Reflections on Bell's Lake

We managed another paddle last week, this time into Bell's Lake, a small piece of Canadian wilderness dropped down in rural southern Ontario, only 10 minutes from Markdale.  Bell's Lake is almost totally undeveloped (apart from two old boathouses), and you immediately feel like you're getting away from civilization into the northern wilderness!

It was a dark and threatening morning, but it never rained til we were finished.  It left the shoreline looking ominous in places though.

It appears that the water level has risen at some point in time, flooding inland along the shore, and killing a fair number of trees.  The result is lots of trees fallen along the edges, providing some interesting reflections.

We did see a beaver swimming into the shore at one point, and a few birds circling, but otherwise no wildlife.  And you can't land anywhere, as the shoreline is swamp; you'd be stepping out into water.
  
The lake is rather convoluted, with bays and narrow inlets where we were threading our way past the fallen dead trees.  I enjoy following the shoreline rather than cutting across the open lake.

I liked the bright green of this sedge just emerging along the shore.  Bell's Lake is almost entirely in public ownership, protected for conservation, so it's wonderful to think that this little bit of wilderness will always be there to explore in the future.

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