While COVID may have put a damper on our ‘Rowing’ it hasn’t stopped OAR’s ‘Ontario Adventure’.  On Friday Sept 25, 4 OAR members and 1 guest met at Lake of Two Rivers in Algonquin park to cycle to Rock Lake.  The trail took us along the abandoned rail bed of the historic Ottawa, Arnprior, and Parry Sound Railway built across Algonquin Park in 1895.  The route was along a chain of lakes which are part of the Upper Madawaska River; we have rowed here several times.  It was a beautiful autumn day with warm sun and absolutely spectacular colours in the trees.

The following day, we departed from Canoe Lake in, rather predictably, canoes!!  A lovely, sunny paddle brought us to Tom Thompson’s memorial cairn with its more recent addition of a totem pole constructed and maintained by campers from nearby Taylor Statten Camp.

At the end of Canoe Lake, a short portage (rather glad at this point that we weren’t in touring quads!) and we were ready to paddle Joe Lake to Teepee Lake – part of the Upper Oxtongue River.  More stunning fall foliage surrounded us as we explored the lake and then settled on a perfectly positioned point to enjoy lunch.  On our return trip, the refreshing breezes soon became a little more enthusiastic making us very appreciative of our lunch and adventurous spirits!  

A grand couple of days to fully appreciate our Ontario waterways and impressive Canadian seasons.