The next day morning, our fleet started moving around 9:30am. Our destination of the day was Obstacle Island.
We have to pass Dalis rapids and then turn into Georgian Bay. There was a portage (180 meter at your left) for Dalis rapids on the map. and Georgian bay could have high wave. But the route should be much shorter comparing to that
of the first day.
Dalis Rapids has 3 to 4 stages depending on how to count them.
Soon, the sound of rolling water got stronger. It was from Dalis Rapids which had 3 to 4 stages depending on how to count them.
We saw motor boats gathered at a small bay, people were talking - exchanging ideas about
the rapids which could be seen as the water suddenly dropped away in
about 50 meters ahead. Lucy and I made our canoe at a bay so that we could
climb to high ground and assess water level.
While we were talking
to a local guy other canoes of our fleet were coming too fast towards
the rapids without knowing the dangerous. We yielded at them, "pull
over, pull over". At first they were confused but soon they realized
what was awaiting them ahead. Luckily, they managed pull canoes into
the bay.
Let's go back to the local guy companied with a black dog who seemed
authentic to French river. We asked him where was the portage to pass
the rapids. "There is no portage for canoe. You can walk canoe over
the rapids if you got enough rope, just take valuables with you; the
water has dropped two feet in past two weeks." He also walked with
me to show me where the canoe should go through. The first one could
run canoe close to the shore while control the canoe from the cliff
with ropes. Than went down to the water and lead the canoe pass the
second swift. The third one was tricky for too much rocks around the
shore. We had to let the canoe run though the main current where water
was rolling.
We managed two empty canoes through the rapids - did not
let them go though main current but lifted canoes when passing the
third rapid.
The third canoe was mine; I wanted to try what the man
told me. I did not empty the canoe but did take out valuables - my
digital camera. With rope in hands, I made the canoe pass through the
first two swifts. For the third one, l had to give away more rope so
that the canoe could go through main current. Everything seemed fine;
the canoe was turning into main current slowly.
But suddenly the water took charge and brought
it into the rapid. It pulled all rope from my hands with in half second
and the force were so fierce that I was almost pulled into the rapid.
I had no choice but let the rope slip from my hands and the boat was
gone into the rolling current without control. It turned 90 degree before fell
down to the rapid, disappeared from my eyes. When I got to high rocks on the shore, I saw the
poor canoe had filled with water running away with current companied
with backpack, tent bag, sleeping bags and the cooler which was our main food
reserve.
I ran to canoe along the shore, thinking what I could go without
it, and without camping gears and food.
Now the river widened, and the running away canoe slowed down. There
was a chance to catch it back. I jumped in one of the first
transported canoe and asked Naer go with me. But no paddle nor life
jacket near by. I yield to others two hundred meters back on the
rapids - bring me paddles and, yes, life jackets.
Waited, waited and waited
while watching my canoe and stuff drifting further away. Finally, we got
paddles and jackets.
Naer and I used all our strength to push the
canoe toward the uncontrolled one. Along the way, we picked up bags, sleeping forms and
so on. The running away canoe was getting into another swift, we might
not be able bring it back if it went though the swift. Luckily, we got
it before it was too later. But now our canoe was getting into the
swift too if we would stopped one or two full strength strokes. Finally
we cut the swift current and brought both canoes into a bay full of
mud and weeds - but it was a safe place. Oh some thing else has gone
with the current - my water bottle - I had to let it go.
There were
other bags and the cooler still floating on the water, they could
soon follow the lead of my bottle and run away. Naer and I backed into
the canoe and chased other running aways. My backpack was at the risk,
we had to cut the current off before the bag getting into the swift.
May be both of us used too much force, the canoe almost tipped; at
least I was tipped into water. We were very close to the mouth of the
swift; the canoe lost balance and I was in water.
There was only one
place could keep us safe; a few rocks that likes beard of the mouth.
We had to hug the beard before being swallowed. And we did. With all
the power of one single paddle and two flog lags and strong survival
instinct minds, we did it.
Lucy and Steve had run another canoe to help us. We together picked up
all floating bags and the cooler which was still holding all food packed in.
But we could not find Lucy's bag. Certainly, we did not see any bag
running away from the swift; but it might have sunken. With sadness on
her face, we paddled back to the base of our group. When we were
getting closer, they yielded to us, there was a bag on the other side
of the river. It was Lucy's bag, we claimed it back.
Counting our loses, a water bottle, as I have mentioned, a fishing rod
which had sunken, and a pair of socks. Not too bad, eh?
On the shore, we discussed what have happened and why while we were
taking a break. It came to conclusion that two lessens should have been
learned. first, never leave you luggage unattended, even in the most
remote area. And second, never allow paddles and life jackets far away from the boat - without them a boat is not a boat at all.
Lucy was checking her stuff. Sleeping bag was soaked; most clothes
were wet except few under garments in a zipped bag. I did not check my
bag. What had happened had happened; we had to move on. If we could
arrive our destination early, we should have time to dry clothes under
sun.
So we resumed our pursued. Running though the swift where we battled
with running away canoe was not difficult. After the swift, we found
some small stuff, an apple, two water bottles - no, they were not my
water bottle I mentioned - we collected them as garbage.
Paddling further towards Georgian bay, we could feel its power. The
wave getting higher; wind picked up as well, still against us. We had
hard time maintain direction. Sometimes, canoes were pushed to the
shore and sometimes they turned 90 degree moving backwards by the
wind.
When I saw the first navigation post in the center of the river, I
thought it was the mark of entering Georgian bay and started looking
turn point on my left. I was wrong, we were still a mile away from the mouth. This
mile was definitely longer than it should be for wind and wave pushing
us to any directions except forward. And the further we went, the
stronger the wind; the higher the wave.
Finally , we made left turn into Georgian bay, at bluff point. Now
the wind and wave smashed on our canoe side way. Water splashed onto
us and our gears. Pool Lucy, who had spread her sleeping bag on canoe,
hoping it could be dried under the sun, was watching her sleeping bag
absorbed more water than before, but couldn't stop a single stroke of
her paddle. We navigated along the shore, afraid that the wave and wind
could be worse if we were further away from the shore.
I had to make a stop for checking the map. It was impossible stopping
a paddle stroke and doing something else. So Lucy and I made our canoe
to a dead tree trunk at Claw island for I thought it could be softer than
rocks. But we were unable to reach the trunk, the wave had pushed us
to rocks. It was even worse for the wave constantly smashed on us and
bounced back from the rocks. We collected a lot of water in our canoe unwillingly
and all bags were soaked in water.
A lesson leaned was that never allow your enemy push you against wall. Fight back and try to escape earlier if you can not win.
Finally, we managed our canoe off
the rocks and moving towards obstacle island.
I had made my decision, no mater what we would camp on obstacle island
- it was not possible moving any further.
We did not see campsite symbol - a small orange square with a tent
symbol and campsite number beneath it. Actually it was impossible to
see such a small symbol when you were on open water. But I did see a
tent on the shore - the place had been taken!
We banded left towards inner side of the bay, away from fierce open
water and found a small harbor between two rocks. Parked in the
harbor, I climbed to the rocks investigating whether this place was
inhabitable. The place was not bad. Lots of giant rocks, and a few
spot suitable for pitching tents. That's it, we were make it our home here
tonight.
But we could not see other canoes; worried their safety, I climbed to
the peak rock of the place, waving a life jacket to those tiny dots on
open water while Lucy was communicating with them using a walkie-talkie.
Those dots appeared clearly now. They were our fleet. Mike and his
daughter had landed on another island - should be flat island. Steve and
Vivian, who had a walkie-talkie, met with mike on the island. Naer
and Julie were stuck on a rock and had to lift the canoe over the rock.
Finally, all of them came to home safe and smiling.
Lucy had spread her sleeping bag and other stuff on the rocks. I had
not opened my bag yet not knowing how much water it had absorbed
unwillingly when it fell into current and than soaked in water in our
boat.
Surprisingly, my sleeping bag and clothes were dry, thanks for a
garbage bag I packed as inner layer of my bag. And my digital camera
was safe too packed in a plastic bag for toner.
Mike told me what he had seen on the island where he had parked. A memorial symbol with verses -
Sleep in peace XXX who was drawn at this place where he loved.
We would sleep in peace here at the place we loved, tonight and only tonight.