The French River
A little north of Pointe Au Baril, Ontario and about fifty minutes by car east of old Highway 69 is a place called The Lodge at Pine Cove.
It is here that three couples were outfitted with some rugged gear and a few words of wisdom before a beginning a three day excursion on the famed French River.
The very kind Alex Strachan and his staff at Pine Cove wished us all the best as we headed due east along the Little French River. The air was hot but not too humid as we enjoyed surfing with the canoes along the shoreline with a strong tailwind from the prevailing westerlies.
We made good time, stopping to sample the wild blueberries that covered the rough granite shorelines beneath the giant wind-swept Eastern White Pines. Our destination was Restoule Bay, at which we arrived after five and a half hours of easy paddling. We camped atop a steep ridge that gave way to a twenty-metre deep granite gorge to the south west that contained a spectacular set of small falls and rapids.
September 30th, 2006 at 10:06
I hope I can visit this river one day!
November 20th, 2006 at 21:16
Reading about it I felt like I was with you (even started itching when you got swarmed). Great description of what sounds like an amazing Ontario destination. Thanks!
November 20th, 2006 at 21:28
if I go there in Scott’s canoe and with his optimism and sense of transience… I will go. For the meantime, I can surf here without insects.