View topic - Solo Shakedown Trip in Killarney

It's been a decade since my last solo trip and I've been itching to get out again. However, I'm a decade older and haven't done a lot of tripping in the last few years. I'm updating my gear and I picked up a lovely carbon Keewaydin 15 in the fall. I've done a lot of paddling in the North West end of Killarney...I hang out at a camp in McGregor Bay a few times each year...but I've never been in the more heavily travelled areas. I'm planning a shakedown trip in mid-June and looking at 3 nights, Bell-David-Peters-Harrys-Bell. Nothing terribly ambitious just something to shake the rust off and make sure me and my gear is working as it should. I have some much more ambitious plans for September and want to work my way into it. Any comments or suggestions?
Thanks

There's a nice island site on Harry that you might want to aim for. Given your scheduled trip date, I'd be bringing along some sort of bug mesh. The Eureka Parawing WCS13 Tarp (with mesh room) is great, but if you don't want to spend the cash, pick up a Sea-To-Summit Box Net - Double (comfortable for solo). Cheap and fairly compact, it's saved my bacon on more than a few occasions, especially at meal time.

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www.mikemonaghan.ca

Thanks...I figured the bugs would be bad at that time. There are only a few sites on Harry....which one are you referring to?

The island site #129 is very nice. Look for the memorial marker on the mainland.

Mike, it says you can't get the box net in Canada. Where did you find yours?

thanks

Well, I got back from this trip on Thursday night and contrary to what I suspected, the bugs weren't bad at all! Not a single black fly and the mosquitos were only heavy on the portages. There was a lot of wind for the 4 days I was out though so that certainly helped to keep them at bay. I brought along a Parawing 16 with mesh room that I didn't even bother setting up.
However, I did learn that solo tripping is a lot harder as a 55 year old guy than it was as a 45 year old guy. I was knackered at the end of each day, more so than I can remember in the past. I guess I need to reconsider my expectations for future trips.
BTW...thanks for the Harry's Lake site recommendation Mike...I was first to the lake on the 21st (summer solstice) and made it to the island site which was lovely.