This trip was a 1st time trip to the Interior for my son Aiden and the weather didn't disappoint. We left the driveway at 2:15 am on August 21st and headed to Grandpas to pick him up on the way. The three of us were planning on a quick weekend trip to Ragged lake to experience the interior and try a little bass fishing. We were on the water by 7:20am as we battled with some rain on the canoe trip in across Smoke. We decided to two trip the portage into Ragged to better enjoy the sites. The rain cleared and started again a few times as we crossed Ragged and rounded the corner into Parkside Bay. After checking out a few sites as we passed we opted for the 4th side on the right which is located on a point just as you enter into the main body of Parkside Bay.
Our Site for the weekend
We made quick work of setting up camp and we spent some time under our tarp planning out our weekend adventures. The Parkside Bay area has 19 sites and according to the permit office on Canoe lake all 19 were booked for the weekend.
On the morning of day two we awoke to a fog filled lake. The fog rolled off the lake by 8:30am. This was a shot from our site looking East up the channel we came in on as we entered Parkside Bay (below).
My son Aiden enjoying the sun. The two tents under the tarp in the background
This big guy perched on a tall tree overlooking Birch Point on Ragged lake
Our first catch of the trip
Shore Lunch
Beaver swimming past our site
A large family of Mergansers
A small marsh beside our site
This Kingfisher frequented the marsh beside our site
Parkside Creek
On day two we spent the day exploring the lake and fishing. My son and I explored Parkside Creek and discovered it was quite the place. This creek actually comes in the park from a lake to the South. I am fairly certain we actually hiked right out of the park at one point.
Amazing and I hiking the narrow creek and the moss covered rocks
The site on the other side of the channel entering into Parkside Bay
Looking South down the shoreline from our site
The second and last evening was a time to reflect on our trip and watch as the sun dipped behind the trees
On day three we awoke to a brisk 9 degree morning. The fire was still going in the coals so we decided to finish off the wood we had gathered. After a breakfast of pancakes and coffee we started packing up. We pushed off from our site at 08:35am and were at the Ragged to Smoke portage by 09:15. This time we one tripped the portage and found ourselves crossing Smoke Lake with a slight tail wind. We landed at the Smoke Lake access at 10:15 and made quick work of loading up our canoe and gear. This was a great trip and I look forward to many more trips with my son in the years to come.
