Mochi

You might recall my post back in June 2018 about the dogs in Kejick where our daughter Alisha works as the school Principal. This post is about another Kejick dog. Alisha is definitely a ‘dog person’, she loves dogs and they love her. As well, she has turned into a bit of a ‘dog whisperer’, showing amazing ability to effectively train dogs. On one trip to visit her in Ottawa we found her dogsitting a little old dog called ‘Peanut’. After two weeks away, Peanut’s owners returned to collect their beloved pet, but were greeted by silence when they entered the apartment. “Oh my god, what happened to Peanut?” They exclaimed thinking he had expired because he always barked like mad when anyone came in the door. Alisha called him and explained that she did not allow that behaviour and had fixed it. I guess you can teach old dogs new tricks. 

Puppy Mochi & Bob

 Alisha found it hard to live among all the Kejick dogs without finding one she was so attracted to that she had to adopt him. This finally happened two years ago as the COVID pandemic hit. She met a little puppy and fell in love with him. He joined the household and has become part of the family. Bob the cat who was already #1 in the pet department was not pleased at first, but eventually whipped this new addition into shape and decided to accept him (He knew he had little choice I suspect). 

 His name is Mochi, and he looks like a lean German Shepherd, but like many of the dogs from the Reserve, he is probably part wolf. However, there is nothing wild about him, he has turned into a kind, gentle, well behaved fellow, and I finally got to meet him on this visit to Ontario. Of course I watched him grow up via Pandemic Sunday Dinner video chats every week, but it was nice to finally get to meet this newest member of the family. I had become friends with Bob the cat during our two visits to Kejick and I think Mochi has approved me as family as well. 

Mochi looking His Best!

 Alisha has done an amazing job training this canine friend. He is so well behaved, and comes instantly when called and follows commands perfectly. Although he will briefly bark at strangers, once he meets you he is calm, friendly and affectionate . He even accepted the indignity and embarrassment of having to wear booties when visiting Ryan and Ben to protect their new hardwood floors. Alisha and Derek bought a boat soon after Mochi arrived and she insisted he learn to be comfortable on the boat, so it has become an activity he really enjoys. He was with us on the Trip through the Trent-Severn locks and was perfectly behaved except for one time he found he was in the boat and Alisha was on the shore watching us through the lock; he worried and fussed about not being with her and Derek said “Yea, he does that for her, but doesn’t much care if I’m not right there.”. He is very definitely “her” dog. 

All Dressed up!

 Every time I saw this dog via video I knew I wanted to meet him and now that I have, I am even more impressed with him. Of course I think it helps that he seems to really like me as well.

Mochi Guiding the Boat

Mochi & Friends at home In Kejick

High Beach

Finding High Beach

Kejick Bay is actually an island. It used to be a Bay until the lake was flooded. As I walk around the community It seems to be mostly sand. I have yet so see any solid rock anywhere. I think I discovered the entire island is composed of sand.

There are two nice sand beaches the community use. Yes, in tropical Northern Ontario it seems that although they have a brutal winter, they also have a nice hot summer and people are already swimming in the lake here. The main beach is called “low Beach”, and it is a regular sort of beach, with sand and driftwood. You get to it down a short road/path off the road into the community.

The other beach, as you might have guessed, is called “High Beach”. I had heard about this spot, and Alisha had insisted that I had to go see High Beach; it was pretty amazing. So, on a morning with no chores to do – the boat was in the water, and Derek was doing drywall (Not my best skill), Alisha dropped me off at a path leading into the forest, pointing up a hill. Her only instruction was “Don't go

down to the lake, or you won't get back up.”. Confusing instructions since I thought I was supposed to go see this beach.

The path was a well worn but twisting route through a forest of mature red pine trees. After a couple of minutes, I came out into a clearing in the forest with tall pine trees and a sandy beach. Walking to the edge of the clearing, I peered down at Lac Seul. I was standing on a beautiful sandy beach 100 feet above the lake. A steeply sloping incline led down to the shore of the lake. I now knew why she warned me not to go down to the lake. Climbing up a 100 foot sand dune would have been a difficult task.

As you walk around the community there is sand everywhere, but the community is on a lake so you do not think so much about it, but standing on sand 100 feet high you cannot help but be awed by how this island was formed. This area must have been part of an ocean or a desert at one time and all this sand was deposited here over eons many many years ago.

Alisha was right, High Beach really was amazing. As I stood in the sand overlooking the spectacular views out over the lake, I had to agree that this is definitely a “Must see” location in Kejick Bay. Later the same day I got to see the same sight from a boat out on the lake as we searched out a good fishing spot, and it was as spectacular from that viewpoint.

Messing about in Boats

launching the boat

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Remember that quote from “Wind In the Willows” about “Messing about in boats”? Kejick Bay is on a large lake and everyone has a boat. Well almost everyone; Alisha & Derek did not have a boat . . . YET.

When we arrived Derek was pleased to show me a boat with a 20 hp Johnson outboard on it. Nice, except the outboard did not work, and the boat had not been in the water for years, and designed for a motor controlled with a wheel and remote forward controls, while the outboard was a simple tiller model.

This looks like it needs work

The outboard was purchased in an “As-is” condition and was not pumping water, so needed a rebuild. Fortunately I have a friend who can fix anything on speed-dial, and he gave me advice on what was likely needing repair. I pulled everything apart discovering a seriously damaged water pump so with a new impeller and a couple hours cleaning up the housing, I was able to rebuild everything and get it back together. A few more adjustments and a big garbage can of water proved

everything was working as it should.

The boat was a good solid aluminum 14 foot model, but the wooden transom was in bad shape and was not going to hold the motor. A morning in the front yard had all the rusted screws extracted and the rotten wood thrown on the fire-pit. New plywood was cut and attached with nice shiny bolts and screws, and the rebuilt motor fitted. It all looked good.

Now this is a good working boat.

Now if only we could find a car and a trailer that would fit together to get the boat to the lake. After a borrowed trailer, and trailer ball, we got the boat to 'Archie's Landing” and into the water. Derek took a quick celebratory lap around the causeway bay and proved everything was working as expected before coming back to take us out for a ride.

Yes, here I am once more “messing about in boats . . . .”

The confident chief engineer - he knows the engine is GOOD!

The passengers - not so much!

Kejick Bay

Welcome to Kejick (By Road)

In 1929, Ontario Hydro built a Dam and raised the level of Lac Seul to create a reservoir to generate hydro power. This flooded Kekick Bay and created an island. There was a Native community on this piece of land, and this cut them off from the mainland. In the last few years a causeway has been built connecting Kejick to the mainland once again. According to Wikipedia, there is a population of 400 living in Kejick Bay now. This is where Alisha lives and works as Principal of the school in the community, and it where I am now visiting. The people living here are of the Lac Seul first nation group and consist of three separate communities, Kejick Bay, Whitefish Bay and Frenchman's Head. The Lac Seul First Nation is part of the Ojibwa First Nation, and has an area of just over 100 square miles.

The community of Kejick itself is on an island in the middle of Lac Seul, so it is a beautiful setting with a lake surrounding it. I was surprised with the weather, I know they have harsh winters and Alisha has complained about the amount of snow and the freezing temperatures in the long brutal winter, but right now when I am visiting it is down-right tropical with temperatures warmer than at home. Yesterday it was 33º C, and even today in the rain it is still 23º C.

When you reach the causeway, the road road changes to gravel, and the soil is sandy, so it is

Or By Boat.

impossible to keep things clean. I was reminded of Cairo, where the dust and sand gets into everything; it is like that here. Alisha had her car detailed on one of her trips to Winnipeg and was appalled at how quickly it reverted to a dusty dirty mess once she was back here.

The town itself has one convenience store that also sells gas. When Alisha first arrived the store sold chips and pop, but she is pleased that they now carry many more healthy groceries. There is Alisha's K-9 school, a community centre, an outdoor rink, one church a band office and a health centre. There are two well used beaches and boat docks everywhere. The community is patrolled by the Lac Seul Police force, and has fire hydrants, but no fire department. In fact the second night we were here Derek was called to help fight a house fire. They had a good 2” fire hose but someone had left the actual nozzle in Frenchman's Head even though they tried they could not save the house.

That is a little about the community of Kejick Bay. Although somewhat isolated, they are an open and friendly community and I have been made to feel at home. Most community members know Alisha, so when I am introduced to anyone they smile and welcome me to their community, and as I walk around the streets, the people wave with a friendly greeting and the dogs all wag their tails as they stop for a pat or a scritch.

The Ferry

The Complex (Community Centre)

The Health Ctntre

Alisha's House (The Teachery)

The Dogs of Kejick

Oh, I'm sorry did you need this truck?

Although I think I am slightly allergic, I love dogs, and discovered that I do not have to actually own a dog to enjoy them. I have friends who seem to be willing to lend me their dogs and that works great. Kejick Bay has some great dogs, and sitting around a fire one night I got to meet a lot of them.

When Alisha first moved to Kejick she was concerned about the number of seemingly feral dogs wandering the neighbourhood, but fortunately she met a dog named Bear who convinced her the dogs of Kejick were okay. With a name that suited him, bear was a big dog, but Alisha discovered he was really a big teddy bear, and I heard about him through e-mail and facebook. She also discovered that the people in the community have made a conscious decision to only allow dogs that get along with people.

Now that I am in Kejick I have started to meet these amazing dogs. First I met “Drea” who was a rescue from a fly in community. Although she was supposed to be wary of men, all it took was one dog treat and she was my friend. Than I met “Nibbles”, who looked like the “not so friendly” Egyptian street dogs, but was an amazing friendly dog, and he also became my friend. Nibbles is the alpha dog in the neighbourhood, and every other dog except Buddy (more about her later) cow-tow to him even though he is almost 10 years old. When Nibbles barks and takes of on a tear, every other dog follows. Who names their dog “Nibbles” when he is the Alpha dog? Obviously his name among his dog friends in his pack is something “Butch”or “Killer”. It's a good thing dogs don't actually understand our language.

Hey mister . . . pet me please! (not Buddy)

I had heard about “Buddy”. She was the talk of the firepit when people realized I was a “dog person”. I was told she was really not a dog, she was half wolf. Apparently one of her owner actually had her DNA tested and sure enough she is half wolf. One night sitting around the fire someone noticed her walking by, and called to her. Although the Kejick dogs seem almost feral and wild, they have names and answer to them. Hearing her name, Buddy and a couple other dogs running with her immediately turned and trotted over to our firepit. She brought “Magic” with her along with “Surviver”. Buddy is a massive dog of almost pure white and she does look like a wolf, but she is gentle as a puppy. Her tail wags and she demands your attention, but then a 120 lb wolf/dog does get your attention. Nibbles does not like her however and was not happy with her intruding on our gathering, but with Buddy's size and heritage, she literally does not care. No one messes with Buddy and she knows it, even if “She” cannot be Alpha dog, she is in a category of her own.

Alisha tells me that the people of Kejic will not allow any dog that even growls at a child to live in the community and dogs that do not get along with people get shot. It sounds cruel, but the dogs of Kejick are amazing; they are friendly and love people. I saw a little two year old baby toddle over and maul a dog laying in the sand outside the school. She pulled his ears. Stuck her hand in his mouth and twisted his paw, but he just lay there. Yes, I have come to like the dogs of Kejick Bay.

These are all the pictures I have of the dogs, but I will add more when I get them. 

Fishing

Kejick Island Ferry

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When I was four or five my father took me fishing. We lived in a fishing community, so he took me out in a boat and we fished . . . . After a while he asked me how I liked fishing? I replied “Dad to be serious, it's boring . . . .”. “Oh, good, I'm not real fond of it either, but I thought I should at least introduce you to it”, he replied. We never fished again. Like my dad, I felt it was my fatherly duty to at least introduce my son to fishing, so I took him out once – I don't think I succeeded in turning him into an angler. . .

Fishing from the Ferry

Years later my good friend Jim asked me if I wanted to go fishing with him. Jim always asks me to do stuff with him and I appreciate it, so I said I'd go. I discovered that fishing was still boring. I didn't catch anything; didn't even get a nibble. I am told it is not about catching fish, it's about being out in a boat, being on a lake, being with nature, relaxing . . . . . some sort of fishing zen, philosophy thing. I guess I just do not get it . . .

Well, here in Kejick, fishing is big. The lake is huge and complicated, and there are lots of fish, even big fish. On the drive here we frequently saw fishing resorts and lodges, so the fishing must be good. Derek threatened to take me fishing and finally I agreed.

Someone was catching fish

On the way into Kekick there is a deserted ferry that once was used to ferry workers machinery and materials to and from a mine. I thought it had been the ferry to Kejick Island, but Alisha tells me that when Kejick Bay became an island, the only way back and forth was by boat in the summer or snowmobile in winter and occasionally an ice road. the deserted ferry has become a convenient place to fish. It's a boat, and it is out in the water, but you can walk onto it and easily get to deep enough water to fish, so we went there one afternoon to fish. A couple of people did catch fish but not me. I got bored and went to take photos of and old boat washed up on the shore down the lake.

Determined to convert me, Derek insisted we would have better luck at his favourite spot. Plus here we would really be out in a boat. Fishing poles, life jackets, tackle box, minnow bucket, net, gas can, we headed out. Under the causeway bridge to a spot that “We were guaranteed to catch our limit in 20 minutes”.

A rare photo . . . me with fish

Well, we were out for more than 20 minutes, but I can report that I actually did pull out four fish, and a couple were good sized, but I threw three back and Derek promised to cook our catch up so I can sample the Kejick Bay fish. And really, it almost wasn't boring.

I'd rather go take photos of this cool old boat

Fishing . . . . it's a zen thing . . . . .

Driving Around

In the truck driving around

Kejick Bay is 75 km from Sioux Lookout, the nearest real city, and 48 km to Hudson, the nearest town where there is a post office, a garage and a LCBO, but not a real grocery store. So, living in Kejick Bay involves a lot of driving for anything you need.

On our first full day visiting Alisha and Derek, We spent part of the day with Alisha at the school. We tried to help clean up, I read a story to the younger students, and we helped out with a community breakfast. This being my first visit back into a school since I retired ten years ago, I did not want to overdo it, so when an opportunity to help Derek with his maintenance duties arose, I jumped at the chance; I'd rather be driving around in a big GMC 2500 than cleaning up Alisha's office. I left Regis to help Alisha and I went to help Derek.

STOP, I need a picture of that old truck!

First stop was the band dump where the school's garbage was unloaded. I was warned to be on the lookout for bears as they have been known to hang around the dump, but no such luck.

Next stop was the beach where we unloaded a load of firewood so the teachers could light a campfire to cook hot dogs for a school outing to the beach in the afternoon. Somehow I feel that having a fire on an unsupervised beach with students might not be approved back home, but here it is not only perfectly acceptable, but expected; part of the “outdoor ed” program.

A load of chairs now had to be moved to one of three schools in the Band School Board, Frenchman's Head. This school was 49 km away, but moving chairs was one of my specialities back in the day, so I was comfortable stacking, loading and transporting them. A drum set had to be moved as well, so the truck was loaded to accommodate everything. When it is an hour away, you do not make two trips.

Scenery on the drive

One of Dereks duties is to maintain the band-owned houses used by the teachers, and one needed flooring installed, so while in Frenchman's Head we convinced the “powers to be” to cut us a PO and we headed to Sioux Lookout for a truckload of flooring. It was easy, because we did not have to shop around; there is only one hardware store. That was a 40 km drive and then another 75 km back to Kejick Bay.

One of the Band's outdoor ed facilities

This is life in Kejick Bay. The actual jobs we had to do did not take long, but we spent over three hours just driving over twisting rough roads to get to places, get things, or get things done. Derek commented that he felt like he had been driving around all day. Then when we finished for the day, he decided we deserved a cold beer, so we had to go back into Hudson, 48 km away to stock up the beer fridge. BUT that beer was good after a day driving around.