Sat. Sept 8^th. – In order to execute an early start to our venture, the two canoes were secured on the trailer the previous night and kept in Norm H’s garage, leaving only the trailer hookup and the loading of the remaining gear into Wayne’s van for the morning – all was accomplished by 6 am. Our rendezvous with Norm R. and John was next on the agenda and since everyone was eager to be on the road, there was no dallying about – 6:20 am found us on highway 17. Our first stop was at the Irving Restaurant in Pembroke for our traditional breakfast – once fortified, we continued on our journey. Turning off Route 6 towards Willisville, we found ourselves on a narrow road that led us to the top of an escarpment – here we stood in awe, our jaws agape and eyes smiling as we were transfixed by a vast panoramic view of Frood Lake and its surroundings hills. We marveled at what was before us and, with adrenaline elevated, could only think of what we were about to experience in the next week

Willisville is comprised of about a dozen residences. At its wharf, we telephoned the Charlton Lake Campgrounds (705) 285-4281), situated across the narrow channel, to announce our arrival and to officially register our trip and acquire a campsite for the evening. The owners, Peter and Trudy Hessey, extended their hospitality by using their boat to ferry our equipment across the channel and continued to the campsite with their 4-wheeler and trailer, leaving us all to wonder whether this trip into the interior of KPP was going to be as effortless as the beginning was shaping up to be; however, we all knew this would be very contrary to our past experiences!

After a refreshing swim and a splendid supper cooked over the open campfire, we were ready for a restful evening, but were soon made very aware of a sudden incoming storm from the direction of Georgian Bay. We just made it to our tents when the winds increased and the rain began to pour down in torrents - none of us had ever experienced this extreme change in weather while camping. The fierce winds blew the rain under the fly resulting in our tents becoming very sensitive to our touch! During its forty-five minute siege, there was nothing for us to do but lie on our sleeping bags and take in the spectacle of brilliant flashes of lightning and the resounding cracks of thunder as the storm circled over us on four different occasions. As the storm abated, the air became very still and cool as the stars filled the sky.