Adventure #12: Getting Artsy on Kawigamog Lake in Noganosh Lake PP

    Wanting to try someplace new that neither of us had ever been to before, Michelle and I decided to check out Noganosh Lake Provincial Park for a quick overnighter. We set out on July 13th, 2020 with a few possible places in mind that we could launch the canoe and park, depending on availability and the general direction we wanted to paddle in. We ended up deciding on using the Ess Narrows launch which had not only a great launch but a good-sized parking lot. A few other boaters were using the launch to put in their motorboats as Kawigamog lake, the first lake in the Noganosh area, is home to cottages as well. 

          

    Setting out on the water under overcast skies, Michelle and I had to paddle under a road bridge (the same one we drove down) that was currently under construction. As we rounded the bend and progressed further into the lake, Michelle and I had to align the canoe to hit the waves head-on, from passing boats. All the boaters we passed were very friendly and the wake they sent our way actually ended up being kind of fun to ride in the canoe. We ended up passing by an old hunt camp before admiring all the cottages we passed on the right shoreline as it gave a different kind of scenery from what we are used to. We were surprised by how many people were actually up visiting their cottages though, given that it was a Monday. 

                                             

    As we progressed further down the lake, Michelle and I made a left turn into the more narrow section of Kawigamog Lake where most of the campsites would begin showing up. We had passed a couple campsites on the left shore, opposite the cottages on our way to the bend, which looked quite nice, but we weren't quite ready to make one our home for the night and end our exploring. We passed many campsites after making the turn, commenting on how nice most of them were. After paddling quite a ways further, we ended up spotting a really nice cliff face that appeared to be a site, way up above the water. It was intriguing to both of us and so we decided to move in closer to check it out. Turns out, the site was on a sort of point with a little cove tucked around the opposite side from the cliff face. 


    Pulling the canoe up onto the site, Michelle and I walked the entire site, looking at the shelves and whatnot that previous campers had built on the site. Given that Noganosh Lake Provincial Park is a non-operating provincial park and can basically be used like crown land, it is not surprising to find campsites rigged with tables, shelves, and numerous grills for the firepit. When well-maintained, these pre-built sites are not too bad to stay on, yet it's usually these kinds of sites that get littered pretty quick. Luckily for us, the site was pretty clean and so we decided to set up camp. 

                                           
                                     

    Since it was after noon, Michelle and I decided to stop for a quick bite to eat before progressing with our site setup. After enjoying some snacks while sitting atop the rocks, Michelle and I got to work. She set up her Nemo Hornet tent while I set up my Lawson hammock. We then scouted out a good bear hang spot, of which there weren't many options on our site. The branch we ended up choosing had a lot of smaller branches coming off of it, making it difficult to get our rope through. Eventually, after weighing our line with a log, Michelle was able to get our bear hang ready for us to use.

     

    Afterwards, we put together our camp chairs before sitting down to do a little bit of watercolour painting. We ended up spending a few hours just sitting painting the scenery around us. It was very relaxing! The watercolour sets Michelle and I both have are excellent for bringing into the backcountry, due to their compact size. We both have a Windsor and Newton set that comes with an array of colours, a mixing pallet in the lid, and one water-fillable brush, all of which fit in a compact white case, smaller than the average book. Pair that with a small book of watercolour paper and some paper towel sheets, and Michelle and I have everything we need to be artsy in the backcountry! 

      

    After painting and relaxing in the breeze all afternoon, it soon became time to get to work making dinner. I once again made some mashed potatoes with gravy and ready crisp bacon which was very tasty and filling! Once we finished dinner and did our dishes, Michelle ended up building us a fire to enjoy for the rest of the evening. While watching the fire, we just sat and chatted, also admiring the sun set behind the trees. Once the sun was all the way down and the bugs decided to come out, Michelle and I decided to end our fire, retreating to the safety of our tent and hammock. Not long after, we fell asleep, ending our first day on Kawigamog Lake. 

            

    The next morning we woke up and made ourselves a nice breakfast of some oatmeal before relaxing some more and enjoying the sunshine. I busied myself with some reading while Michelle decided to paint a bit more. During this time there was also a plane that flew by overhead. Around 11 a.m., Michelle and I decided to start packing up our gear so that we would be ready to leave the site after lunch. Once that was complete, we made some cream of potato soup to share before washing our dishes and loading up the canoe. We made the approximately 2-hour long paddle back towards the put-in, enjoying the sunshine and watching some boaters tubing on the lake. 

     

    On our journey back to the vehicle we also came across a cool flat rock by the water's edge that has been filled with all kinds of makeshift Inukshuks. Once back at the put-in, we loaded up the vehicle and headed on our way home, ending another amazing canoe trip! Despite the cottages and the boat traffic on Kawigamog lake, it truly was a beautiful and relaxing trip! I am definitely curious to progress further into Noganosh Lake Provincial Park as Kawigamog Lake is just the border of the park. I can only imagine what kind of beauty awaits after a few portages into more isolated lakes! This certainly won't be the last time I'm writing about a trip there! This also won't be the last time I bring my watercolour set with me into the backcountry as I thoroughly enjoyed letting my creativity run wild in a place so abundant with artistic inspiration!

                                                 

                                                                            Until the next adventure,
                                                                                                        - Megan
                                                                                                                    Bitmoji Image

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