Algonquin Park - Travelling Closer to Home!

Opeongo Store to North Arm of Opeongo(3 hour paddle):

Some rain, lots of wind. It was a long paddle with frustration and anxiety as to our exact location. Many islands not on the map. The compass is important and watching water taxi's go by all day. The question is, should we have taken a taxi? It was a four hour paddle (hard paddling) and we were surprised to find ourselves at the site just east of the Proulx Lake partage. The site was okay, many downed trees with a nice bay in behind and a table! I would suggest taking the water taxi if the weather is at all rough, but the paddle was fine as long as you use the compass. We realized on the way home that we could not have entered the East Arm in error as it is well marked. 

North Arm of Opeongo to Big Crow Lake via Proulx Lake and Little Crow Lake (1 portage and 3 hours):

The start has the option of a 175 M portage, paddle a small lake and a 965 portage or a long 1450 M portage. We chose the longer. Because of weight of packs we made 2 trips. A combination of easy cart-trail and rocky clinbing portage meant that we were glad to arrive a Proulx Lake. Paddle through Proulx was beautiful. Often hard to find river access as the water is low and there are many places that look like small rivers but are dead-ends. Entrance to river had one large lift-over. Nice paddle now. Narrow, lots of Pickeral Weed. Nice change from the lakes but it sure meanders. Then through Little Crow Lake and into Big Crow. Frustration as the sites we wanted are all taken. No sandy beaches left. Nice site though close to the Crow River.  Paddled accrss to the Rangers Cabin and it was creepy. Bucket, knife, plates with fresh ketchup, tongs, gloves and no-one there? Were they in a hurry to leave? Finally found the trail to the fire tower. VERY unused. Many downed trees crossed our path but after a 20 to 30 minute hike up, up, up, finally at the top and what a view. Back to camp for dinner and bed.

 

 

Big Crow Lake to Lake Lavielle via the Crow River(7 portages and 8 1/2 hours):

Into the Crow River (were were warned of low water levels) we headed.  At first it was ok. We did a 240 M portage and arrived at what are usually small rapids.  We ended up dragging the canoe and wading though ankle deep water over the rapid section.  Approximately 6 hours of shallow paddling and 7 portages and prbably 12 lift-overs we paddle thought to Crow Bay, and unnamed lake and arrive at the entrance to beautiful Lake Lavielly.  After an 8 1/2 hour day we are tired!

The site at Lake Lavielle is beautiful. We heard wolves howling the first night. Found a bird nesting on the ground too. It flew away and then the nexst day it was back in the same spot. We stayed 2 nights to rest and air out everyhing, do laundry, bathe, sun tan and eat. On day 2 Kevin spotted 2 moose (no antlers) acress the narrows in a bay. I ran for my camera, snapped a few, the dog barked, and the moose were gone. The stars were beautiful both nights. Still no sunsets.

Lake Lavielle to Dickson Lake (3 1/2 hour paddle and 1 portage)

We headed out at our usuall time between 8 and 8:30 a.m.  and had a nice paddle through Lake Lavielle.  Many canoes and kayaks travelling and trolling.  Met some who had cought one lake trout each and a Brookie.  "They're deep" they say.  A short 90 M portage into Dickson and an easy paddle to our island closest to the portage.  This one has a table!  Rufus is catching frogs!

Dickson Lake to the East Arm of Opeongo via Bonfield Lake and Wright Lake (3 portages and 8 1/2 hours):

It is a beautiful morning and we slept in a little (8:30 a.m.). We departed by 9:30 a.m. and said good-bye to our island paradise. It was a short paddle to the portage which is a 5,305M treck to Bonfield Lake. It was a good trail but had lots of small ups and downs. With 2 large packs and one small, a dog and a 70lb canoe it was not easy. We struggled and had lots of stops along the way but did it in one trip. We rested about every 15 minutes for water, snacks, adjusting packs and gear and finally arrived at Bonfield Lake after 4 hours. This is not an easy portage with a lot of gear on one trip. We met many people who said the same, even with light gear. After, a pleasant 2 short paddles and 2 short portages and we arrive at the East arm of Opeongo, drop our gear, remove our boots and jump in the sandy shores of the lake....Wow! After a refreshing dip we choose to paddle a short way (1 hour) to find a beautiful site on the south shore across from Opeongo Island, have a big pasta dinner, finally a beautiful sunset with our final 4 marshmallows and chocolate and bed. As a side note, the dog couldn't wait for the tent to be set up, he was exhausted too!

East Arm of Opeongo to the Opeongo Store (3 hour paddle):

Our last day was a pleasant paddle (3 hours) back to the Opeongo store.  It is long and still easy to get lost as you enter a bay that looks like a mere blip on the map but yet a nice paddle.  It felt like entering the 401 as we rounded the last corner toward the Opeongo Store.  There had to be 10 canoes heading out.  I almost cried as we found our way back to the truck and home.

 

Side Notes:  Kevin and I are disappointed at almost every site to find garbage, broken glass, toilet paper, cut down green trees etc.  We try, and do, leave every site better than we find it.  Disappointing.  The dog is a great companion, loves the tent and my down sleeping bag.  He has become used to the lifejacket and can easily sleep in the canoe.  The hardest part of the trip is the inaccuracy of the map.  Many islands are missing.  I need to take a compass and map course.  Patience is a must in finding portages.

Avoiding Tourist Traps and Seeing the True People and Places

There is nothing wrong with an all inclusive vacation, as long as you realize that the true price you are paying is often limiting yourself to only seeing what the resort wants you to see.  You may be saving money and drinking lots of Mojitos but you are often unable to safely wander outside the area and you are not experiencing the true country and people.

There are some key elements needed to really experience travel and they are:  Research, time, language, and an ability to get around.

Research

Planning a trip is often almost as much fun as the trip itself.  My suggestion is to first decide what type of trip you are looking for.  Do you want adventure, history, luxury, relaxation, or a shopping trip?  Ask your friends and family for suggestions of places to go depending on the type of trip you want to take.  It's also very important that the person that you are travelling with wants the same thing.  I once went on a trip to France and Italy with a large group of people and when we broke into smaller groups, I ended up in a group of shoppers when all I wanted to do was wander through museums and churches.  It was a huge disappointment. 

One of my favourite resources is "The Travel Book" by Lonely Planet.  It offers readers a snapshot of every country in the world.  It is by no means comprehensive when it comes to describing each country but is a great starting point.  It offers a brief description of the country, the best time to visit, a list of essential experiences, suggestions of books, music and food, a key word to learn and a few more important points.  It will inspire you to learn more before you go and will help you avoid missing important points of interest.  http://www.lonelyplanet.com/

Time

Don't expect to take a 5 day vacation to Bangladesh to experience the culture.  If you only have 5 days to travel choose a place close enough that you won't spend more time in the plane than at your destination.  One tip, don't underestimate jet lag!  Consider traveling in your same time zone to maximize your vacation time.

If you truly want to go abroad, you must take at least 10 days to a month to do it.  When I travelled to Bangladesh (my longest trip at 5 weeks) the people I stayed with behaved very differently after I had been there for two weeks.  They let their hair down, so to speak.  I began to see the real attitudes of the people toward women and children, in particular.  It was what I had hoped for, although in hind sight, I wish I had done more research prior to the trip.

Language

Before you go, take the time to learn some of the language.  You don't have to become fluent in Portugese to go to Portugal, but a few words or phrases like: please, thank you, train, bus, how much? can really help.  Also, when you are there, don't be afraid to try to speak the language.  Once you get over the initial fear of worrying that you sound like an idiot you will find that locals will actually coach you and soon you will be asking for 2 tickets to Faro by train with no problem.

Ability to get around

All of the above items allow you to do the most important thing to really see a country and to get to know the people.  Getting around!  In Portugal, we travelled by taxi, city bus, local train and on foot and it was amazing.  It was wonderful to walk to the bus, order a train ticket (in Portugese) to the next city and see the farms from the open window of the train.  We only took the taxi home one evening because we did not feel safe.

Every time we came to a new town or city, we located the tourist centre, picked up a map and started walking, making sure to make note of landmarks.  One trick I learned in the cities of Italy was to stop and turn around when walking from our hotel to a destination and to choose a landmark.  That way when we walked home we knew we were heading in the right direction.

Get away from the touristy areas.  They are easy to spot with lots of people!  Meals are advertised at fixed prices and shopping is more expensive.  It's also where all the pick-pockets hang out.  My best meals have been off the beaten path, where the locals eat.  In Portugal it was a little hole in the wall restaurant where the Sardinas were spectacular and the wine came in a glass jug.  In Italy it was down an ally where the tables spilled out onto the cobble stone streets and Prosciutto hung from the ceiling.  Amazing!

I always go out of my way to find a real grocery store when I travel.  In Rome you could by a bag of pasta from a tourist shop beside the Trevi Fountain for $9 Euros.  I found the same bag for $2 Euros in a grocery store.  In Petra (Jordan) I found boxes of unique spices for $0.69JOD ($0.99 CDN).  Be careful and do your research to ensure that your purchases are legal to bring home.

WARNING!

If you get a funny feeling in your gut that tells you not to walk down an ally or even back to your hotel, don't ignore it!  Call it intuition, call it God, call it anything you want but do NOT ignore it.  We are animals after all and do have instincts.  This is part of research as well, there are many beautiful places to visit in Nicaragua, for example, but also many places that should be avoided. 

ODD BITS!

Many, if not most countries in Europe include the gratuity in the price of the meal.  It is like an auto-grat and is not negotiable.  If you want to leave extra money for the server, go ahead, but you do not have to and if the server insists that you do ask for the manager.  We were in Italy with a youth choir and the server was very rude to us as we got up to leave, he insisted that we leave him extra money, even to the point of harassing some of the youth.  We spoke to the manager and he was reprimanded.  We were eating in a very touristy area and he could get away with it. 

NEXT TIME!

My personal experiences with pick-pockets, beggars and bartering!

The Advantages of Airport Security

Getting through an airport can be a daunting task.  Simply making your way in and out of the terminal can be difficult if you don't know the airport and getting through security can be intimidating and even frightening to a traveller, especially an inexperienced one.  I would suggest that even before you get to the airport you go to the airport's website.  Most, if not all, airports provide printable maps of the terminals.  You can find out the rules regarding what size and number of bags are allowed as well as a list of what items are allowed in your carry-on bags and what to expect at security points.  Each airport is slightly different and knowing what to expect will definitely reduce your stress level. 

Another important point is to get there early.  Don't wait until the last minute to arrive, this almost always causes unnecessary stress.  Once at the airport don't hesitate to ask questions and to look around at what others are doing, especially at security points.  If people are taking off their shoes and putting them in plastic bins, be prepared to do the same.  Be polite, they are simply doing their job and a smile can go a long way, especially when language barriers are involved.   Some airports have multiple security points.  Don't be surprised if you have to be screened more than once.  Remember, they are trying to keep you safe. 

One frustration I have often had is the fact that there are several items not allowed on your person or on the plane in your bags.  I once had a set of fingernail clippers taken from my purse only to find that in the tuck-shop in the boarding area they sold fingernail files.  I was also pleasantly surprised but a little shocked to be given a knife and fork on an Air France flight.  And remember that snacks and bottled water are sold in the boarding area, so don't panic if you can't bring your favourite beverage through security.

If you have checked luggage, make your way to the luggage carousel quickly.  Choose a position close to where the bags first come on to the carousel.  If your bags are a common colour like black or brown, find something unique and easy to see and tie it on or around your bag(s).  This makes it much easier to identify your bag quickly.  If you are travelling with a partner have one person stay in the front row to grab the bags and pass them to the other.  Don't lose your spot!  You may find that in some foreign countries people have a different comfort level with how much space to put between each other.  In Canada, we have a pleasant '4 foot rule' but you will find that some cultures don't.  You may be bumped, pushed, or squeezed out of the front row.  Also, be aware that for very full planes, staff sometimes pull bags off the carousel and place them in rows to the side of the carousel.  Look around and be aware of what is going on.

WARNING!

Once you have your bags be prepared for more security.  Once again, be polite, do what they ask and above all, don't put anything in your bags that you are not prepared to surrender.  This may sound harsh but once while travelling to the middle east, a co-traveller had a set of walkie-talkies in his checked luggage.  Because of the language barrier and the lack of knowledge of the devices, they were almost taken away.  The security/police looked through the bags and thought that they were some type of telephone listening tool.  We had to find someone who spoke better english to explain what they were.  Remember that you may not have the same rights in a foreign country as in Canada.

ODD BITS

If your bags are damaged or lost it's important to know what the airline will offer.  You may not mind waiting in a line to speak to an airline representative to get a credit for a new piece of luggage or a flight.  Depending on the airline, if your bags are lost you are eligible for a cash disbursement for the loss.  Even if the bag shows up at a later date.  Most will offer a specific dollar amount to replace your items. 

Here is a partial example from Air Canada

• For travel between points in Canada, liability for loss or delay of, or damage to baggage is limited to $1,500 CAD per passenger unless a higher value is declared in advance and additional charges are paid.
• If your international travel (including domestic portions on international travel) is subject to the Warsaw Convention, Air Canada ’s liability is limited to approximately $20 USD (20 EUR) per kg per passenger for checked baggage, and $400 USD (400 EUR) per passenger for unchecked baggage.
• If your international travel (including domestic portions on international travel) is subject to the Montreal Convention, Air Canada’s liability is limited to approximately $1663 USD (1357 EUR) per passenger.
• Subject to the provisions of the Montreal Convention and the Warsaw Convention where applicable, Air Canada assumes no liability for perishables or liquids, nor does it accept liability for valuables or items whose loss may cause serious damage, such as money, jewellery, silverware, negotiable papers, securities, computers, cameras, cellular phones, business documents, samples, paintings, antiques, artifacts, manuscripts, prescription drugs, or irreplaceable books or publications. Unless otherwise specified, a valuable will be deemed any item whose value is $1,000 CAD or more per kilogram, or $1 CAD per gram.

NEXT TIME

How to avoid tourist traps and how to see the real country that you have worked so hard to travel to safely.

Carry-on versus Checked Luggage

More and more people are choosing to avoid long line-ups and lost luggage by simply taking one 'small' bag onto the airplane as opposed to checking their bags when they first arrive at the terminal.  Airlines appear to be catching on to this as they have been limiting the number and size of bags that you are allowed to carry onto the plane for any given flight.  It is important to research this information ahead of time as each airline has different rules and regulations regarding carry on luggage. 

The Pros of taking only Carry-on luggage:
No waiting at the carousel for your checked luggage
No risk of lost luggage (maybe, see notes below)
Everything you need is within reach during the entire flight

The Cons of taking only Carry-on luggage:
You are limited by the size and number of bags by the airline
You cannot take as much stuff
You MUST check each airline, arrival and return as they all have different size and weight regulations

WARNING!

I was coming home from a trip to Bangladesh, via Dubai and after we arrived in Toronto a man looked into the overhead compartment where he had left his bag at the beginning of the flight.  The overhead storage above his seat had been full when he entered the plane (late) and he was forced to stow his bag a few rows ahead of his seat.  By the time the people ahead of him cleared the aisle and he was able to go to the overhead storage to get his bag, it was gone.  He was understandably furious and upset but no one did anything.  My suggestion, be on time and if you choose to go the Carry-on route, always stow your bag directly above your seat and DO NOT allow anyone to move it.

ODD BITS

Doesn't it seem strange to you that when you arrive at the airport you and your bags are searched, smelled, swabbed and tied, not physically but electronically, directly to you.  You cannot get on a plane if your bags are on another plane.  But, when you have arrived at your destination, no one ensures that the correct person picks up the correct bag.  You leave the arrival area, head to the luggage area and the exit is usually 10 feet away.  What if you stop to use the bathroom and some stranger grabs your bag?  What recourse do you have?  Check out my next blog and I'll tell you how to use the Airport Security system to your advantage.

Welcome!

Welcome to my blog on travel.  I hope you enjoy reading it as much as I enjoy sharing my experiences.  My intent is to help the new or the seasoned traveller always find enjoyment in their adventures.  Travelling is not always easy and things sometimes do not go as planned.  However, if you are prepared, flexible and have some resources (like this blog) you will find that the challenges in travelling can often turn into the most exciting adventures.  I hope you enjoy my blog and I welcome your comments!

Yours in travelling,

Tamara