An Interlude Into Civilization - ATIKOKAN - Day Thirty One

While we had assumed that the wild would have more wild berries than town, we found ourselves to be mistaken. Underneath the power line and by the train tracks in the kilometres outside of Atikokan we discovered the most lucrative blueberry location yet. They grew in bundles like grapes. Erik would lag behind on portages and when I came back to find him and his face was buried in the bushes he looked like a child caught stealing cookies from the cookie jar. Which didn't stop him from trailing behind on the next one, because as he would tell me after each trek, "I just couldn't resist."

The Atikokan River is an awesome place to shoot some easy rapids with fun waves, view (and swim below) some gorgeous falls, and paddle leisurely along the winding bends. It meanders through tall grass, curving so much that we seemed to approach the town in infinitesimal increments.

We were dying of heat too, and while we thought we had just become accustomed to cooler days, it turned out this heat wave was featuring (including humidity) a 45 degree day. That's too hot... but we had it coming after saying time and again, "these chilly days don't feel like July." We tried to swim but the water was murky and while this didn't bother Erik much, he ended up with dozens of baby leeches squirming all over his feet. By the time he finally took his shoes off, the backs of his heels were covered in blood. He hardly even flinched. I, on the other hand, opted to keep my dips to the bottom of the falls.

Thankfully we crossed paths with Jon and Carrie at Little Falls. They came with Gatorade and freezies in hand to rejuvenate us for the end of our paddle into town. We were craving french fries ALL DAY LONG as we sweat in the heat and had minimal food with us on our final day before the resupply. Sadly we got into town too late. Alas, tomorrow will be a day for fries.

We have thoroughly enjoyed eating in the restaurants on Main Street; staying in the log cabin by the Centennial Museum where we were surrounded by artifacts from Atikokan's history; having lunch with town council members, museum staff, and others from the Quetico foundation on the field by the river; and finally staying with Peter for our first BBQ on the trail and a great evening. Thank you all for such a warm welcome to your neck of the woods! With new food in our packs and freshly laundered clothes on our backs we are now ready to set out again in the morning.