There are six canoe campsites on Clydegale Lake. We stopped at the second one (the first one was already taken) to have a quick look. Situated on a bit of a rock bluff above the eastern shore of the lake, it was only about one kilometre from the portage point - not nearly as far as we had intended to go. The weather, though, was making our decision for us. Arn took stock of it and proclaimed it more than sufficient. We set up our tents while it was still only spitting a bit; we expected it to get more rainy as the afternoon and evening drew on.
Kai, Nel, and Emma were sent to gather wood for a warming fire, and the rest of us set out to string up a couple of tarps to provide a place to stand out of the rain. Although the conditions were damp, the temperature was still fairly warm and the wind had actually died down a fair bit.
Putting up shelter
We did a lot of standing around (under the tarps) as showers came and went. During one of the intervals between showers (and after a lot of cajoling and begging from Kai), Emma and Kai went out for a bit of kid's canoe practice. The wind had died down nearly completely at this point, making the waters of Clydegale Lake an un-threatening place for a bit of practice.
We alternated between sitting around the fire (when it wasn't drizzling or raining) or standing under the tarps (when it was) for the rest of the evening. Needless to say, we didn't stay up all that late, choosing instead to retire to the shelter of our tents before 9pm.
Not long after [setting off to bed], the rain started again, this time accompanied by the return of the wind. Eventually the sound of precipitation on the tent changed. It sounded a lot more... firm. In fact, it sounded a lot like it was sleet. The forecast had called for a cold front to pass through at some point, and I guessed that this was what was happening at this very moment. Hopefully, I thought, this unpleasantness would be over by the morning.
courtesy JInnes
