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The first pictograph site was easy to find, quite impressive, canoes of different sizes and number of occupants and a large bison. I continued on to the rapid, there is a choice of left or right channels around a large island, I went right to the C4, portaging my gear over the rocks on RR (downstream) and dragging the canoe. There was a bit of current to paddle against just above the drop, nothing of consequence really. Presently I emerged onto the open water heading across and left before making the turn. Black clouds were coming down on me. Some had missed me earlier but at about noon they were coming fast directly on my tail. I stopped to seek shelter on shore grabbing my dry top. The rain didn’t last long but quite a bit of water accumulated in the boat. As I was sponging another short blast passed overhead. I made the turn to the southeast heading for the river section which leads to Barclay Lake. The sun was out again, there was sort of a tailwind down to the turn; naturally this became sort of a headwind when I turned to the northeast. I spotted a motorboat near the entry to Barclay. Just before reaching the turn to the southeast there was another sprinkle of rain with more storm clouds bearing down. I planned to camp at the small point about 700m past the turn…drat! That tandem canoe which had passed in the morning was there, their tent was set up and they were collecting firewood and I paddled past. Fortunately my map showed another site about 1.2km further along. Another storm was bearing down on me, it was a race, I reached the location, hopped out to investigate and found a reasonable tent spot with access on the upstream side of the point. A few drops fell as I hurried to get my boat around to the landing. I grabbed the hut and hurriedly set it up before bringing up my gear just as the storm arrived. I managed to get set up before the worst of it hit and lit a coil which took care of a light swam of black flies (first of the trip). There were a couple of nearby lightning strikes and very loud thunder claps but fortunately little wind. The temperature reached 17 degrees at 8:00pm down from a high of 24; I might need an extra layer of clothing and for sure fresh dry socks!
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