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If you can't decide where to canoe in Algonquin Park you might as well start at Access Point #1, Kawawaymog (K'mog). From there North Tea Lake serves as a good base camp for a two day weekend. If you get an early start Saturday, make good time over the first two portages, and set up camp like clockwork on East North Tea, you might even attempt a third portage into Manitou Lake which provides "one of the great vistas in the Park" (Donald Llyod, 'Canoeing Algonquin Park'). If not, you go for a swim and remind yourself to return on the long weekend.

If you haven't planned in sufficient time for a meetup you might as well pick Access Point #1. Voyageur Outfitting is conveniently located at the launch point. Not only do they provide affordable canoe rentals but also tent sites for Friday night. Boot up Friday after work and set up tents. Saturday morning help yourself to Voyageur's continental breakfast, pick up canoes, proceed to the ranger station for backcountry permits, and by 9:30 AM off you go.

Details:

We have a site on East North Tea Lake which is good for 9 campers. We can stay at Voyageur Outfitting's tent site Friday night for $10/person.

I reserved one canoe. With two people that canoe is now occupied. If signing up please reserve a canoe from Voyageur if you don't have one already. Then notify via this meetup that you have one so the next person signing up can contact you to share.

Canoe Rentals:

I suggest using Voyageur for convenience http://www.voyageuroutfitting.com/rates.html

As of Tuesday they only had 5 left so don't delay.

Difficulty:

Two short portages, 135 and 255 meters. 13 km paddle to base camp. Beginners welcome.

Estimated cost:

$27 (1/2 share of two day canoe rental) + $11.75 (backcountry permit) + $40 (shared gas) + $10 (Friday night tent site) = 88.75 before tax.

The Drive:

OK, Temagami didn't work out this weekend in part because it was too long of a drive for a two day weekend. Access Point #1 is still a long 5 hour drive but doable. It is located 22 km east of South River which is on Hwy 11, halfway between Hunstville and North Bay.

Leave Friday at 5:30 PM from a central Tim Horton's. For now make that Northfield and Weber, Waterloo. Carpool to South River and points northeast. If stopping at MEC in Barrie stick to a 1/2 hour time limit.

Footnote:

I was planning this North Tea trip as a scouting mission anyway. I needed a second person to paddle so I figured capitalize on the enthusiasm for Temagami and create a meetup. If I get that one person to help paddle I'll consider it a success. (Perhaps we can do Temagami on the labor day weekend).

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