Frolicking in Fort Frances - FORT FRANCES - Day Forty Eight

Rainy lake is full of islands and while one should navigate such waters based on wind to find the best route, our path was chosen because I liked the names of some of the islands. One in particular, a "mermaid rock" on the topographical map, was a must see. Little did we expect that the rock would actually have a mermaid on it. Made of rock. No way. It was a fun sight in the middle of a lengthy paddle on a scorcher of a day.

We were surrounded by a landscape of things that moved much quicker than ourselves: fisherman, jetskis, speed boats, cars racing down highways, trains over the bridges. It was cottage country that faded briefly into quasi wilderness and then became the outskirts of the city.

Sick to death of granola or peanut butter and jam on tortilla (the slim pickings left in our barrels for lunch), we decided to paddle the 27km we had left on Rainy Lake to reach Fort Frances for lunch. Mother Nature shocked us with the rare experience of cooperating and we could cross the wide parts of Rainy, only touching land four times between the open sections.

Soon we reached a beach with a restaurant and saw TVs inside. You have to understand that you could not find two people more obsessed with the Olympics than the both of us. It was the one reason we were concerned about being on the trail all summer. And the opening ceremonies were just yesterday. A sports bar must be playing it. So pleased with our timing we went in only to find... A Bluejays game. Are you kidding me???? (Fear not we managed to get our Olympic fix before heading back on the trail.)

Fort Frances has been the perfect layover before the last twenty days of our trip. A friendly stranger offered us money to buy a drink after hearing what we have been doing. We've seen loads of lovely parks, a pleasant walkway along the stretch of the river, the old mill, and the Main Street through town. We had the pleasure to stay at Erik's great aunt Delores' home, and also gratefully borrowed his uncle's brother's half ton diesel truck with trailer - more than enough horse power for our resupply trips. We have repacked and bought fresh ingredients and left behind excess gear. Fort Frances is a great destination to end a trip down the Turtle River.