June 5th. This morning was bright and sunny. By 9 A.M. it was warm enough for me to break camp and move on. The river current is fast moving that all I had to do was steer. The river began to widen and became very shallow. In places, there were only inches of clearance for my canoe where I was able to get through deadfalls that were scattered on the river bottom. There were so many stumps about, it was like going through an obstacles course. By mid-day I had entered Lake Talon. This is a big lake, so I hugged along the western shore, heading southward. It proved very slow going for I did not have a strong current to carry me along. Then the wind shifted to the NW so I put up my purple sail to help my progress. I knew from looking at those maps that I had lost, that there was a small town or settlement on the lake's southern end. By 2 P.M. I was about half- way down on Lake Talon, thanks to the sail and the wind. I heard some hammering going on ahead of me in the distance somewhere on shore. Hammering ment people. I steered the canoe to the sound that seem to be coming from a cottage. I came upon a small beach and beached the canoe. I hobbled up to the cottage where two men were hard at work putting up some sheets of plywood. They were doing repair work for the owner. I asked the men where and how far was the settlement or town that was suppose to be somewhere at the southern end of this lake. They explained and pointed out to me where to head towards to find that settlement. I had also asked the men if they had a cigarette to sell me because I had run out of them this morning, but they said that they did not smoke. I thanked the men for their instructions and left them so that they may carry on with their work. I now got back into the canoe with a great deal of hope that I was going to make it after all. I set sail, and set my course to where the men had instructed me to go. How wounderful I felt that this drama was now coming to an end. By around four o'clock, I saw some buildings that looked like a marina. On the roof, printed in big letters was the word "GAS". I paddled more harder and made my way into the channel and found a berth at a floating dock. Then I met a man walking by, and asked him if there was a restaurant here? He informed me that there were no restaurant here, they only had a convenience store. I said, good, then I can get some cigarettes. The man told me that the restaurant was two miles up a dirt road that lead to the highway. The man, who was the owner of this marina establishment told me that it would be all right for me to leave my canoe here while I got some cigarettes and something to eat. I thanked the man and headed for the convenience store. There, I bought a few packs of cigarettes and some chocolate bars to tie me over until I got to the restaurant. I went up the road a little bit and sat on a gaurd rail and unwraped one of the chocolate bars. Oh, that first mouthfull of Coffee Crisp tasted, Oh, sooooo, good. My ankle still pained me somewhat, that it seemed to take a very long time to reach that restaurant. I had to stop and rest along the way frequently because of it. When I had finally reached the highway, it looked to me to be the Trans-Canada #17. Out here on this lonely streach of highway, stood a single building on the other side of the roadway. It was a restaurant and gas bar. How glad I was to see it. I hobbled over to the restaurant and I ordered a nice, big, fat, juicy steak. The waitress who was of East-Indain, brought me some coffee and I smoked a cigarette while I waited for my steak. When the waitress brought me the steak, it was indeed, a beautiful, big, fat, juicy of a steak that was before me. I started in on the steak, but I felt like I wanted to heave-up. Finally, after a few tries, I had to ask the waitress if she could wrap up my steak for me because I could not keep it down right at the present time. The owner or manager of the establishment, who was also an East-Indain, came over to my table and asked me if something was wrong with my steak? I told the gentelman that I was very pleased with my steak. But the look that he gave me I knew that he did not understand why I had not eaten my steak his wife had prepaired for me. So I had to explain to him why I could not eat the steak at this present time. I asked the man where was the nearest place where I can get some camping supplies, and he told me that would be in Mattawa. I ordered another coffee and paid for my bill. Then I sat there thinking... Now that I was back in civilization, what was I going to do? I had lost most everything I had. I had lost half of my savings, my wallet, all my important papers and I.D. Here I was limping with a sprained ankle, almost lost my life. So now what? Do I go back to Toronto or do I carry on? These things were running through my mind. The manager or owner came back to my table and asked me what had happened during my canoe trip. So I gave him a brief outline about my mishap and the reason why I could not eat the steak right at this moment. But I told the man that I fully intend to pick at it, little by little until it was all gone. We talked some more and then he told me that he could take me to Mattawa if I wanted to. I agreed and the man went out to get his vehicle. It was a long car that he said he uses as a taxi for the cottagers that are around here. We went back to the marina and loaded the canoe on the roof and stowed the gear in the trunk. In a short time, we arrived in Mattawa. We unloaded the canoe and gear at the Mattawa Chambers of Commerce Park, where I had camped there a few years back when I had bought another 15 ft Coleman canoe at Canadian Tire in North Bay a few years back. After setting up my tent, I went over to the Riverview Snack Bar where Jane and Gab are the owners. It was very nice to see Gab and Jane once again. I will see Justin when he get's here from North Bay. We had a good chat and caught up with what went on since we had last seen each other 4 years ago. I told Gab and Jane what I was up to now, and Gab had informed me that I would have to go further up north to find the trappers that I was looking for if I decided to continue with the trip. Gab had been a long-haul trucker, but had quit that job so that he could spend more time at home with his family. So they bought the Riverview Snack Bar in order to do this. Jane has a wounderful collection of native crafts that she sells. One should not miss to see these when you are in Mattawa. You should also try out their Buffalow bergers, they are just great. Justin was just a little boy, about 9 years old, I think, the first time that I had seen him. He came along to where I had set up my tent and had helped me assemble that first canoe I had bought from Canadian Tire in North Bay for that Mattawa to Toronto canoe trip. After I had bought some camp fuel and had said good night to the family, I went back to my tent and rested with a large mug of coffee and Buffalow burger with fries. It was only now that it felt like I had really made it out safely. Mattawa is a beautiful place. I like it here. That night, it started to rain again, but now I did not care. I had to decide what I would do now. Should I continue to go on with the trip and go up the Ottawa River to Lake Timiskaming and hopefully, find a trapper along the way or just call it quits, and go back to Toronto and just chalk this whole trip as a bad venture? Well, I'm not one to quit because of a little set-back. Once I get an idea into my head, I like to see it through all the way regardless of the obstacles. So that had answered the question for me. Onward to Lake Timiskaming. I slept soundly once this question was now delt with and settled.

June 6th. I went to Riverview Snack Bar and had some breakfast. Then I made a list of what I needed to continue the trip. I needed a good sleeping bag, an air mattress, a hatchet, binoculars, more camp fuel, candles, radio, flashlight, maps, fishing rod and tackle box, lighters, cartons of cigarettes, some clothes, house and garden spray (bug spray), food and paddles. With this in hand, I went downtown to the main store to get camping supplies. I met Don and Chrissie who are the owners/managers of the local Pro Hardware store. Don helped me a great deal with getting re-supplied. I bought his best sleeping bag he had because I did not want to spend another night feeling cold when I lay down to sleep. Having a good night sleep is very important when you have to paddle all day up a river, against the current. Then I want over to the clothing dept. store and bought a jacket, socks, underwear, shirts and pants and pillow and pillow cases. I also bought three large carry all duffle like bags to pack all of these things in. I brought these back to the tent. Then I went to the supermarket and bought a good stock of food. I knew that the carton boxes the food was in would not last very long, so I will go back to the hardware store tomorrow and find some type of stiff container to act as a food chest. I was just too tired to do anything more for today. I had gotten some maps and these I want to study.

June 7th. This morning I met Justin. Boy, did Justin grew in the last four years. He is no longer the skinny little boy that had helped me with the canoe the last time I was here. Justin turned out to be a fine, hansome lad. He is now about my hight, 5ft 8, and well built. No, Justin is no longer the little boy that I had known. How quickly time passes by. We talked about the time he had helped me assemble that canoe. We got caught up on all the news and what he and I had been doing since we last met. Later, I went back to Pro Hardware and looked for a suitable container for a food box. Don went down into the basement and came back with an old army foot locker and asked if this would do? I told Don that it would make an excelent food locker and I bought it. I took this foot locker back to the tent and stowed the food in it. Then I went to have a walk around town to see the sights once again. Yes, Mattawa is indeed a jewel in my eyes.

June12th. Today is a perfect summer June day. The day is bright and warm. After spending a week in Mattawa, and well rested, it was time for me to leave and go up the Ottawa River. I hope that one day I will be back to meet all of the friends I have made here. I prayed... Please do not rain for the next few days. I broke camp and loaded the canoe. I went to see Jane and Gab to say farewell. While there, I noticed a pair of moccasin's that was made by the local natives. These I bought for I thought these would do well for camp and canoe footwear. Then I went back to launch the canoe. As I started heading out, I hoisted the purple sail and trimmed it. Jane came running out with her camera and took a few photo's of me paddling away. I waved and paddled on.

Jornal to be continued....