RABBIT LAKE ROAD RE-OPENS

A spring washout on Rabbit Lake Road is repaired sufficiently to allow road vehicles. The washout, just west of Glasford Lake, disrupted access to the Ottawa-Temiskaming Highland and Grand Campment hiking trails. It did not hinder Rabbit Lake access. MNR cautions that the short-term repair is not suitable for transports and other heavy vehicles.

WILL AND KATE IN TEMAGAMI PHOTO OP

Will and Kate are canoe tripping in Temagami. Kate definitely has a bad hair day as she emerges from her tent. Glad the two can have a real Canadian experience in Temagami. Algonquin is just too crowded. Imagine the entourage. And the secrecy about who is outfitting the trip, the route, and indeed, Park or Crown land! Which is politically correct? Whose Muskoka mansion will they visit after the trip for a BBQ? Um, did I say Royalty? Can't a person have a little fun? Temagami could use the publicity. Happy Birthday Canada!

TEMAGAMI GROCERY STORE IS BACK!

After closing and going bankrupt in October 2010, Temagami has a new grocery store. The the pleasure of the community, and independant of any chain, are Joanne and Dick, new owners of our community grocery store. In other words, an honest to goodness, family run grocery store. Local produce and meats will be the focus, along with the usual staples. So for campers and cottagers coming through, Temagami will appreciate your buying support. If on the other hand, if you are short on time, Smoothwater will buy locally and outfit your canoe trip or cottage life with catering.

SPRING WASHOUT RABBIT LAKE ROAD

The Rabbit Lake Road is washed out just past the 27 km sign. About 20 metres is missing to a depth of 1 – 2 metres. The culvert is still in place under the road bed with the creek flowing through it and everything appears normal except for the flotsam stranded in the bush about 2 metres above the creek. So if you’re looking to get to Grand Campment Bay, Lakeland can fly 5 hikers with normal backpacks in the Beaver. The ice is gone. To be sure, more roads will be in this spring condition.

A NEW VIDEO OF TEMAGAMI

Here's a new (commercial) video about Temagami. It covers some nice stuff. But some utterly silly stuff too. (Maybe I shouldn't say that). But I think for a commercial enterprise, needing to give their sponsors time, it goes pretty well. I'd still want to visit Temagami. And if you want to dig and find other businesses in Temagami, you can just click through to the town's website. Have a donut. Or poutine.

CRAIG MACDONALD PRE-CONTACT STORIES OF TEMAGAMI

Craig MacDonald spent nearly 30 years researching and documenting the nastawgan, Temagami's traditional network of summer and winter travel routes. The history, language and culture of the Anishinawbeg were used to create an important window on the area's history.

Craig's seminal publication, the Historic Map of Temagami, is crucial to the work Friends of Temagami does protecting and promoting the region's historic canoe routes. It is a unique and invaluable contribution to our understanding of the aboriginal world that existed in Temagami in 1900. His work is a defining guide to the Temagami Wilderness.

Craig will present his work and passion for Temagami on Saturday evening, following the AGM dinner, and you are cordially invited. Smoothwater has three invitational offers:

1) attend the AGM on Saturday,

2) come for the AGM dinner and presentation,

3) make it a weekend and book one of our cozy rooms.

Take it from me, if you like history, you cannot get enough of Craig's stories. I can listen to him for hours, and have. Hope to see you at Smoothwater of Temagami next week.

P.S. Craig's maps will be for sale.

HARD RYDE BLUEGRASS BAND PLAYS TEMAGAMI

Presented by the Temagami Artisitic Collective, Hard Ryde plays tonight in Temagami. Hailing from musical backgrounds encompassing country, old-time and jazz, the sum of these individual parts equals one dynamic powerhouse of talent taking the Canadian bluegrass stage. 8 p.m. August 21st at the Temagami Welcome Centre theatre.