Friday 15 May 2015

North Frontenac Early Season Kayak Camping

Kayak camping on Big Gull Lake


May; first weekend after Mother's Day is the first long weekend for Canadians to get out and enjoy their great outdoors and this year we have had some unseasonably warm weather so conditions were right for some early season kayak camping and I and a few friends headed up to Big Gull lake in North Frontenac for a couple of nights under the stars

Big Gull Lake
The lake situated in the highlands of the township of North Frontenac offers a rugged tranquil beauty with shores of conifer and mixed deciduous trees, numerous islands many of which have campsites and although the lake does support a number of cottages, for the most part they are at some remove from park lands and this early in the season very few are in use so boat traffic is minimal with only a few fishing boats.  The lake running more or less northeast to southwest is approximately eighteen kilometers long and three at its widest.  We use the NE access point just off the Ardoch road, being Crown land a road permit is required for all vehicles in addition to a camping permit.  We have chosen a site at about 7 km from the put-in on a decent sized island that has good tree cover should it be required, this also will ensure a plentiful supply of firewood.

NE put-in
The weather forecast is somewhat unsettled and as we head out from the put-in it is mostly overcast but intervals of sun and pleasantly warm.  We have four of us staying on the first night but one will leave at the end of the next day, so plenty of room to pitch tents and because of the likelihood of some showers we set up a tarp shelter in the trees over a picnic table.











Our arrivals are staggered due to various commitments so I paddle up by myself with everyone being on site by dinnertime, so paddling to the campsite is the extent of my paddling for the day.   Dinner over and rain starts, not heavy but enough to take cover under our shelter to while away the evening playing cards.

Evening entertainment
After a cool night our second day looks promising, calm water and a mix of sun and cloud so we are off for a full day's kayaking exploring the lower half of the lake.   We stop for lunch at another campsite on a small island.

Kayaking 2nd day
It gets steadily warmer as the day progresses and it is followed by a glorious night; the stars are magnificent and the two brightest planets Venus and Jupiter are prominent in this celestial display.   Around eleven p.m. a Barred owl begins it's call, "Who cooks for you, who cooks for you" to lull us to sleep after a very enjoyable day.

Fireside read
On our last day we have brilliant sunshine, hot and a light breeze a perfect day for kayaking so we decamp and pack our gear back in the boats before saying goodbye to our island home to enjoy some more of the lake before heading back to our respective homes.

Leaving camp
Homeward bound








Happy paddling!
KayakJock

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