Otty Lake Trip Report 2023
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- Created: Sunday, 20 August 2023 15:26
Otty Lake Trip Report
August 13 2023
With thanks to cheerful Adam for helping new members sign out gear and load up our cars at the boathouse, we arrived punctually at the boat put-in to the warm welcome and smiles of our expert guides Bill and Leslie, who even managed to secure a couple of parking spots in advance for us!
After all the rain of the week, it was a delight to set out on the lake into the warm sunshine. Acquaintances new and familiar engaged in happy chatter throughout the day as our wonderful trip leader, Karen, coaxed the group safely together to move forward.
We explored the shoreline lined with majestic pines, circuiting the lake, excited to discover a variety of wildlife, including painted turtles, several pairs of loons (including a parenting pair with a baby!), Phoebes, an Osprey, a male (Baltimore?) Oriole, grackles, Great Blue Herons, a glossy-coated (and utterly unperturbed) deer, jumping sunfish and a tiger swallowtail butterfly.
We paddled through blooming bullhead and white waterlilies (Nuphar variegata and Nymphaea odorata) and pickerel weed (Pontederia cordata), spotting on the shore the scarlet pop of colour from Cardinal flower (Lobelia cardinalis) signaling the height of summer, and the whimsical-looking buttonbush (Cephalanthus occidentalis). There was also an abundance of colourful mushrooms growing out of the forest debris.
Our guides generously shared their love of Otty Lake, teaching us about the mica mining history of the area, pointing out the Scouts Whispering Pines campground, showing us around the islands, identifying plants and animals, and leading us to their favourite lunch spot on Division Island with a splendid open vista of the lake. They even brought a stove to make hot water to go along with tea and hot chocolate -- what luxury!!!
With only a light mist for a few minutes, the day was otherwise comfortably breezy and sunny with occasional protective cloud cover.
In all, a beautiful summer day on Otty Lake, made a success because of excellent teamwork! The open deluge on the drive home did nothing to dampen the sunny dispositions of the returning paddlers!
