The shirt says it all.
(But Daniel should be wearing it.)