What a great site! Wish I had found it a few years ago. I'm heading into Ralph Bice, leaving in one week, for four days and three nights with my new wife and 2 year old lab. For both of them, it will be their first interior Algonquin trip. Man, am I excited for them. I've done several trips into the interior to North Tea/Biggar/Lorne/Kakasamic area and Smoke Lake/Ragged area, but not through the Lake Magnetawan access point. I figure Ralph Bice Lake will be good, as it seems like a relatively short trip in, offers an introduction to portaging (but not never-do-that again length portaging), avoids the #60 corridor, and looks to have some day tripping options. Two questions:

1. Campsite Suggestion - Any recommendations would be appreciated. I was thinking the lone campsite on the island near the portage to David lake might keep my lab in check in case she decides to wander off while I am napping. Then again, I'm sure it wouldn't take her too long to figure out that she can easily swim to shore. She actually is a city dog, sticks close to her pack. I've heard the other four island sites are nice in the east end of the lake, but can get rowdy in the summer, especially on weekends. Any mainland site suggestions?

2. Daytrip Suggestion - Likely we will do a day trip one day only, and spend another day lounging on our chosen Ralph Bice site. My wife has never seen a moose in the wild, I would like to give her a chance, but I know there are no garauntees. I was thinking the David Creek bog area in Lake Mubwayaka. Or Little Trout to Queer to the waterfall at the Tim River - is it worth walking to the waterfall to wander around on foot with a rod, lunch, and without a canoe (can't see the wife making it beyond that point)?

Any tips would be appreciated. I'll make sure to post afterward and share some photos.

Jordan

Been in that area almost too many times now. We should swap areas, I need to get out there more.

The ports are perfect. Seriously. Easy in/out except a little muck/rock at the end of one. Each starts with an up, then nice & flat, then a down.

I like your reasoning for the island site. If the campsite is on the north side you'll have quieter nights too with the island sheilding you from the rest of the lake.

Never been up to David.

Through to Queer & the trail to the river is a nice day. The inslet to the Tim R. Portage is a good area for moose. The port itself is meanest at the start, a couple uuuupdooooowns before you're actually on the high & level. The only place at the river I know of is the put-in for lunch. Lots of sites on Queer for lunch and it's a really pretty lake. One of the prettiest. Sheltered bay after sheltered bay.

Preacher,

Thanks for the advice regarding the portages, campsites and Queer/portage to Tim. I'm glad to hear they relatively easy - I figure that will allow me to lug in as much gear as I can to make my wife as comfortable as possible, allowing for many return trips over our lifetime. I love access #1 through Kawawaymog down the amable du fond into North Tea and surrounding lakes. I find it is easy to go back to the same lakes time after time because if you enjoyed the last time, why wouldn't it be great again? When tripping with my brother we have a rule that we have to explore somewhere new each trip, even in areas we have frequented before, even if only briefly, to ensure we explore somewhere that neither of us has been before. This is sort of the premise of this trip, a new experience for my wife, that will be new to me as well, that we can share together.

Jordan