0530-Day one of drive home. 52F in the boat at wake up!
Days verse: "Not everyone who says to me, 'Lord, Lord,' will enter the kingdom of heaven, but only the one who does the will of my Father who is in heaven." (Mat 7:21)
0750-Study time and breakfast finished. I will clean up and go down for a last minute visit with my hosts and then get on the road.
Ready To Depart
0900-Departed Temagami. Good road conditions, but finally ran into rain in Sault Ste Marie until about 15 miles west.
Town of Temagami
1615-Arrived in Newberry. I had stopped for gas in the Sault and ended up being blocked by another vehicle and had to turn so tightly the equalizer bar jumped a peg due to loose bolts. Fortunately, I did not lose the bolts and on arrival in Newberry had to do some repair work before I could relax.
First Leg Of Drive Home (Click To Enlarge)
I had to use a small crescent wrench to tighten the bolt using a screw driver to jam the upper head so it would not turn. I think it will hold until I get home. At least I discovered it before I lost parts. I need to bring along larger wrenches in the future.
Parked at Newberry Overnight
1715-Repair is done, time for dinner.
1915-Dinner was chicken wild rice soup, some toasted wheat bread, and white wine. I followed up with some Bailey's and chocolate truffles for dessert.
Currently working on the best route home. Looks like I will take highway 8 to hopefully see more fall color.
I may watch a movie before bed.
Road Trip Home - Wednesday (Day Two)
0500-Alarm went off. Rained last night. Since I did not put up the heater stack last night, I had to use the table top fire to warm up the cabin.
0650-Breakfast done, washing the dishes before I depart. Still dark out and cloudy.
0550-Last day on the water. 62F/53F. Cloudy, breeze blowing out of the north.
0715-Study done. Verse for the day: "For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all people. This has now been witnessed to at the proper time." (1Ti 2:5-6).
Time for breakfast.
0745-Finished breakfast, now preparing to depart the site. Cold and blustery compared to past few days. 68F/53F.
Bundled Up In The Cold Breeze-53F
0915-Arrived at the Leisure Island Houseboat docks and went into a slip. Cold! 4.9 miles traveled. Very late fall type of weather (October).
Leg 12 Track - 4.9 Miles
Arrival - Leisure Island Houseboats Docks
Destination - Town of Temagami
Used The Slip Temporarily
1200-Most of the work is done but can't access the ramp yet for pull out. Waiting to finish the job. Will have a glass of wine in the meantime.
Approach For First Attempt
Go Around - Try Again!
1530-Boat is out but with slight trauma. Alignment in the breezy winds made it difficult. But we made it happen. Gear is stowed, I'm ready for a break.
Boat Out - Bent Starboard Guide Post
Beaver Taking Off From Downtown Temagami
1715-Had dinner of chicken fajita soup with a slice of Kings Hawaiian bread toasted accompanied by white wine. Strawberries are thawing for ice cream dessert. I'm grateful for this trip. The Lord blessed me in every aspect. Yes some things failed, but overall it was one of my best boat trips.
1835-Watched an internet video of the secret ops by Israel against the atomic facility in Iraq. Then watched the last half of the movie on my tablet I had started early in the trip called "Wingwomen".
0645-Bible study, prayer, time done. Verse of the day: "For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— not by works, so that no one can boast." (Eph 2:8-9)
I will read out of Philip Yancey's book "Disappointment with God" before I make breakfast.
Fog is so thick I can't see the other shore, which is not far (200 yards).
0705-Time to make breakfast. Still heavy fog so I may delay departure until it lifts.
0745-Breakfast of granola, strawberries, milk, and OJ. Fog persists and is too heavy to fly the drone.
0800-Fiddling around trying to get going but I need the fog to lift to fly the drone on my departure.
Local Area At Departure
0820-Fog is lifting. Getting ready to leave. Flew the drone as I departed the site. Fog still hanging around.
Fog Lifting
Pulling The Lines For Departure
Underway Finally!
Immature Loon
Leisure Island Houseboat (#11) still at the entrance, which was a surprise.
Leisure Island Houseboat - Near Entrance (See Jeff's Map)
Weather is cloudy, with a light breeze. No rain and warm. 69F/69F.
1045-Arrived at my final boat site for this trip. Traveled 11.2 miles in calm seas. Some sun breaking through at times.
Leg 11 Track - 11.2 Miles
I'm hungry so will make a snack to hold me till dinner.
Arrived At New Boat Site
1215-Made a chicken salad sandwich to have with some chips and white wine. It hit the spot. I had a chocolate truffle for dessert. Waiting for a Zoom call with the kids at 1300.
1700-Fiddled around all afternoon as Zoom failed again because I did not check my laptop battery and it crashes when plugged into the charger. I postponed until 7 pm when we will try again. Then I discovered my backup Li-ion battery was dead so I can't recharge the primary solar battery. Not only did my aft panels fail on this trip but so did the backup power. Nevertheless, I should make it.
I sat up on shore for a while after jumping in the lake to clean up. Time to make dinner. And then it began to rain!
Shore Side Perch
1750-Had roast port, rolls, with red wine for dinner. No more salad or potatoes. I will bake some cookies to have with ice cream for a treat.
1820-Fresh hot Mrs. Fields chocolate chip cookies with Haggen Daz ice cream is hard to beat as a treat!
It is raining steady now. 74F/67F. It is supposed to get into the 40's F tonight. Much cooler tomorrow. Looks like I may have a break in the weather for loading the boat.
1930-Got Zoom started but my computer crashed again so I ended that effort. I will have to fix that when I get home.
0800-Study time finished. Verse for today: "Therefore, I urge you, brothers and sisters, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and pleasing to God—this is your true and proper worship."(Rom 12:1)
Start of The Day - Red Sky In Morning, Sailor's Warning!
Time to prepare breakfast but need to retrieve my chair, ax, and tripod since it is spitting rain. Not sure if I will be able to kayak and hike later today or not.
0920-Made a large breakfast, a potato egg dish with sauteed veggies, sprinkled with mozzarella cheese, accompanied by bacon and OJ. Way too much to eat for me!
There is a light rain falling. 73F/65F. Trying to cool the cabin after cooking all that food. Will attempt to do dishes soon. Can't do much else until rain stops.
1100-Dsihes are done. One of the largest batches of dishes of this trip!. Still spitting rain from time to time.
1300-Laid on my bunk and listened to an audio book but did not nap.
Finally got up to bakes cookies to have with ice cream.
Two fishing boats passed a surprise in this weather.
1450-Laid down again to listen to "The Malta Exchange" by Steve Berry but got sleepy and put the phone away and napped. Maybe the first nap of the trip. Not hungry so dinner will wait. 75F/75F.
Fire Ring - Wood Now Damp From Rain
Don't know how she found me but "Daffy Duck" showed up doing her usual preening and bathing right in front of me as she did a few days back. Expecting a handout...but given none this time. Need to break that habit.
1525-Broken cloud cover with some blue sky showing. 75F/79F. Timing is iffy to try and kayak and hike this late in the day. Rain is still forecast.
Some Blue Sky
1615-Sat ashore enjoying the quiet. A piliated woodpecker came screeching in and landed on a tree nearby. I tried to get a photo but he was too wary and flew away. Decided it was time to eat again. 77F/80F.
Pileated Woodpecker On Left - Quite Large
Beautiful Evening
Quiet Evening With Improving Weather
1640-Had shrimp gumbo, rolls, and white wine. 77F/80F.
1915-Went back ashore to listen to my audio book and eventually put that down and just listened to the silence, enjoyed the sunset, and beautiful setting. Returned to the boat for the rest of the evening. No fire tonight, everything is damp.
0640-Bible study verse for the day: "While he was still speaking, a bright cloud covered them, and a voice from the cloud said, "This is my Son, whom I love; with him I am well pleased. Listen to him!" (Mat 17:5)
0800-Finished breakfast. Began prep to head up the mountain. I need to finish loading my pack and rig up my chest camera mount for the P2.
0830-Headed out. Lost the trail numerous times but finally found the overlook, though not the primary one. I found a secondary overlook. What a maze! Just look at my hiking track to see that! Had to use my phone chart to find the boat! The east track is the one to take (print out for the future!). 300' elevation change.
A Glimpse Of The Terrain I Got Lost In
The Drone Gear I Carry In Backpack
The Details Of Getting Lost & Finding Myself Again!
North Arm To Left - Ferguson Bay Entrance To Right - View From Cliff
Birds Eye View Of Upper Kokoko Bay And Boat
Boat Site - Devil Mountain
1120-Returned to the boat. Had a cold beer and began prep to depart the site. I'm pooped!
1150-Departed the site and promptly ran out of gas. Switched tanks but failed to put autopilot in standby mode and the autopilot powered to its stop and blew a fuse. Will fix later.
Wind came up and is making spray over the bow as I head south down the North Arm.
My Favorite Form Of Flying - Close To Entrance Of Spawning Bay
Observed a Leisure Island houseboat at the entrance campsite entering Spawning Bay. Fortunately, the site I was headed for on "Sliver of the Moon" Island was open. Thank you Lord!
Entrance To Spawning Bay
1350-Arrived at the new site after traveling 11 miles. The wind made it a little more challenging to land. Forgot to run the cameras. Just too tired!
Leg 10, Day 15 Track
Leg 10 - Destination Detail
Even this site was trashed! I was so angry I broke apart what they left and threw it back in the woods. I would have burned it if I was staying long enough.
While trying to do a short video a squirrel literally attacked the boat and was persistent, climbing the screens and running all over the boat despite my yelling, chasing after him, and swinging my walking stick. Unfortunately, I have no large rat trips aboard. (May need to bring one in the future).
I threw rocks at him but he would not give up. Obviously someone had been feeding him The island is small I don't see how it can support even one squirrel. He was probably starving. The swim to the mainland is a long one for a squirrel.
I'm way behind on chores. Did the dishes late and it is already late for dinner. I think I will go swimming first. Skies are clouding up in the west. 77F/79F. I fixed the sounder while I was in the water. The log I hit a few days back had knocked it out of alignment.
1800-Grilled steak and had potatoes, salad, rolls, and red wine for dinner.
Had a second attack by the rabid squirrel. Beat at him with my walking stick back and forth several times on the stern. He tried to go along the side, fell off, or leaped off, and had to swim ashore. I hope he had enough trauma to leave me alone!
Clouding up, I may not see the sun again until I get home based on the forecast.
Another Evening Fire To Complete The Day
2100-Returned to the boat after enjoying the evening fire and a Baileys on ice for dessert. No more squirrel attacks. Maybe I got his attention. I will read my current e-book "Dark Dive" by Andrew Mayne before I drift off to sleep.
0700-Bible study verse of the day: "But what about you?" he asked. "Who do you say I am?" Simon Peter answered, "You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God." Jesus replied, "Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by flesh and blood, but by my Father in heaven."
(Mat 16:15-17)
0750-Finished my prayer and reading time. Started a new book "Disappointment With God" by Philip Yancy. I finished "The Crucifixion of Jesus" by Joseph Bergeron, M.D. yesterday.
Checked the weather for the next few days and it looks like I will end the trip in rain as it began! Today and tomorrow are fine but it begins to deteriorate late Saturday and of course is suppose to rain the day I pull the boat out. I will enjoy the remaining days of good weather.
Beautiful Morning Sky
0820-Went ashore and up the hill to fetch the remaining firewood and chair after feeding a tame looking mallard with some bread crumbs I had saved. Time for breakfast.
Mallard With No Fear
After cereal, toast, and O.J. I went ashore again to set up the drone to fly the area. Returned to the boat and set up for departure. Then I launched the drone to track me out of the anchorage.
Cliff Near Boat Site
Boat Site
0850-Departed the site and headed for the North Arm and Devil Mountain with the intent of climbing to the top of the mountain to fly the drone.
Underway For Devil Mountain Site
1120-Arrived at Devil Mountain. Traveled 9.8 miles. It is a nice site last visited by me in 2019 on a Leisure Island rental houseboat. Haven't decided when to make the hike to the top of the mountain. Will catch up with a few chores first.
Navionics Chart Of Track
Google Earth - Destination
Tie Up At Devil Mountain Site
1250-Finished dishes and hauled firewood up to the fire ring. I will take up one more arm load then make a decision about the climb.
1530-Killed the afternoon transferring video and pics to the backup external hard drive. While downloading I split a few more pieces of wood.
Made a snack of baguette cheese crisps accompanied by white wine. As a result, I will hold off on dinner.
Afternoon Snack
1700-Listened to my audio book, prepared the fire, then returned to the boat to get dinner ready.
1745-Grilled a burger to have with baked beans, chips, and a cold beer.
A Pair Of Loons Loitered Around The Boat
2125-Came in from the fire. A curious chipmunk harassed me as I watched the fire. A full moon is rising in a clear night sky in calm winds. An ideal night to stay up, stargaze, and soak it all in, but I need rest for the climb tomorrow. To bed!
