Had our annual (2nd year in a row lol) late summer trip to Sec Lake with my sister's family: 3 boys/2 dogs/husband and my own 2 kids and 35 pd 'mini' aussie shepherd - wife stayed home with canoe-unfriendly large Ridgeback. Many others with the same plan as the interior sites were all full on Sec and surrounding lakes. The Sand Lake Gate Permit's office had line of campers almost out the door when we arrived early Friday evening. Many large groups taking advantage of arguably one of the warmest/driest long weekends this summer - can't blame them after the wet and cool season we've had.

The regular launch access was all jammed up 6 cars deep at 7:30 pm so we put in south of the road at the alternative beach landing. My sister and her family had arrived earlier that afternoon and had setup at one of the island sites and awaited our arrival. Because this is Sec we took a bit more gear (e.g. luxuries) than we'd normally bring in and enjoyed ourselves immensely. Not a drop of rain on the trip - a first for me this year. Lots of seasonal colors this weekend via fungi/plants/fruit, gorgeous nite skies, early morning fog and soothing cool crystal clear water (10' clarity).

The fishing never disappoints - one of twelve northerns caught between myself and my daughter - this one a 26.5", an average size for the lake, weighed 3 pds.


Only one pike was kept for the table, the others all released. 1/2 of the northern we cooked that nite slated as an appetizer for the group, the other 1/2 was kept for dinner #2. Homemade Burgers are mandatory menu item for the first nite's dinner.


Total of 16 very healthy smallies and largies caught between myself and my daughter - all released. Nothing big but always great sport and such handsome fish. My son isn't too big on fishing yet, lol.

Largie my 9 year old daughter caught, landed and released:


Another largie released:


Smallie released:


Went in to Wet Lake for a few hours and hiked the access road west of the lake - came across a falcon kill, blackberry bushes with ripe fruit and a working Garmin GPS that likely fell off a quad from earlier this year.

Falcon kill - the only animal (except humans) that plucks its prey before eating it.


Blackberry - quite common to the area(Rubus spp )


A rare cloudless nite sky made for decent views of a slightly less than full moon rising + some nice sunsets.




Area known for its snakes - counted 7 Northern Water snakes sunnying themselves along this rocky outcrop.








Monday we hung out at the small island located within the south eastern bay for most of the day - enjoyed swimming, cliff climbing, picnicking and photo opps.










What looks like a species of Dock Spider (Dolomedes spp)




Late Summer/early fall is also one of the peak times for mushrooms and mother nature always impresses in her variety of colors/sizes:

Yummy Bolete - one of a 3 Bolete spp found and harvested along with Y Chanterelles and added to a 3 cheese brunch omelet:


Inedible Bracket Fungi (Polypore)


Russula spp (not edible)


Likely Amanita vaginata (good idea to avoid eating any amanita, as many are toxic)


Wintergreen flowers


Kinnikinnick (Arctostaphylose uva-ursi) - common name is also Bearberry.


The dogs enjoyed the outing and got along famously, as most dogs do.







We left holiday Monday but will be there again the weekend before or after tksgiving to enjoy the fall splendor and late season bass/pike fishing.

Awesome photos! The water snake is particularly cool!

SM,

Great report and what splendid weather...you deserved it after coping with this summer's rain! Your watchband in the self-taken largemouth photo looks almost identical to mine - is it a Wenger/swiss army also?

Also gotta add that your one photo was so bizarre (in a very cool way) that it makes it look like you were eating some of the mushrooms prior to taking that picture! Was that photoshopped or just some amazing lichen or something? It was in the middle of your macro shots.

PaPaddler

Hey PaPaddler - you are correct, it is a Swiss Army watch. I can't take credit for it though, it was given to me by my employer last year for 10 years of service (consulting company). It was either that or a customized leather laptop case - ugh.

No, didn't ingest any psilocybe cubensis lol and nothing is doctored in the photos - it's just a closeup of some lichens growing on the rock beside that spider. I generally don't tend to spend much time in taking photos and prefer other activities when out on the water, but have enjoyed the 'hidden' world that the macro lens tends to discover - providing at times some very abstract images. That weekend provided a bit more opportunity as the kids entertained themselves for the most part + the addition of 2 other adults help spread the cooking and cleaning duties around. Great weather didn't hurt either...

Well done SM. Looked like the children (and you) had great fun. Thx.

Great report as always SM, thanks!




Mark Rubino
Mark's Algonquin Park Sampler - Blog
Mark's Algonquin Park Sampler

http://www.ABRweb.ca .. Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists - Caring for Algonquin's Backcountry

Thanks for the great report and pics!!!

I love your macro shots. What focal length is your lens? It looks like it might be a 50-60mm based on how close you got with your shots.

Oh and the shroom ID and description is much appreciated.

Hey Jkr,

This is the lens: http://www.vistek.ca/store/CameraLenses/168224/canon-ef-100mm-f28-macro-usm-lens.aspx

Price matched it so it was another $50.00 off that, purchased earlier this year. 100mm, 1:1.

Most of my picts I use my little Canon point/shoot (A650IS) as it's smaller and quicker lol.