Downloading in the Squirrel Rapids parking lot
On the water. A hazy grey sky with lots of humidity reflects the peacefulness of the area.
Hmm... There's a portage sign.I wonder if they really mean it?
Yep. They mean it! All 450 metres of it. Strangely, I don't have any pictures of me carrying my boat along the rocky, muddy trail through the forest.
I notice that it's much quieter above the portage than below it.
The first view of the Canyon.
Getting closer...
Much closer. This wall is typical of the orange iron stains on the gneiss we will see later.
Looking back at the same wall from further upstream... With some rare sunlight helping out.
This is a close-up of the rock face showing the dull red iron stains, the brighter orange Xanthoria and white streaks of limestone eluted out of the rock.
Everywhere there are signs of the tenacity of life...
Another look downstream at the beginning (or the end) of the high rock walls.
Up ahead, the deepest part of the canyon!
Look Up, look way up...
Now looking over to your right...
I waited around for someone to canoe into the canyon, so I could use their canoe for scale, but the closest anyone got was a couple at the other end of the wall.
Snacktime called. I gave up admiring the scenery and headed back downstream to a campsite where I could stretch my legs...
..and take the chance to look back upstream at the end of the canyon.
Back in the marsh, I photographed the mandatory wildlife picture.
The bird was less impressed with me.
After carrying my 'yak bak across the portage, (downstream this time), I stopped to admire the Cardinal flowers growing in the rocky streambed.
These are hardy plants and seem to thrive in areas that are scoured each spring with ice and floods.
They make tripping in August worthwhile.
Yes, it's the flower show... not the lack of biting insects that lures oneinto the woods at this time of year!
A leisurely paddle through the increasing haze of the day, brought me back to the parking lot.
And to the comforting view of my freshly washed and waxed car waiting patiently for my return. Maybe I'll get back in the winter to look for wolves