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A “short day” on the Temagami River can still knock the wind out of you. We set out expecting easy miles and found five portages, two line-throughs, low water, and a masterclass in patience instead. Between scraping rental hulls and threading skinny lines through swifts, we had to read the river moment by moment—scout when the tongue vanished, line when rocks stacked too tight, and save our pride for camp. It wasn’t epic in distance, but it was rich in decisions, teamwork, and small wins that add up.

We walk through how low water changes everything: where V’s lie, how eddies give you breath, and why a gentle pillow can signal a lurking boulder. You’ll hear our decision tree for run vs. line, how we split loads on back-to-back portages, and the subtle cues that tell you when to step out and rope the canoe. We also talk mindset—keeping humour when progress crawls, measuring success in clean ferries rather than kilometres, and staying safe without killing the fun. The Temagami River demanded respect; we paid it with caution, conversation, and a few fresh scratches.

The day ends the way river days should: at Greg’s Escape from Reality cabin, warm food on the way, and a quiet room that lets the stories breathe. We share shout-outs to friends like Thunderbox Diaries, compare notes on route choices, and build a few takeaways for your next trip. If you’re planning a canoe route with variable water levels, you’ll pick up practical tips on scouting, lining, and pacing a team through “short” days that aren’t. Hit play, settle in, and then tell us your best trick for tight, rocky swifts.

If you enjoyed the journey, follow along on Instagram, Facebook, BlueSky, YouTube, and Spotify, and send us a note at [email protected]. Share the episode with a paddling friend, and leave a quick review—it helps more campers find the river.

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