Kahshe River – River Lane

Saturday, October 17, 2009

About 135 Km north of Jane and Steeles, up Highway 11.

Jane and Steeles to River Lane

Take Highway 400, then Highway 11. About ¼ mile after crossing the Severn at Severn bridge, exit to Southwood Road and proceeed about 4 Km to the concrete bridge at the River lane junction. The concrete bridge is shown in the photos below, but you'd have to be on River Lane to recognize it as such!

We travelled downstream and into Sparrow Lake.

An alternative trip would be to portage over the rapids 200 yards upstream from the concrete bridge, and paddle up to Elderberry Lane .

Our fallback plan was to drive a little further north along Southwood road and turn right to the Elderberry Lane spot. From there the river apepars to meander lazily through a wooded area.

We did an short out-and-back upstream to the rapids, then went downstream and traveresed Sparrow Lake to the northern end.

The view in the morning sunlight prior to our launch. The house is on the north bank of the river, immediately west of the Southwood Road bridge.

Here is a view downstream from the same spot. You can see the current in the foreground.

We set off upstream, for we know that just past the bridge are rapids.

And here they are, tumbling through about three or four feet. Will we portage past them? No we will NOT!, for we have all the downstream to explore.

We head downstream. The air is calm, the sun, when it leaks through the trees, is warm on our backs. The reflections are wonderful.

"Peaceful" doesn't come close!

The fall colors are evident. This image is a tad-overexposed; the tree was more brilliant than this.

I am still struggling to do justice!

Around the bend and …. Rapids! Darn! We climbed out on both banks (not at the same time) and spent about 40 minutes examining the possibilities. Of course, rocks and steep cliffs line each side of the river.

After 40 minutes consultation, a 10-minute portage sees us back in the water. We continue downstream.

We are, of course, wearing our flotation jackets. Besides giving us extra minutes should we tumble in, they provide insulation against the morning breeze.

Fred demonstrates how to signal a left-hand turn.

Here we are debouched into Sparrow Lake. We are about to head to the northern end of the lake.

At the mouth of the river is a cleared grassy area that looks as if it could be a community park.

Fred finds a perfect lunch spot. Our entry to the lake lies behind the dark-green clad point immediately behind the large rock in the middle distance.

Here is a view across Sparrow Lake. I don't know how that twig got there …

While we ate lunch, a mink scurried past us, between us and the canoe.

The trees here made me think of Australian gum trees.

The shoreline is beginning to flesh out in color.

We head towards, but not onto, a sandy beach on Kilworthy Road.

The trip back was into glittering sunlight with a strong breeze at our back – just the way we like it.

Note that this far north, the lakes slope towards the WEST, whereas further south they slope to the South.

We passed a set of large dormitory-type residences.

Here we are, back at the mouth of the river.

The wind has picked up and the waves slide by as we turn out of the lake.

Fred remarked on the wind-shaped pine trees

After the lake, the river seemed silent, and yet we both remarked on how quiet it was ON the lake.

The river was a sea of tranquility.

The banks are thick with grass and dead brush. Fall has arrived. This might be our last paddle of the season (snif!)

A chunk of polystyrene foam floating in the water appears with its reflection to be a half-submerged concrete pipe!

The river is glassy, despite the mild current coming down from Kahshe Lake

In the distance a pine tree stands like a church steeple.

The day stayed clear and warm. Perfect weather.

The sky remained clear throughout our trip.

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