Wednesday, September 5, 2007

The 425 Mile Diet



Horse Food and Dog food and an occasional meal in the civilised world, thats what we would like to call it. Basically, our diet consists of prepackaged rice / pasta meals and then we add a bit of essentials to it - cheese, tuna, vegetables or pepperets. Otherwise we survive on nuts, power bars, peanut butter and banana sandwiches for Ross and cheese and brushetta sandwiches pour moi. Lot of water - We've noticed that we tend to drink a lot more water if the drinks aren't juices. I guess juices keep us less thirsty for longer. 10 to 12 hour minimum days in the sun have taken a toll on our skin though.......Lot of weight lost between the both of us and I guess even though it takes a lot of muscle to paddle, in the end the journey is similar to an endurance sport. I think I can comfortably say I've lost 10 to 15 lbs, but I would eventually like to put it back on.

Campsite 301

September 5 - We awoke at 3:56am to a pterodactyl http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pterodactyl making a menacing noise and coming straight for us and the tent - we survived and left that strange campsite early (Campsite 301) ... Please advise others about Campsite 301. As we were leaving we saw a bear 15 metres from us. We also heard very strange sounds throughout the night. The same day we pushed for North Bay and got there at 8:18 p.m. after paddling for a 14 hour stretch....we were totally pooched. Ahh, North Bay with a bed and flush toilets. It's strange living in a civilised world....We got help from my buddies in North Bay to portage 5 miles through city. We plan to leave at 5 p.m. for Camp Island then head for Trout Lake - Mattawa river and the Ottawa River. ETA in Ottawa...the 15th....of September!

Sault This Week

Hey...we're in the news... :-)

http://www.saultthisweek.com/webapp/sitepages/search/results.asp?contentid=671546&catname=Sault%20News&type=search&search1=ship

North Bay






Day 12.....We made it to North Bay after the 600m portage from the Lower French and the calm crossing of Nippising. We woke up early at dawn and after loading the canoe and setting off we saw a cute and cuddly black bear 20m across the river from our campsite. Ben took a few photos while we negotiated the current of craddle rapids ensuring not to get to close to the wildlife....
Soon afterwards Ben saw a river otter swim under the canoe. We saw eagles and were entertained by a group of loons on the upper part of the French River. Once arrived in North Bay, we rented a slip at the marina for our yacht and took up residence in our first bed in a long time at the Voyageur Inn. Yes, Voyageur Inn.

"The Route" Then and Now

"The Route" Then and Now
A section of a map of the fur trade route followed by Rene Menard in the late 1600's. The "Journey of Citizenship" started in Sault Ste Marie on August 24/07 and has a planned completion date of September 12/07 in Ottawa.

.....and the journey has begun

.....and the journey has begun
Ben demonstrates a potential new Olympic sport....Canooling

Photos from the start of the journey

Photos from the start of the journey
last minute preparations

As well-wishers cheered, off they went.