June 2nd, 2019
Cedar Lake
We woke up at 4:50 a.m., having slept in. It was probably a good thing we did though, as we would need the rest on what turned out to be a hard, wet day. We got on the water at 6:15 a.m. and were immediately greeted with a stiff eastern side wind. It was a tough way to start things out, but it would be a harbinger of things to come. It wasn’t all bad, as the wind aided us after we completed that seven mile stretch. We would push hard all morning beneath a cloudy sky that always held the threat of rain, taking reprieve from the biting wind during our short breaks. The winds and waves caused some uneasy paddling during some open water crossings, but nothing beyond our comfort zone.
After lunch the rain finally hit us. It never pelted us, but it was most unwelcome after a cold morning of general wetness due to the waves and side winds. As the afternoon came to its end, we had already paddled over 30 miles. Having set ourselves up in good position to reach the Sask (Saskatchewan) River before lunch, we decided to camp early and start earlier tomorrow.
The Pas, here we come.
P.S. We cannot wait to get off this lake. The gnats fly freely upon this shallow, marshy place. Campsites are difficult to come by and the water tastes as if it sprang from a beaver dam. Not trying to vent here, but I cannot wait to escape this forlorn, shallow, swamp.
-Ax