All -

Several QJ solo paddlers will be venturing out of Beaverhouse through Quetico, Cirrus, & Soho lakes over the period from June 25th through July 9th.  Chances are that a pink flamingo flag or buoy will be prominently displayed around camp somewhere.  If you spot us, please feel free to drop by.  That's how it's been over the past 21 years of these style trips.  In fact, that's how I've gotten to meet so many others in the QJ on-line community. 

Only a couple of us are on the same permit but there may be as many as 6-7 solo canoes, as many paddlers, and even a dog on any given day.  We don't exactly travel "together" but, often, it is in the same general direction... when we travel at all.

One thing I will guarantee: plenty of interesting (& sometimes tru-ish) tales around the evening campfires (especially about the folks who ain't there).

It's a good time and low-key.  Hope to see a few new folks around.  Feel free to PM me if interested in general particulars, etc.

Jimbo   8-)

P.S. Re: those 6-7 canoes "visibly present" at our campsite.  Of course ONLY 4 of those canoes will actually be "camped" on our campsite, per park rules. Others will merely be "visiting" from a nearby site (ok, so VERY nearby).  In any case, we'll play by the rules. FYI

My bunch entering at Pickerel on the 8th of July. Sorry we missed you guys, would love to put faces to the iconic names I've seen on the forum. One day I'll get there in June.

goblu79,

Some of our same bunch was on Pickerel (and Rawn) last year.  LOTS of windy days and VERY high water (there had been a major deluge the day before we entered the park) definitely impacted both paddling & fishing... and not in a good way.  Of course, if one has to be stuck in camp, it's always best to have the right cast of characters around.  That's half the fun, right?  We even shared camp with a fellow from Switzerland who needed a decent port from the storm.  He had been in the park for something like 6 weeks and had plenty of tales to tell.

Hope you find the weather more cooperative there than we did.  If your supporting cast is even half as good as mine was, I'm sure you'll have a great time!

If you are entering at French or Stanton, drop in to say hi to Doug Chapman (Canadian Quetico Outfitters) and tell him you're a QJer.  The rest of the conversation will take care of itself.

Later,

Jimbo  8-)

Pickerel Lake - 2024, with the group of solo paddlers and the visitor from Switzerland. Too windy for a fire, but still an interesting discussion and good time.

---

Have I met one of those folks in person? Curious is all.

At least a couple of them, I think.  Certainly not the dude, 2nd from left, in the white hat, of course...unless you've traveled extensively in Switzerland.

As pictured, from left to right, you have: DD,  the Swiss dude, Wally13, MagicPaddler, & me.  It was VERY windy & quite chilly that day so we are well-bundled up and availing ourselves of warming spirits (please note the small flask at my feet).  Also, as much of us as you can actually see in the pic is likely a good bit more gray than the last time we met in person.  Jimmar, of course, is unseen & behind the camera.  Also, Quentin had been with us that trip but I believe he broke camp that morning. He left early for French Lake in order to avoid the worst of the winds that were forecast.

FYI

Jimbo  8-)

This is the whole group minus our Swiss visitor

---

From left to right: Jimmar, Quentin, DD, Jimbo, MagicPaddler, Wally13

Jimbo  8-)

Jimbo, I’ve got a question since you moved to Florida about these “Florida Man” videos going viral? Is there something in the water or is it some kind of siren call that brings them there?  ;D
Have a great trip.  ;)

JimJ -

Well, they just stopped putting fluoride in the water down here.  Perhaps we can get them to stop adding the Wacko Sauce, too?  Clearly mutant strains of something weird have gained ascendancy in the state's genetic heritage.

Alas, the hour may be too late for such remediation.  Quarantine may be the best option. 

In fact, I recommend enforcing that option immediately after I exit the state in a few weeks to head north to Quetico.  Won't break my heart if I don't get to come back for a while, particularly during the god-awful hot season (ie. 7 months of the year). 

Little doubt the extreme jungle-like conditions exacerbate the Wacko Sauce effects on human testosterone to further drive these "Florida Man" types "over-the-edge." 

It's an endemic epidemic, I tell you!  My escape cannot come too soon!

Jimbo  8-)

As is my custom, if you are anywhere near where we are camped on the morning of July 4th, I will continue my tradition of singing the national anthem  acapella.  Jimbo and Wally13 have already had the experience on a previous trip a few years ago.  I'll let them chime in as to the veracity of my performance.

DD

BTW. This cowboy is about to move from Georgetown (central Texas) to "Cowtown" (A.K.A Fort Worth --north Texas).  That will put me very close to my old stomping grounds .. Denton, Texas).

July 4th in our camp is a multi-sensory, muti-faceted experience. We feature a grand old flag - a high-flying (Pink Flamingo) flag - fluttering proudly in the breeze. We got duck calls, owl hooters, and various other whistling paraphernalia in full throat. In some years we sport pink flamingo buoys, whirlagigs, & streamers.  To appeal to taste buds, Old Salt once prepared a party-sized batch of pink flamingo fish stew. Also, celebratory libations abound, numerous toasts being offered to commemorate the occasion.  And, when Denton Doc cranks up with his rendition of the national anthem, a veritable chorus of wolves & coyotes chime in and the entire experience approaches a crescendo of wilderness sensory glory.

Yeah, DD has that knack for really stirring them up.  He could easily hire out with those Forest Service groups that go about counting critters & such.

Some year we aspire to cap off the spectacle and our wanton festivities with Phantom Jug accompanying DD on his bagpipes while the rest of us march about in circles around camp, wrapped in tattered bandages playing our fifes, drums and flutes.  Alas...someday.  We can but hope....

So that's a brief summary of July 4th in our camp... which is just a mere shadow of how we truly let loose on Canada Day a few days earlier....

Jimbo  8-)


P.S.  In all seriousness, if you haven't heard DD sing or PJ play the pipes, you're really missing out.  And OS's Pink Flamingo Stew, well...it's mana from heaven going down (and does wonders for any constipation issues you might be experiencing on its way out); keep the latrine area within easy walking distance.

If  an acapella version of "Star Spangled Banner" is not your taste, I've also done "Amazing Grace" and a Gregorian Chant acapella. 

Last year I showed up for a show rehearsal for which I was doing a solo version of "Danny Boy.  Unfortunately, no one showed up with the recorded music I was supposed to use and no one had brought a keyboard.  After a debate started over what to do, I interrupted and said that I would just do it acapella they said to go ahead and try.  After I finished and came off the stage, the music director (who had done hundreds of shows) stopped me and said that I was one only three people she knew that could have done that. I was way easier than walking out on stage in front of an audience of 500 paying customers with a dead mic (which has happened a couple of times). 

I guess I should add that my professional career had nothing to do with singing or stage performance.

  (You need to Login or Register

I'm hoping to persuade THIS guy to join us at this year's camp bash.

Perhaps a duet?

Jimbo  8-)

If  an acapella version of "Star Spangled Banner" is not your taste, I've also done "Amazing Grace" and a Gregorian Chant acapella. 

Last year I showed up for a show rehearsal for which I was doing a solo version of "Danny Boy.  Unfortunately, no one showed up with the recorded music I was supposed to use and no one had brought a keyboard.  After a debate started over what to do, I interrupted and said that I would just do it acapella they said to go ahead and try.  After I finished and came off the stage, the music director (who had done hundreds of shows) stopped me and said that I was one only three people she knew that could have done that. I was way easier than walking out on stage in front of an audience of 500 paying customers with a dead mic (which has happened a couple of times). 

I guess I should add that my professional career had nothing to do with singing or stage performance.

Well, I can't do Tibetan, I CAN do this:

  (You need to Login or Register

Every year or so I'll have a couple of drinks at a karaoke gathering and let-her-rip!

Jimbo wrote on May 24^th, 2025 at 6:31am:

July 4th in our camp is a multi-sensory, muti-faceted experience….

I’m almost sorry that I’m going to miss it…ALMOST!

Jimbo wrote on May 24^th, 2025 at 11:23am:

(You need to Login or Register I'm hoping to persuade THIS guy to join us at this year's camp bash. Perhaps a duet? Jimbo  8-)

I'd be careful Jimbo, that God awful sound might drift over to the Native People at the Beaverhouse Ranger station?

They might call in one of these to put a stop to that caterwauling ;) ;D

  (You need to Login or Register

I'll be heading into Beaverhouse on the 20th. I"m going to try to get into Bentpine or close to it, then circle back through Cirrus probably around the 26 or 27th and then out on the 29th. I'll look for you all somewhere on Cirrus. I'm sure that we'll connect via our inreaches. Happy paddling!

Your trip could be a very smoky affair. You will be SE of fires that combined size is equal.to 3x BWCA.

  (You need to Login or Register

I just got off the phone with my buddy Quetico Dave.
He's living full time at Warner Lk now.

I asked him about the smoke around his place?
He said it wasn't a big problem so far. He said they had rain for 3 days and the temps have been in the low 70's and cool at night. Rain in the 10 day forecast.

Unless that changes I think the people going in at BH and staying to the West of Pickerel should be okay?

Looks like the 10 day forecast for Atikokan is going to be decent weather for the people going to Cirrus.

Mid 70's weather, a little rain in the mix. My kind of weather. Jimbo coming from FL should enjoy that ;) ;D

Here in SE MI we have temps in the low to mid 90's for the next few days, high humidity as well.
I hate that.

Did anyone return?

We all got back! Some at different times. I'll let each of the others respond but I got out on June 30th via Beaverhouse. Others came out Pickerel. And the last group that I camped with came out on the 9th via Beaverhouse as well. Raucous storms in the park while I was in.

HighnDry wrote on Jul 14^th, 2025 at 8:22am:

We all got back! Some at different times. I'll let each of the others respond but I got out on June 30th via Beaverhouse. Others came out Pickerel. And the last group that I camped with came out on the 9th via Beaverhouse as well. Raucous storms in the park while I was in.

Is this a what happens on Cirrus, stays on Cirrus thing  ;) ;D ;D
I figured by now with that group the posts would be flowing.

Come on guys. My go to place Atikaki is on fire and I need a fix of trip report to make it through being stuck in IL.

Marten wrote on Jul 14^th, 2025 at 7:43am:

Did anyone return?

At this point, the question is not whether they returned, but whether they went at all. No report/pics = didn't happen.

Must have been a dream. No news is good news .

In response to popular demand, here is a pic of DD warming up on the morning of July 4th to sing his annual rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner." 

We're camped at site 2Z on Cirrus Lake's lower tier.

If I can figure out how to attach the 95 second video of this event, I'll do so.  It's memorable.


Jimbo   8-)

---

I'm not having luck attaching pics to my replies.  I can't seem to compress them enough. 

Also, I just posted a 1500 word synopsis of our great trip... and, POOF!  It disappeared before my very eyes when I hit the "Post Message" button (just as I've done many thousands of times in the past).

I recall pretty much what I had to say so I MAY try again tomorrow when my frustration recedes.  It was just an "overview" piece covering: fishing, weather, strange bugs, storms, holiday celebrations, wildlife, etc..  A more detailed version is probably "in the works." 

Next time I'll SAVE my comments before attempting to post.

Sorry for the delay. 

Maybe this "sorry" note will get through....

Jimbo   8-)

Jimbo, do you post pics on a online web hosting sight?

Try joining Imgur it's free. You can BULK load all your trip pics into a album you name. They tell you how to do it.

I had the same problem a couple of times losing trip reports when I hit Post Message.

Now I use a Open Office app and write them out.
I open Imgur and keep it open to my trip pics and click on any picture I want to put in report.

On right side of screen is a vertical box that allows you to size the pic to whatever format you are posting in. I use the one that says BBCode.
Click on COPY then paste into report or post.

I save all my trip reports in my Open Office file.
Never lose a report again and you don't have to look for pics either because the link is saved too.

   

PS,

You can upload videos too!
Go to help section, upload info and follow the directions.

That's super helpful, ST.  Thanks!  I'll give it a shot at my earliest opportunity.

I used to work with another hosting site up until they switched over to a subscription basis.  I didn't use it often enough to justify the expense.


Jimbo  8-)