I went back to Marshall Lake this August for what was supposed to be 2 weeks traveling downstream from the lake on the Grip, Powtik and Kap rivers but lingering fatigue from my recent health issue cut it to just 6 days on Marshall Lake.
Now that's not all that bad. Marshall is a beautiful lake with just two cabins and they were vacant. I never saw anyone the entire time I was there.
I paddled the entire lake2 times, which was alot of fun mostly trolling a lure and enjoying the scenery.
My first campsite was a really nice spot where the rock stretches out into the lake. I had paddled into a head wind and when I finally got there I was so tired I spent most of the second day relaxing. I knew the river trip had to wait till some other time. What I needed was a relaxing trip no portages and lots of afternoon naps.
Relax I did, I slowly paddled the lake and did very well with the local pickerel population,
Catch and release,
Sometimes I even had the wind at my back, it looked calm out there in the middle of the lake but on this crossing I cut it close,
I rewarded myself with an afternoon nap after that crossing,
Long Island boy walking the beach, I can't pass a beach without walking it...and I found some interesting tracks.I saw wolf,
moose and caribou. And not one piece of trash..thumbs up to the folks who use the lake!
Later, while kicking back, I spotted this guy (a woodland caribou) step out of the bush way down the beach. I grabbed my little camera and hid behind a bush. He walked right up to me, so close I had to call out to prevent a too close encounter.
and heading for parts unknown....
After that I set up camp right there and spent the night. I was feeling kind of bummed out about my be so tired but this really changed my attitude. I consider it one of the highlights of my canoe tripping experience.
My new favorite hat, sent to me by a special friend.
15' wood canvas Chestnut Chum,
The next day I paddled down the lake looking for a small river that leads to another close by lake. The weather turned quickly, just when I was making a large open water crossing between two islands,
This front really got my attention,
I made it to the island just in time,
Then spent the next few hours in and out of this,
But then the sun comes out and all is good
cooking breakfast,
hash browns, ova easy eggs and coffee, pretty good stuff.
more fish, this for a shore lunch,
cleaning fish,
cooking over the twig stove,
cold handle for a dinner plate, don't get much better,
well, except for maybe a good cigar and some bush coffee afterwards.
What seemed like a real disappointment turned into a really nice relaxing trip. Thanks to Rob Haslam (Memaquay) for turning me on to this fine canoe area.
Now that's not all that bad. Marshall is a beautiful lake with just two cabins and they were vacant. I never saw anyone the entire time I was there.
I paddled the entire lake2 times, which was alot of fun mostly trolling a lure and enjoying the scenery.
My first campsite was a really nice spot where the rock stretches out into the lake. I had paddled into a head wind and when I finally got there I was so tired I spent most of the second day relaxing. I knew the river trip had to wait till some other time. What I needed was a relaxing trip no portages and lots of afternoon naps.
Relax I did, I slowly paddled the lake and did very well with the local pickerel population,
Catch and release,
Sometimes I even had the wind at my back, it looked calm out there in the middle of the lake but on this crossing I cut it close,
I rewarded myself with an afternoon nap after that crossing,
Long Island boy walking the beach, I can't pass a beach without walking it...and I found some interesting tracks.I saw wolf,
moose and caribou. And not one piece of trash..thumbs up to the folks who use the lake!
Later, while kicking back, I spotted this guy (a woodland caribou) step out of the bush way down the beach. I grabbed my little camera and hid behind a bush. He walked right up to me, so close I had to call out to prevent a too close encounter.
and heading for parts unknown....
After that I set up camp right there and spent the night. I was feeling kind of bummed out about my be so tired but this really changed my attitude. I consider it one of the highlights of my canoe tripping experience.
My new favorite hat, sent to me by a special friend.
15' wood canvas Chestnut Chum,
The next day I paddled down the lake looking for a small river that leads to another close by lake. The weather turned quickly, just when I was making a large open water crossing between two islands,
This front really got my attention,
I made it to the island just in time,
Then spent the next few hours in and out of this,
But then the sun comes out and all is good
cooking breakfast,
hash browns, ova easy eggs and coffee, pretty good stuff.
more fish, this for a shore lunch,
cleaning fish,
cooking over the twig stove,
cold handle for a dinner plate, don't get much better,
well, except for maybe a good cigar and some bush coffee afterwards.
What seemed like a real disappointment turned into a really nice relaxing trip. Thanks to Rob Haslam (Memaquay) for turning me on to this fine canoe area.
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