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September
2005 Travelogue
Page 7 of 8
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The next day I continued west. I
stopped to explore this little bit of forest by a lake. Again,
thick lichens (6-12" deep) and jack pines. I picked some
Labrador Tea for a nice beverage later. |
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I stopped at km 62 for lunch at a
campsite on the Robert Bourassa Reservoir. This is the huge lake
created by the hydro project dams. A flock of Red-breasted
Mergansers swam by while I was eating, probably resting on their
way south. |
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Made it! Km 0! No flat tires, no
mechanical problems at all.
And my car only got one tiny stone chip in the windshield. I
found most drivers on this road to be considerate, pulling over
to the right and slowing down at least a little as they passed.
All except one truck pulling a trailer - a hunter from the U.S.
He didn't care, he just drove along at full speed down the
middle of the road like he owned it. |
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Pavement again! The James Bay
Road. |
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I headed south, but at a leisurely
pace. I stopped to have a look at this unafraid porcupine, who
regarded me with quite a bit of curiosity. It is possible that
he had never seen a person ever before.
Farther along I saw a wolf trotting along the road. It veered
off into the woods as I drew closer, and watched me as I slowed
to watch it. |
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I stopped at km 467 to climb a
hill at Old Factory Lake. Quite a view from up top! |
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At the top looking back down to
the James Bay Road. There's no trail. |
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I camped at Mirabelli Lake that
night, one of my favourite places along this road. The next
morning it was darkly overcast and utterly calm and silent. |
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I knew rain was imminent when the
loons out on the lake started making a racket with their
hauntingly beautiful calls. It was so still and quiet that I
could hear the splashing they made when they dove for fish, yet
they were quite a ways out in the lake. There was no one else
around. I simply sat here for a while, absorbing the silence.
Eventually it was time to leave as it started raining harder.
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I mentioned Labrador Tea earlier
on. This is the shrub. Pick some leaves and make tea as usual.
Very nice! Tastes sort of like regular tea. |
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The tamaracks are turning bright
yellow. For those of you reading this who don't know about these
trees, tamaracks are the only conifer ("evergreen") tree that
loses its needles every fall. |
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