AN IDEAL VACATION 
By REV. JOSEPH F. CLOKEY 
O F course, this means we went to the Tem¬ 
agami region, far north of Toronto. 
We have heard it said, “If you once 
drink of the Nipigon, you will return time and 
time again.” 
We feel the same way about Temagami, for 
having dipped our paddles in its waters and felt 
the magic of its beauty, we feel as though we 
must again and again return. It may seem 
like a far cry from Pittsburg to Temagami, 300 
miles north of Toronto, and it would be a long, 
hard trip were it not for the fine service of the 
railroads that enter that region. Their accom¬ 
modations make the trip easy and a constant 
delight. No one need fear it, for the trip can 
be made far easier than to nearer points. Last 
year we left Pittsburg at 1:10 P. M., and Tema¬ 
gami was reached at noon the next day. 
Arrived at Temagami Station, we hurried over 
to the dock and took passage on the comfort¬ 
able steamer for Bear Island, nineteen miles 
away. The beauty of this trip down the north¬ 
east arm of Temagami will never be forgotten, 
for though it was a day of showers, yet the 
wooded hills, the islands, pine-covered to the 
waterline, the clear blue of the water, the con¬ 
stantly changing vista, all conspired to make 
one feel in fairyland. 
We had been wearied by the strain of a hard 
year’s work, but the tonic of the breezes dis¬ 
pelled that and we found life full of interest 
after all, and our minds and bodies in¬ 
vigorated. 
Arrived at Bear Island, we became acquainted 
with Harry Woods, the factor of the Hudson’s 
Bay post. Here we found our guides waiting 
for us, and we were soon on our island, about 
a mile distant, where we pitched our tent and 
ere nightfall were fairly comfortable, and dis¬ 
missing our guides, were left alone amid the 
peace and seclusion of the wilds of Temagami. 
That night as the water lapped the rocky 
shores of our island we were lulled to sleep, to 
awake the next morning ready for the joys a 
new day had in store for us. 
For those who are not so fortunate as we 
were, camping supplies, guides, etc., can be 
secured either at Temagami Station or at Bear 
Island. Whip many things can be secured 
after one gets to Temagami, yet it would be well 
to bring some things with you from Toronto, 
especially such things as butter and potatoes, 
and if one is to fish with worms, you will find 
it best to purchase them at Toronto and bring 
them along. But the bass, pike, lake trout and 
other fish readily take artificial bait, and one 
would do well to have an assortment of spinners. 
Last summer we found it cold at night, and 
though we had four blankets along, we bought 
a pair of Pludson Bay blankets, which added 
greatly to our comfort. 
Probably no other Canadian region surpasses 
OX THE PORTAGE. 
and but few equal the Temagami region as a 
canoeist’s, camper’s and fisherman’s paradise. 
The woods have never been cut off, and there 
they stand in all their beauty as they have stood 
for generations. Lake after lake can be reached 
by short portages, and one never tires of lake 
and island and forest. My wife and I are in¬ 
veterate campers and find that nothing else 
offers the same freedom and rest. 
We established our main camp on a small 
island in plain sight of the fire ranger’s cabin 
on Bear Island, where we pitched one 10x12 wall 
tent with a fly over it and an extra one in front 
of it to serve as a dining room or sitting room, 
as the occasion demanded. But for our canoe 
trips we used a small silk tent and a better one 
for this purpose was never built. We had a 
nine-inch sodcloth sewed all around the bottom 
of the tent, and this with the floor cloth kept us 
damp- and draft-proof, and also kept out the 
bugs. For a front protection against the 
mosquitoes and other such pests we used a 
cheese cloth curtain which served admirably. 
On our canoe trips we used a nine-inch food 
bag and waterproof provision bags, and they 
cannot be beaten, and we also had our col¬ 
lapsable wash basin and bucket, our nesting 
cooking pots and pans and some other camp 
comforts which add materially to the pleasure 
and ease of the journey and portage. 
My wife and I canoed many miles over the 
Temagami waters, guided by map and compass 
and found it delightful beyond words. Two trips 
stand out clearly; one was to the Gull Lake 
region, lying to the west of Temagami Lake 
and reached by three portages. But the scenery 
and the excellence of the fishing would repay 
any one for making the trip, and it is not in 
the least a hard trip to make. We left our main 
camp after dinner one day, having hesitated to 
take the trip on account of the storm which 
was blowing, and passing for about a mile to 
the west, under the shelter of some islands, 
came out near the mainland into a wide expanse 
of the lake. There we felt the force of wind 
and wave on our backs, and raced for miles 
down the coast at a pace that made the blood 
tingle and that kept every sense alert to keep 
afloat. Passing through two narrows we finally 
saw the brown spot on the shore which marked 
the beginning of the portage toward the Gull 
Lake region. This was my first portage, and 
will never be forgotten. However, it was made 
at last, and that night we made camp on an 
island, where, amid the solitude and shut in 
by high cliffs and forests, we went to sleep. 
Early the next morning we started for Gull 
Lake, leaving our silk tent standing and going 
light, for we expected to take but a peep at 
Gull Lake and be back to camp that night. This 
programme was carried out, and this year we 
plan to take plenty of time for a more or less 
extended stay. After a few days spent at the 
main camp, we again loaded our canoe and set 
out for the far-famed Lady Evelyn Lake. 
Many things conspired to make this trip truly 
memorable—storms, portages, scenery, fishing, 
etc. 
Stormy days seem to be our favorite ones for 
