Monday, April 28, 2025

Temagami, Ontario - 9/13/2024

Trip Day 8 - Friday

0615-62F/57F. High clouds, calm.

0830-Finished study time. Verse for today: "Whoever acknowledges me before others, I will also acknowledge before my Father in heaven. But whoever disowns me before others, I will disown before my Father in heaven." (Mat 10:32-33).

I will retrieve my chair and extra firewood before I make breakfast.

0830-Making some toast for breakfast to go with cereal. Will prepare to depart as soon as I'm finished.

Enroute - Lake Begins To Narrow

1140-Arrived at the new site. Traveled 7.2 miles. This is a shaded site so I probably will not stay long.

Leg 4, Day 8 - 7.2 Miles

Destination - Proximity To Dam

Jeff's Map Of Destination


1230-Dishes are washed. I'm considering flying the drone but will wait for better light.

Hauled firewood up for another fire tonight. 71F/72F. Calm with blue skies.

Firewood Drying - Still Have Some Left Over

1500-I sat up on the hill just enjoying the day. Listened to an audio book. 79F/80F. Warm day but cooler up on the hill so I will return to my overlook chair perch. Not hungry enough to eat dinner yet.


My Afternoon Perch

1630-Made chicken fried rice with salad, rolls, accompanied by white wine. Will take out some strawberries to thaw for ice cream dessert.

1730-Flew the drone. Water temperature is 68+F. I will jump in for a swim.

Boat Site


Dam Just Down River


Dam Close Up

1800-Water was refreshing. Always nice to get cleaned up and put on fresh clothes. Pretty warm. 83F/81F.

Had strawberries on top of Hagan Daz ice cream for my evening dessert. Always great!

2100-Started the fire at sundown and stayed until now. 


Fire Started

Another Nice Fire

Will read my e-Book and hit the sack.


YouTube Video
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Friday, April 18, 2025

Temagami, Ontario - 9/12/2024

Trip Day 7 - Thursday

0540-Calm and foggy. 62F/57F

Very Quiet!

Heavy Dew Covering Panels

I plan to bake coffee cake for my morning study time.

0700-Coffee cake was great as usual!

Verse for the day: "On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick." (Mat 9:12)

0845-Finished my morning time of Bible study, prayer, and faith oriented reading. It's time to make breakfast though I'm not very hungry after having coffee cake this morning.

Navionics Chart Of Island

1100-Checked email and set up Zoom meeting test with Kelly. I put a fraud alert on Experian since they reported my SSN is on the dark web!

Washed dishes.  Then sent out Zoleo messages to those following the trip.

A Great Island Boat Site

1140-Went up on the hill to video the site. Will go back later with my kit and chair to enjoy the overlook of the lake to the SW. Will listen to music or an audio book.

1600-Sat on the hill listening to my audio book "The Four Winds" by Kristin Hannah.

Later I went down to the boat to retrieve some newspaper and a lighter to get ready for an evening fire. The firewood has been laying out to dry.  I set up the kindling and placed some small pieces of firewood on top. I'm ready!

Firewood Drying In Sun

Returned to the boat to see if the solar battery was recharging, it was not! I checked all the connections but no luck. I worked back in the system and discovered one of the aft Bimini portable panels was dead.

One Of The Aft Bimini Solar Panels Has Failed!

Voltage output is not sufficient with only one panel to charge the generator.  If moisture is the problem the sun will have to bake it out or the system will be down for the duration. 

This is important for charging the solar generator (AC200P) to power Starlink internet, recharge drone batteries, and my laptop. Both portable panels worked at the start of the trip but we had so much rain the first three days it may have damaged a panel.

Made chili, salad, and rolls for dinner accompanied by a cold beer.

1830-Mike (Leisure Island Houseboats) stopped by for a visit in his small runabout. We had prearranged this meeting. I fed him some cookies and water and sent him on his way.

Sun is close to setting so I is time to go up and retrieve the backup solar battery. Looks like I may need it since my aft Bimini solar array is down for count.

Beautiful Red Sun, Likely From Forest Fire Smoke In The Atmosphere

2120-Started a fire at sunset and sat out until 2100. Packed up and headed back to the boat.


Enjoying The Evening Fire

Smelled like there is a skunk on the island. From time to time an odor drifted through the site. Shined a light around but saw nothing.

Time for bed. I'm up past my bedtime!


YouTube Video
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Saturday, April 12, 2025

Temagami, Ontario - 9/11/2024

Trip Day 6 - Wednesday

0630-60F/57F. Cloudy, light wind.

0810-Finished morning study time. Breakfast next. Verse for the day: "Suddenly a furious storm came up on the lake, so that the waves swept over the boat. But Jesus was sleeping. The disciples went and woke him, saying, 'Lord, save us! We're going to drown!'" (Mat 8:24-25)

0930-Departed the boat site, headed for an island about 5 miles SE. Clouds still persist.


Leg 3 Track - Navionics Chart

Island Boat Site

Leg 3 Destination


1030-Arrived at the new site and it was open. I observed another L.I. Houseboat at another site at the NE corner of the bay but knew it was too shallow. Unfortunately for them I snuck into the island before they figured that out. I learned that back in 2018.

Jeff's Map Details

The rock face on the NW side of the island was a little steep but presented no real problem. The houseboat soon passed by after discovering the site they were checking was too shallow.

Steep Rock Face NW Side - Alternative Landing On SE Side


Alternative Landing

I baked some cookies, which is my first attempt on a trip so far. I over baked them but not badly. With some cold milk they still tasted good.

1330-Went up the hill to split the remaining full pieces of firewood I brought with me. I will have a fire later if weather permits.

Loon Checking Me Out


A fishing boat passed by at high speed making the boat bang against the rocks. I love those inconsiderate power boats!

It began to rain so I returned to the cabin until it clears up.

1445-Took a nap after reading in my e-Book. Sun is trying to shine through the clouds. 73F/71F. Cracked a window to keep it from getting too warm in the cabin.

1510-May fly the drone before dinner.

1530-Flew drone to take some video and pics of the island and boat. Time to prepare dinner.

1645-Grilled chicken for dinner ran out of gas in the middle! Always a pain. Too much wind wastes gas. When finished it was accompanied by potatoes, salad, rolls, and white wine.

Sky On Fire!

Will attempt to do a test Zoom call tonight using my Starlink internet connection.

1900-No one available so Zoom is postponed. I watched half of the movie "Winged Women" and will finish another time. Heading to bed to read my e-Book and hit the sack.

Day Is Gone - Fire Is Out


YouTube Video
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Friday, April 4, 2025

Temagami, Ontario - 9/10/2024

Trip Day 5 - Tuesday 

0610-53F/45F. Heavy fog this morning!

Early Morning Fog

Mouse #3 caught last night.

0710-Verse from Bible study time: "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)

Completed morning study, prayer, and reading. Then had breakfasat.

1045-Cut down a dead tree, cut and split firewood for tonight.


Cut & Split Firewood Drying In The Sun

Tools For Cutting & Splitting Firewood

Sent out messages. Will check out the portage next, followed by dishes, then a shower.

1140-There was no maintained portage, nevertheless, I broke trail over to the other arm of this lake. About .4 of a mile round trip. I did observe fresh moose tracks. 

I'm pooped and sweaty from all the work.

The Portage Goal - Rough! No Trail

I need to wash dishes.

Topping Up The KaliPAK 401 Solar Generator (384Wh/26Ah) - Panel is 40 Watts

1500-Sat onshore listening to my audio book. Did a short video then returned to the boat to prepare dinner.

Another Beautiful Day In The Wilds!

1620-Grilled a burger, heated up baked beans to have with chips and a cold beer.

A fishing boat came into the bay and hung around while I ate.

I want to jump in for a swim but I'm waiting for the boat to leave. Decided to forgo a hot shower.

Eventually I jumped in twice. Water temp was 64F, brisk! It felt good to clean up and get into a fresh set of clothes.

2130-I connected the kayak to the tow bridle, put away the back up solar battery, stowed the ax and swede saw. Then started a fire around sundown (1900). Stayed out until a breeze came up out of nowhere which encouraged me head to the cabin. I will read my e-book "Rattlesnake Cafe" and nod off when ready. I plan to move in the morning.

Clear Night Sky


YouTube Video
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Temagami, Ontario - 9/24-25/2024

Road Trip Home - Tuesday  (Day One) 0530-Day one of drive home. 52F in the boat at wake up! Days verse:  "Not everyone who says to me, ...