We met up at the outpost at 12.30, there was snow everywhere but the lake was so still and peaceful. Hunting season started today so the first thing we were told was there was little chance of seeing wildlife! Once everyone arrived we set off for our first hike along a snowmobile track. It was completely untouched but anyone so it was pretty amazing being the first ones up it (and very hard going). We stopped at a partly constructed beaverpond. It was odd, I was expecting a small pond but this was the size of a small housing estate and looked like marsh. Apparantly it will fill up soon and become another lake. Still can’t get over the size of it though!

The view from the meeting point.

Once we got to the end of the hike we were met with a 12 man canoe which we paddled back to the cabin. I ended up sitting next to someone who is terrified of water which was a bit unnerving but I have to say my powers of chat kept him calm and I resisted having some fun!

The cabin was amazing, no electricity or anything so it had a huge fire in the middle and paraffin lamps. It’s easily the most peaceful/relaxing place I have ever been – not a computer or phone in miles – brilliant! I could happily live here.

As soon as anyone got in we all immediately changed our socks and trousers and made a massive cup of hot chocolate. I told the chef my ‘bailys in hot choc’ recipe but seems he was already a fan (thought I invented it…)

Second day was more hiking. Stu was a little ill and one from the German party.  The rest of us all went on a night walk to see if we could see a moose and when that didn’t work we decided to drive to a more remote lake to see if we had any luck there. We ended up racing through single track roads and floods and doing thre point turns in roads that you could barely get a horse up it was frightening…felt good to do it though. On the way back the Germans car vanished , turns out more of them were ill…..

…an hour later there were only 3 out of 12 left standing! Turns out they all had food poisoning from the onion soup so my fear of eating onions saved me! Everyone was really ill so the last day was spent consoling and mopping up! I mist say that I was in the bad books that night, I sat downstairs drinking beer with the ‘well people’ and forgot about nursing my lovely other half :-) Oops!

Algoquin Park

The canoe that met us after our first hike

Our home for three days

Half filled beaver pond