Tarptent Scarp II.

We all want our cake. While I have no desire to share a site with another party, there's a rule that applies in most (if not all) Quebec provincial parks - as long as there are free tent pads, no one can refuse your access. A "site reservation" exists only for specific sites. Your fee covers your right to be in the park, not a short-term property rental. If everyone used common sense, this rule needn't be discussed - I've let other campers stay on "my" site in Algonquin because of their ill-preparedness. 

The seemingly innocuous Rock Lake has caught me more than once. South winds make entering from the access point a little daunting - dart right and hug the shore. Also the wind between the islands can be challenging. And the take out to Penn is a funnel - we almost dumped while "parked" waiting for traffic to clear - a gust hit us broadside and the leeward, starboard gunnel went under. I'm not sure how we avoided it. Once ashore, the next party to leave was not so lucky. Throw ropes were deployed - it was May.

None of the above. As I mentioned, we are heading home, which in this case would be East.

Not Rock (nor Penn).

I will add that while the military excercises were not something we were seeking, they did provide a level of intrigue/entertainment. On the second night, at around 10PM, a griffon flew low and slow over the north end, over the portage, and presumably followed the railbed to Sec Lake and back to base.

I would rate the campsite as "above-average" - particularly for a black site. The rock that makes up the front of the site/landing area is a constant, gradual slope into the lake. With the bloom, it made getting in and out of the canoe a little precarious. It also made the return from a swim a rather comical affair. If you're a food bag hanger, opportunities are limited. We found a suitable branch halfway down the trail to the thunderbox, off  to the right about 15 metres. There is also a suitable tent pad on the campsite's northern peninsula, with water almost on all three sides, but not much cover. Aside from the slog up to the rail-bed, the portage was about ideal in my opinion - no crazy elevation changes, and fairly wild while still being obvious - a very nice walk through the woods.

MartinG wrote:

AO won the contract for the Opeongo Store sometime in the late 80s, have had it ever since. I don't know what came first for Brent or Opeongo. But for a Loong time AO was just the one store on Oxtongue lake.

Gotcha - I misread your post. I was thinking they took over the store in Whitney.

Shall's where the teeth live, or so I've heard.