I was sitting back thinking...

Well, I needed to go to Dallas, Texas for a few days last week. Where I needed to go weren't the nicest areas so my first impression of Dallas wasn’t much. I was glad to come home.

(Me-Wabakimi 08-21-08 on Day 12)

I’ve been sitting back thinking about ………….Wabakimi!

Over the holiday I’ve been doing some thinking for next season. Here’s what I came up with for sure…that I'm not sure!

I haven’t decided if I’m going to race canoes next year, or get back into some log building or what wilderness trips I will take. I will do a considerable amount of paddling even if I don’t race.

I do plan to work on my food plot on my property that I neglected this year. Since I missed most of the fall season due to work I hope to get out and do some bow hunting for both bear and deer next fall. I also rifle hunt with my father each year.

This week end I got out my overview map of Wabakimi Provincial Park and looked at it. I marked down some additional 13 topo maps I need to buy for some further planning. I know some of the guys I went to Wabakimi with last year want to go back a little further north.

They want to either paddle the Misehkow River or the Albany River. One of the guys wants to go in July and the other one wants to go in August. Right now, for me, my vote would be in August just in case I decide to do the AuSable Canoe Marathon again.

Thinking out loud….train ride out of Armstrong to Savant, ride to put in some where off 599, paddle north, cut over to the Misehkow, hit the Albany, fly out of Fort Hope.

If there is a big loop I would even consider doing it in a solo canoe. Still thinking….

I would like to go for a longer time, possibly 21 days or so. I think I want to leave the upper part of the Albany beginning at Osnaburgh Lake then paddle to James Bay for another day.

Here is some further information I reviewed this week-end.

Ken Hupila. Osnaburgh Lake to Fort Albany (four links)

http://bwcaboard.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=564&sid=b90b79ee640ad47579b568ca35d356a3

http://bwcaboard.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=580&sid=b90b79ee640ad47579b568ca35d356a3

http://bwcaboard.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=589&sid=b90b79ee640ad47579b568ca35d356a3

http://bwcaboard.com/board/viewtopic.php?t=610&sid=b90b79ee640ad47579b568ca35d356a3

http://www.wilderway.com/ -Albany Journal # 1 and #2. Written by Andy Smyth.

Reach #1: Train from Nakina to Savant Lake settlement, truck ride to Jutten L; Savant L, Savant R; Jabez, Velos, McRae & E Pashkokogan Ls; Pashkokogan R, Osnaburgh L; Albany R through Atitkokiwan, Achapi, Miminiska, Petawanga, Kawitos & Eabamet Ls to Fort Hope. Reach #2: Eabamet R, Triangular L, Albany R; Abazotikichuan, Makokibatan, Washi & Teabeau Ls; Ogoki confluence and settlement; Albany R to Kenogami confluence, up Kenogami R, past Little Current confluence to Drowning confluence. Float plane to Nakina.

Canoeing Ontario's Rivers [Import] [Paperback] by Reid, Ron; Grand, Janet- I ordered this book from Amazon this week-end for .50 plus shipping.

I also ordered the following books to add to my library of paddling further north.

Measuring Mother Earth by Heather Robertson http://www.amazon.com/Measuring-Mother-Earth-Became-Tyrrell/dp/0771075405/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228093868&sr=1-1

Black Spruce Journals by Stewart Coffin http://www.amazon.com/Black-Spruce-Journals-Canoe-Tripping-Northern/dp/1933937408/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228093949&sr=1-1

Lands Forlorn: A Story of an Expedition to Hearne's Coppermine River (2008)by George Douglas & Robert Hildebran http://www.amazon.com/Lands-Forlorn-Expedition-Hearnes-Coppermine/dp/0615195296/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228094015&sr=1-1

The Old Way North: Following the Oberholtzer-Magee Expedition by David Pelly http://www.amazon.com/Old-Way-North-Oberholtzer-Magee-Expedition/dp/0873516168/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1228094175&sr=1-1

Well, time to sit back again and do some more thinking...before these books arrive!!!

Chuck