christine and ryan on azure and clearwater lakes. days 4-7

Day 4... when christine and ryan go exploring for a day to the end of azure lake

we decided that today the tent would stay where it was, but that we would paddle the 7km to the east end of azure lake.

luckily we started off with a solid breakfast of rainbow trout.  5 minutes from lake to frying pan.  i got 4 fish in about 15 minutes, but gave away 2 and threw 1 back.  we only needed 1.

breakfast.  5 minutes ago this thing was swimming.

after the best most important meal of the day, we launched the canoe, which paddled very differently now that we had left 150 pounds of stuff at camp.  we headed across the lakes to some big cliffs, then along the shore to the wind blown end of the lake.  the driftwood collection was very impressive on the beach.

looking east to the end of azure lake

lots of driftwood.

we went up the azure river for a bit, but the current was very against us and it was supposed to be a relaxing day, so we went far enough to find out it was fast, that was far enough.

obligatory daily canoe selfy. 

we headed back to camp after a 16 km paddle and some sweet exploration.  wow, did we sleep well.

Day 5... christine and ryan say bye to rainbow falls and return down azure lake

the sad day had come when it was time to head back in a homeward direction.  it would take us 3 more days so the trip was far from over, but it was still a turning point in the trip.

bye old rainbow falls cabin

the 68 baracuda was there for our send off

the weather looked awesome still, so we were looking forward to more sweet paddling conditions. 

a great start to the day.  heading back west on azure lake

we headed for a camp site on the far side of the lake, and that gave us a chance to paddle past waterfalls and beaches that we had seen on our way up, but from across the lake.  cool to see them up close.

so many drift trees everywhere, we had to get a picture of some of the cool exposed roots.

those are some crazy roots

 the campsite across the lake was occupied, and while we could have shared it, we chose to head back across the lake to the site we had on the way up.  the result was a site to ourselves to do our thing in peace.  and finish another book each.

back at osprey campsite

tomorrow we would leave azure lake and be back in clearwater lake, but we had an epic last evening.  we will be back azure lake, oh yes.

Day 6...in which christine and ryan descend the clearwater river into clearwater lake

our last camp on azure was about 6 km from the top of clearwater river.  on the way up it was a portage, but now we got to let gravity and the current do the work for us.  the top of the river was marked by 2 campsites and some cool rock carins.

marking the end of azure lake

heading into the river

 the river wasn't much more than class 1 moving water, and not the ragey-est water we had ever paddled, but it was still cool to skim just above the shallow rocky bottom with just the occasional paddle stroke to keep the front pointed in the right direction.

on the clearwater river

almost back into clearwater lake

Our return to clearwater also marked the first rainfall of our trip.  it wasn't crazy or anything, but it did rain. 

a bit of rain, but it never slowed us down.

we had our sights set on ivor campsite, but when we got there it turns out that 25 boy scouts were already there, so we headed to barview, the next site about 2 or 3 km further.  all good.

1st order of business after reaching barview and the end of our 23km paddle day was go for a swim.  the rain had stopped and the sun was out and the beach was sandy.  lets go!

after a swim at barview

we saw some rain approaching once again, so still in our swim gear, we got everything ready.

we saw the massive storm and lightening coming from the other end of the lake, and the hatches were certainly battened down.  it seemed as though getting drenched was inevitable.  but the hand of god decided to stop the wall of water about a km from our site.  sure was cool to have the best of both worlds... watching a crazy storm but being dry and outside.

theres a storm a comin.... or not.

the storm dissipated and it was time to get campy.  we got a fire going and some diner as well. 

we bought a food dehydrator a few years ago for our bowron trip.  we had a few recepies that we knew worked and we liked, but this trip we added a few more.  this nights was a gooder... cajun something something.

cajun something something.  mmmmm

after a great meal and a full day of paddling and river action, it was time for bed and it was good.

Day 7... where we have to say goodbye to another epic annual canoe trip.

we woke up not far from the landing, so we knew today wouldn't be too crazy paddling.  it had rained over night and everything smelled awesome.

epic last morning on the lake

cool pattern of raindrops on the sand in the morning,

we got 1 last geocache on the paddle home and had a bit of weather chasing us the whole way, but we got back mostly dry.

this was the 3rd annual epic christine and ryan canoe trip and one of the best.  awesome weather, great destination, and the best paddling partner a guy could ever wish for.  not sure where next year will be, but expect it to be epic as well.

thanks for reading.

ryan out