Small Island - Sandford Island, Reindeer Lake
Distance 16 hard won km [289 km]
A difficult day. We were up by 6am and already a moderate headwind was blowing. On the water by 8am and paddled about 7km, reached a section where we were required to paddle about 1.5 km of open water. The headwind was now strong with white caps on the lake so we pulled into a nondescript bay to wait it out, four and a half hours later it had moderated sufficiently for us to try the crossing. We made it across then worked our way up a series of islands, very pretty. It was hard paddling not made any easier by John whingeing non-stop as if headwinds were unexpected, talk about selective memory.
Finally we were forced to stop in a very basic camp site about 5pm. It was an extremely cold evening and we had to fight the wind to put up the tent, ate and were in bed by 8pm. We had to put our bags into the tent to help keep it down. This part of Reindeer Lake is like a highway with constant boats from Southend roaring past on their way to cabins and fishing lodges.
Setting up camp after a difficult day, there was a flat spot for the tent in the far corner and we were well sheltered from the wind