George River Solo 2018

Day 18
Start Time: 8/1/2018 12:45 PM
Duration: 6:35
Distance / Total (km): 27.8 / 237.5

I woke at 6:00am to the sound of rain, went back to sleep until 10:00am….still raining! I Packed up my bedding and moved over to the Pod. For breakfast, half of a wrap with jam, the other half with cheese, plus tea of course. I am expecting a cool and wet day so I am going to wear the full dry suit with a warm layer underneath. The Marmot was packed “damp”, the Pod wet and sandy (again!).

I pushed off at 12:45, better but not good enough for the distance I would like to cover today. Once past the lagoon I saw a very large beach in the river right bay and then before the narrows another very good beach site. There is a small R1 through the narrows then the high bank on river left where I camped in 2010.

There was light rain all the way to the middle of Lac Lacasse, the cloud cover continued for most of the day with just a hint of sun from time to time. The breeze from the northeast was never much of a problem; countered to some extent by the modest but continuous current even in the “lake” sections. There did not appear to be any camping on Lac Lacasse, the RI at the outflow was easy, I looked for the camp marked on my map, if it exists, it is hidden in the trees with no clues along the bank.

It is 14km from here to the esker camp, if I keep my speed up there is a chance I can make it there before 7:00pm, I am prepared to cut it a bit short if I see something a bit sooner. Although I know the esker is very nice, it’s another one of these steep climbs to get to the flat area on top, if I spot a beach with a quick in and out I would take it. I stopped for a couple of snack breaks, sure glad I dressed warmly, easy to be chilled unless I am paddling.

I paddled steadily north on Lac Resolution, when I reached the island and checked my position there was still 2km to the esker, it would be later than I had hoped for earlier. This last section is quite shallow with hidden rocks; with 1km remaining I ran aground and had to hop out to pull the boat off some rocks. At the foot of the esker there is a small gravel strip, not big enough to set up so I climbed up the steep slope of loose sand and gravel. I left some of my gear with the boat. The black flies were ferocious (just like I remember!), I was in a cloud of them as I set up the Pod and the Marmot. Just as the sun was setting I scurried inside for refuge as the black flies were now joined by swarms of mosquitos. I burned a piece of coil to tame the bugs, changing from the dry suit into warm clothing as the temperature is now only 10°c and falling. I boiled water for tea and a bag of Sierra Chicken Pasta (Alpine Aire) it promises veggies but delivers little in that department. Plenty of chicken though and if the hot sauce was not down the hill the zing from that would greatly improve what is a fairly basic but decent meal.

I started writing my notes but it was too cold in the Pod so I assembled my stuff and made the move to the Marmot and my sleeping bag. It has been a good day for distance and I am well set up to make it to the Three Gorges tomorrow. On the way there will be a few big rapids including the one where Dillon Wallace and Clifford Easton dumped during their 1905 trip made famous in the book The Lure of the Labrador Wild.

« Back Paddle to Day Seventeen Paddle on to Day Nineteen »
« Contents Back To The Put-In »