Back around Christmas, I noticed Kevin Callan had a new book coming out. I love his books, and I love camping cook books, so you can imagine I was thrilled to see his next release was a camping cookbook.
Originally, the release date was March 5th...I'm sure it was because Squatch was waiting for the new Tomb Raider game which came out on the same day. We were both bouncy with excitement, but when I went online to check availability in the local Chapters, I noticed the date had changed to March 19th. I almost cried, I swear.
So, yesterday, I got up, and checked online again...and none of the stores nearby had it in stock. I thought this was a little weird. I could order it online, but not pick it up in stores. I found this to be really strange. As an author, even though my books aren't published straight to print format, I'd always assumed that when a book comes out on a certain date, it's actually available on that date. I can't see it being any other way for a best selling author like Stephen King or Nora Roberts. I know there's a difference between a best selling novel and a niche market reference book, but I just didn't expect there'd be any difference. Even more, I would have thought the Peterborough Chapters would have had it since he's a local author.
Very disappointing. I might just have to go ahead and order it online...though I might have run up the credit card booking camp sites for this summer...I'll have to check. Here's the link if anyone else is interested in buying it.
Showing posts with label Kevin Callan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Kevin Callan. Show all posts
Wednesday, March 20, 2013
Friday, August 10, 2012
Another day exploring Kawartha Highlands
Chris and I had a day with no real plans so we decided to head out in the canoe and explore another of the routes in the Kawartha Highlands Provincial Park. We didn't do the entire route, there wasn't enough time, but we did manage to find some nice camp sites and a potential day trip for the kids.
The route we did is known as the Serpentine Lake Route and is written up in Kevin Callan's Cottage Country Canoe Routes. I've always wanted to try this area because of the picture in the book of a water fall.
You start by heading up highway 28, to just south of Apsley, and turn onto Anstruther Lake Road. Now that the park is officially an operating park, there are a lot more signs indicating which access points are down each road, making it much easier to find your way. About 8 kilometers down that road, you'll come to the sign for the boat launch. If you get to the marina, you've gone too far.
After putting in our canoe, we realized just how much boat traffic is on Anstruther on a sunny July day. It was a little tense at times, with half a dozen boats zooming past us and multiple wakes hitting us from every side. Of course, it didn't help that we didn't know where the portage was, and we kept angling directly across the lake. I would recommend staying to the right until you pass through the narrows between the right shore and a large island, then hug closer to the left shore of the lake, but to the right of the other islands. (One of the islands has a long wall of rocks that you wouldn't be able to get around if you try to stay to the left. As it was, it was almost impossible to point yourself into the wake, and with the wind blowing against us, it felt like we were going backwards at times.
The portage is past the bigger islands, and sort of behind a jumbled pile of rocky islands. You'll see a small beach, which we had thought was the portage because we saw canoes parked there. The sign is actually about a hundred feet to the left, where there are a bunch of small docks.
Why so many docks on non-privately owned property? I didn't know either until I got to the end of the portage which takes you into Rathbun Lake. At the end of the 165 meter trail, is a small cliff where people were jumping into the water. I don't know how safe it is, not having taken the time to check the depth myself, so if you do decide to try this, always scope out the landing zone first.
Normally Chris would have taken a turn jumping, but the put in is right at the base of the jump, and our canoe being there meant all the jumpers had to wait for us to move.
The put in was a bit of a pain as well. There are some big rocks in the water, and when Chris went to put canoe in, he ended up dropping the stern onto one of them. I cringed and might have cursed a little. Just like he would have if I'd gotten a scratch on his car.
Rathbun Lake was pretty. Lots of granite cliffs rising out of the water, just like on Anstruther, but with only a few scattered cottages. Actually, that was kind of disappointing for me. I'd hoped there would be no permanent dwellings once we got past the first portage. We only saw one camp site being used, but then we were only a little way in on the route.
We paddled to a nice campsite (number 200) and had a snack, then headed out to explore a bit more. Eventually we came across the portage into North Rathbun, but decided against going any further because it was getting late.
I really wasn't looking forward to the trip back across Anstruther Lake, but by sticking to the route I described above and not going straight up the middle of the lake, it wasn't so bad. It certainly seemed to take a lot less time.
This area is pretty, and I'd enjoy camping here. I'm hopeful the further you go away from Anstruther, the less populated it would be. I don't think it would be my first choice though. Anstruther was nerve wracking for me, not to mention how exhausted I was paddling over the waves and wakes. I don't mind long paddles, but I'd much rather be paddling in quiet lakes and rivers where there aren't dozens of boats that look like they are speeding right at you.
The route we did is known as the Serpentine Lake Route and is written up in Kevin Callan's Cottage Country Canoe Routes. I've always wanted to try this area because of the picture in the book of a water fall.
You start by heading up highway 28, to just south of Apsley, and turn onto Anstruther Lake Road. Now that the park is officially an operating park, there are a lot more signs indicating which access points are down each road, making it much easier to find your way. About 8 kilometers down that road, you'll come to the sign for the boat launch. If you get to the marina, you've gone too far.
After putting in our canoe, we realized just how much boat traffic is on Anstruther on a sunny July day. It was a little tense at times, with half a dozen boats zooming past us and multiple wakes hitting us from every side. Of course, it didn't help that we didn't know where the portage was, and we kept angling directly across the lake. I would recommend staying to the right until you pass through the narrows between the right shore and a large island, then hug closer to the left shore of the lake, but to the right of the other islands. (One of the islands has a long wall of rocks that you wouldn't be able to get around if you try to stay to the left. As it was, it was almost impossible to point yourself into the wake, and with the wind blowing against us, it felt like we were going backwards at times.
The portage is past the bigger islands, and sort of behind a jumbled pile of rocky islands. You'll see a small beach, which we had thought was the portage because we saw canoes parked there. The sign is actually about a hundred feet to the left, where there are a bunch of small docks.
Why so many docks on non-privately owned property? I didn't know either until I got to the end of the portage which takes you into Rathbun Lake. At the end of the 165 meter trail, is a small cliff where people were jumping into the water. I don't know how safe it is, not having taken the time to check the depth myself, so if you do decide to try this, always scope out the landing zone first.
Normally Chris would have taken a turn jumping, but the put in is right at the base of the jump, and our canoe being there meant all the jumpers had to wait for us to move.
The put in was a bit of a pain as well. There are some big rocks in the water, and when Chris went to put canoe in, he ended up dropping the stern onto one of them. I cringed and might have cursed a little. Just like he would have if I'd gotten a scratch on his car.
Rathbun Lake was pretty. Lots of granite cliffs rising out of the water, just like on Anstruther, but with only a few scattered cottages. Actually, that was kind of disappointing for me. I'd hoped there would be no permanent dwellings once we got past the first portage. We only saw one camp site being used, but then we were only a little way in on the route.
We paddled to a nice campsite (number 200) and had a snack, then headed out to explore a bit more. Eventually we came across the portage into North Rathbun, but decided against going any further because it was getting late.
I really wasn't looking forward to the trip back across Anstruther Lake, but by sticking to the route I described above and not going straight up the middle of the lake, it wasn't so bad. It certainly seemed to take a lot less time.
This area is pretty, and I'd enjoy camping here. I'm hopeful the further you go away from Anstruther, the less populated it would be. I don't think it would be my first choice though. Anstruther was nerve wracking for me, not to mention how exhausted I was paddling over the waves and wakes. I don't mind long paddles, but I'd much rather be paddling in quiet lakes and rivers where there aren't dozens of boats that look like they are speeding right at you.
Sunday, March 4, 2012
Book Review - Cottage Country Canoe Routes by Kevin Callan
I love Kevin Callan's books. When a new one comes out I let out a little excited squeal in the bookstore that has all the other customers looking at me funny. Cottage Country Canoe Routes has a special place in my heart, however.
My mum first bought this book when it came out in 1993. I was in high school, living smack dab in the middle of cottage country and was determined to try everyone of the trips described in the book. Ignore the fact I'd never gone on a canoe camping trip in my life. I read that book so many times I memorized it, and spent ages making lists of gear I'd need, sample menus and of course, trying to convince my parents to let me go.
I'm convinced the reason I didn't get to actually fulfill my dreams back then was because none of my friends were willing to go with me and my parents wouldn't let me go alone.
When I moved out, I bought my own copy of this book and though I haven't done all the routes yet, I have done some. This book has gone on many a day paddle, and has fallen in the lake, gotten rained on, and had food spilled on it, but I can't bring myself to buy the updated version even if it might have more accurate data (especially considering at least some of the areas where you could camp for free when Cottage Country Canoe Routes came out, you now have to pay to camp at.) The written descriptions are humorous and full of information beyond simple portages and put ins. The pictures are beautiful, and will surely inspire you to head out and see the splendor of cottage country for yourself.
The areas covered in the book are Georgian Bay, Muskoka, Haliburton and Kawartha Highlands. There is a good sampling of possible routes for each area, and most are novice to moderate level routes.
My mum first bought this book when it came out in 1993. I was in high school, living smack dab in the middle of cottage country and was determined to try everyone of the trips described in the book. Ignore the fact I'd never gone on a canoe camping trip in my life. I read that book so many times I memorized it, and spent ages making lists of gear I'd need, sample menus and of course, trying to convince my parents to let me go.
I'm convinced the reason I didn't get to actually fulfill my dreams back then was because none of my friends were willing to go with me and my parents wouldn't let me go alone.
When I moved out, I bought my own copy of this book and though I haven't done all the routes yet, I have done some. This book has gone on many a day paddle, and has fallen in the lake, gotten rained on, and had food spilled on it, but I can't bring myself to buy the updated version even if it might have more accurate data (especially considering at least some of the areas where you could camp for free when Cottage Country Canoe Routes came out, you now have to pay to camp at.) The written descriptions are humorous and full of information beyond simple portages and put ins. The pictures are beautiful, and will surely inspire you to head out and see the splendor of cottage country for yourself.
The areas covered in the book are Georgian Bay, Muskoka, Haliburton and Kawartha Highlands. There is a good sampling of possible routes for each area, and most are novice to moderate level routes.
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