September 6, 2004

    Everyone was up early on our last morning, both disappointed to be leaving but anxious to get on our way because of the long drive that lay ahead. 

    Travel through the remaining portages and lakes (Mama & Shawshaw Lakes)  was easy going.  We finally came across what looked like the remnants of the infamous burned down site on a point on Shawshaw Lake. 

    An overcast sky hastened our travels and we were back on Tim Lake in no time.  Greg shot a short video of our paddle up the Tim River after realizing that the batteries in his digital camera fell out, thus wiping the flash card memory.

    The put in area was busy with people packing up and leaving after the long weekend.  We decided this time that we would use the paddles to support the front of the canoes and the 2x4's on the back when securing them to the roof of the van.  And after a long, slow ride and one minor retightening of the ropes, we made it back to the outfitters and unloaded quickly.

    Lunch and beer came quickly enough at The Cookhouse (a bar & grill/roadhouse type restaurant) on highway 60 near Oxtongue.  Although some members of the company were slightly disgruntle about the patio being closed, we enjoyed two pitchers of Muskoka Cream Ale while inhaling quesedillas and buffalo burgers.

    We would soon be home and back to the humdrum of everyday life...