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Canada 2000

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Pre-visit reconnaissance report

On 16 July 1999 John Smith and Allen Cox made an exploratory visit to Ontario Canada. The aim of this visit was to ensure the viability of the Canada 2000 expedition in July next year, and to confirm local support arrangements on the ground

Allen and John travelled separately to Canada, met at Toronto’s Pearson International airport and hired a car for the Journey to Northern Ontario. They had arranged to meet Duncan McKay a friend of Barry Ellis (the chief instructor at the Air Cadet centre in Llanbedr) at his home in Terrace Bay, some 250km east of Thunder Bay

The journey to Terrace followed the highway along the shores of Lake Huron to Sudbury and Sue Saint Marie before following the North shore of Lake Superior all the way to Terrace. The journey took 14 hrs to White River where they took a rest, arriving in Terrace after two further hours of driving at 09:00

The first day was spent looking around the local area and meeting some of the people who will assist us next year. The people of Terrace and the nearby town of Schreiber were very welcoming

A three-day expedition on the Steel River was planned, using a canoe hired from an outfitter in Marathon. A lift to the start was provided in the back of a Jeep pick up with canoe trailer attached. The start was North of the main highway between mile 58 and 59. Dennis (Stan’s son) dropped the group on the little Steel river at around 10:00

The weather was good with a temperature of around 29°C and clear skies. This is ideal canoeing country. The route followed the little Steel River, which flows into numerous lakes before joining the main Steel River. The river sections contain several rapids of about the same difficulty as Symonds Yat (on the River Wye) with perhaps slightly more difficult approaches

Starting the little Steel just after 10:00 the group paddled until around 12:30 when a stop for lunch was made. Hot noodles flavoured with soup followed by nan bread and jam and cake followed. All washed down with cold tea. A short portage introduced John and Allen to the art of carrying the canoe single handed. This first portage of around 250 meters was the first of two on the first day. Paddling continued until 18:30 when they stopped at a campsite on the shores of a lake. A tarp was erected, water put on for tea and the tents erected. It was a surprise to John and Allen that the water was drinkable directly from the lake without filtering or boiling (Water will be filtered or boiled next year as we may well pollute our own supplies). Dinner was spaghetti bolognaise, followed by cake and biscuits

They were aware of the blackfly and mosquito nuisance and used insect repellent sun cream and Deet spray on their clothing. This proved effective except that Allen had a row of blackfly bites on his lower legs where the Deet had washed off in the water

Following a good night’s sleep they arose the next morning to a hearty breakfast of cereal and eggs and sausage washed down with tea.  Setting off just after 09:00, there was more spectacular paddling past beaver dams and logjams (caused by the winter run off). The second night’s campsite was larger than the first and was just after a spectacular portage

The last day saw them paddling down the Steel River to a bridge where Duncan had arranged for Stan to meet them in his Jeep (any one who is on the Canada 2000 trip will get to know Stan). The drive back to Terrace was a delight travelling on dirt roads through the wilderness; the first people for three days were seen

After the expedition, Thunder Bay was visited; this is a very spread out town and it will be worth spending time exploring it next year

The trip was soon over and the long drive back to Toronto had to be faced. This was made memorable by a Black Bear running across the road about 20 meters in front of the car, and John locking the wheels. Fortunately the Bear just kept running and no damage was done. Only happy memories of actually seeing a bear from the relative safety of the car…

Wing Adventure Training Officer: Flt Lt John Smith RAFVR(T)       Web site by: Flt Lt Geoff Bowles RAFVR(T)       Last updated: 01/01/2003