JOURNEY #3 - October 21, 2001

Meech Lake: "Fall-Ing In Love With Kayaking"

Although we got off to a late start due to trouble getting up in the morning (we finished work just after midnight the night before) it all worked out great. We got to Trailhead about 1:00 and picked up a brand new Storm kayak, but Julie's rotomolded Squall was no longer in the store due to a mix-up, so she took a Solstice instead, which is the same thing only about double the cost to buy one, because it is made with different (lighter) materials (mostly fiberglass), rather than the rotomolded plastic that the Storm and Squall are constructed with.

Chris, one of the managers at Trailhead, let us take them out for a trial at no charge, because he could tell we were serious about looking to buy. It was a bit nervewracking taking the brand new Storm, because we were afraid to scratch it up. Fortunately, we got it back in perfect shape.

It was simply a perfect day for this outing, an unseasonably warm fall afternoon. We found the small McCloskey canoe/kayak launch which is a couple of minutes past the main beach that many people in this area are familiar with. We started off by going to the left, which would be roughly in a northern direction. The lake is 5 kilometres long in total, about 1 kilometre wide in most places, and the launch starts you off about in the middle.

There was not another boat of any kind out on the lake for the entire time. Keenan chatted with two ladies from Ottawa who were picnicking at Blanchet Beach, which is a very small beach at the opposite end from O'Brien, where most people go. Continuing north, Julie discovered a small and very shallow creek. With some trepidation, we decided to follow it. It was sort of a spooky place. Out of site from the rest of the lake, and no sign of civilization. It was very shallow water with short vegetation and lots of weeds, but nevertheless enough of a channel to get through it with a kayak - or so it seemed.

After picking our way through, and finding it less spooky and more beautiful, Julie was in the lead when suddenly she ground to a halt, albeit temporarily. Keenan followed and was not so lucky, due to the difference in weight (hold your comments please) he got stuck on a log that stretched across the entire channel. With some encouragement from Julie and the improper use of the paddle, he got free, and we emerged into a bay. It turned out we had simply circled a large island, and were back in the main body of the lake!

We later found out that this place is called MacDonald's Bay, and it is the most isolated area of the lake. From there we started heading south, along the east shore. It was all incredibly beautiful, surrounded by all the trees in full autumn colour. There was a bit of a wind here, which provided more of a test of the kayaks, which handled well. About half way down the lake now, meaning we had covered probably about 2.5 miles, we coasted into a quiet little bay and hugged our kayaks together while Keenan enjoyed a Coke and fig bar.

From here you could see the Meech Lake Conference Centre on the top of the big hill where the infamous Meech Lake Accord was negotiated. Sticking to the east side of the lake you come to the area that is famous for nude bathers - none in October, of course. We went to explore what looked to be a creek running under a small pedestrian bridge, when we both thought we heard a waterfall! It turned out to be a small concrete dam with about an inch of water running over it, and then down several feet into a very shallow creek that drains into an unamed lake. We thought of climbing out and portaging into the lake, but it was too akward with the rocky bottom. Apparently there is a creek that drains from this lake all the way to the Gatineau River, which is the story of how water from Meech Lake ends up in the Atlantic Ocean.

We ran into a fellow hiking with a camera. Keenan was not sure how he got to that spot so he asked "where did you come from?" and the guy answered (in total seriousness) "Texas." It was a funny moment. As it turns out, he had parked at the beach parking lot and followed a path around to his current position.

Continuing down the east side and under the steep cliffs below the conference centre, you can paddle very close to shore and explore the rock faces. Soon enough you find yourself at the main beach, and by this time we had paddled something like 6 miles. We landed, used the restrooms, and switched kayaks for the remaining 2 miles. Keenan was very cramped in the Solstice, and could not really sit up properly, but he poked his way along the shore, checking out all the boathouses and cottages. Julie carved her way through the centre of the lake in the Storm, and found it a bit rougher going than the slimmer and lighter Solstice.

Arriving back at the launch, the arms were a bit weary as we strapped the kayaks back onto the roof, but we covered quite a distance distance in something like 4 hours. Not bad for novices.

After returing the kayaks we were starved, and headed to the Newport for hot soup, steak, and potatoes.