After the trout breakfast, it was time to tackle the Lake. A fresh breeze was developing making for a choppy lake. We all set off together, but things did not turn out that way! Paddlers split early with some canoes inshore, another part way out and yet another making straight across the huge expanse of Thomson Bay. For safety, Sally and I decided to paddle after the outermost canoe, which in time we passed. At this point Walt and Wharran were shipping a little water and slipping behind the group. We saw them go safely ashore, and eventually the three inshore canoes, one by one turned and went in. In time, Malcolm and Candy behind us turned in. At this point we were well into the crossing of the Bay, and so knowing that all were safe at shore, Sally and I decided to paddle on, making a landfall after 3 and half hours on the far side of Thompson Bay.
It was a breezy day with the occasional large and steeper wave, but spectacularly fine weather with views right across the Lake. The scale was hard to judge at times.
We finally found a good camp site and pitched the tent and set out to explore further.
We hiked some 3kms up the beach and then walked inland through a burned area to find Cantara Lake, where the plane was due to pick us up. From here we found the portage trail from Lake Athabasca and followed it back and then returned along the beach to our camp. There was no sign of the remainder of the group and so we judged they would paddle up in the morning. We made a fire and enjoyed a spectacular sunset over Lake Athabasca.
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