I'll definitely take your advice, ST, and check out past trip reports.  We plan to take our time, as you suggest.  I reckon the trip we've planned could be done in 10 days so taking 17 should give us plenty of time to fish and check out the scenery.
I got hold of Doug at CQO and he was very helpful and happy to provide the service.  So thanks again all.

Quetico North is very close to French Lake. Linda will drive your car to Nym to drop you off, keep your car at their place, and pick you up at French about 1 km away. Nice stop for a burger before heading home.

All the outfitters are kind of fun to work with and pick up some local knowledge & color. Kind of like bush pilots IMO.

Snow_Dog wrote on May 26^th, 2010 at 1:28pm:

**********************************
Another alternative is to call him when you get to French.  They'll let you use the park office phone to do so OR they'll ring him for you.

Jimbo   

Your intended route most/part of it, has been covered in numerous trip reports here. Take the time and peruse the trip report forums. I'll bet you will find everything your looking for, or at least narrow your question's list.

3 weeks is plenty of time do do it right. Since it's your first Q trip, I'd suggest taking the time too smell the roses

You find a nice site, has day trip/base camp possibilities, take it and enjoy the moment. You'll run across so many possible "distractions" along the way, that you'll soon realize you can't see everything in 3 weeks, with a route like yours.

Good advice that time of year, is travel early, get off the BIG water before afternoon winds pick-up. Go with the flow. Storms can pop-up in an instant, I'd have a tarp up first thing in camp. I'd also keep canoes/gear secured and organized, unless you want too chase them down

I'd go over the PCD, and mark the obvious campsites along your chosen route on your trip map. Don't worry too much about the "ratings", there very subjective any ways.  Knowing the locations and having options is the better way too go in my book.

Take plenty of pictures, keep a journal, and submit a trip report when you get back  Old routes take on a new perspective thru fresh eye's

Oh, and being a rookie fisherman, I'd be willing to bet you do as well as anyone in that department. Just remember to keep the rod tip up, a tight line, and don't "lip grab" the Waldos or NP

I appreciate the feedback folks.  Canoe Canada doesn't do shuttling.  I wrote a note to Doug Chapman and hopefully he will be willing.  I'll let you all know. 
As I get closer to August I'm hoping some of you can share your experience regarding my route.  Unbelievably, after all these years of tripping this will be my first time in Quetico.  On top of that it will be the maiden voyage of my brand, spanking new Bell Northstar.  It will also be the first time I'll be taking fishing gear with me on a trip.  In fact I've learned to fish especially for this trip.  So, as you can all imagine, I'm incredibly psyched for this one.

While Doug didn't shuttle our cars for us we did something similar to your trip. We drove to his shop camped in the lot overnight. Then we loaded his van up dropped our cars at French and then he shuttled us over to Nym. I think our paddles touched the water on Nym before 7:00am. (Doug had gotten our permits for us the previous day)

Jimbo wrote on May 26^th, 2010 at 1:17pm:


If you can, I'd get him to drop your vehicle at French instead of arranging a pick-up at French.  That way if you come out early or are delayed you don't have to worry about missing the pick-up time.  Your car will be there for you whenever you arrive.

db wrote on May 26^th, 2010 at 6:30am:

*********************************************

Hmmm... I'm betting he DOES say, "Oh sure, no problem"!

Chances are that he will recommend keeping your vehicle at his place until just a day or so before you are scheduled to come out at French.  Or, he'll recommend that you use him to cart you the short hop over to his "One Start Building, Five Star Service" operations just over on Hwy 11.  He did that for me the year they were running into break-ins over on French (they caught the culprits somewhere in Manitoba the week after I left... and, no, I WASN'T in Manitoba that week!).

Jimbo    

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

I've never used him as an outfitter and I seriously doubt he'd say "oh sure, no problem" but I wouldn't doubt he'd figure out a way if you asked nicely. Or, you could fish around for someone going the other way.

Personally, I'd expect someone could still thumb their way back to Nym. French has showers...

I will second Jimbo and endorse Doug Chapman.  Assuming you are not solo drop off your gear and passengers and while they are carrying the gear down to the launch you can drive down to Dougs and have him drive you back.
Nice rout!
MagicPaddler