The Greenbean Adventures: Parading the Canoe
August 9, 2026 Afternoon
It has been quite some time since we’ve been able to get in a paddle. Between the high 30+ temperatures, the rain 🙄, or that wicked wind 😬 , it felt like the elements were conspiring against us. But finally, we managed to carve out a day.
Except, it started out more as a “parade the canoe” tour around the lake!
The Hunt for Clear Water
Our initial plan was to head out to the islands at the northeast end of Lac La Biche near the Mystic Beach area. We’ve only been there once before, and it was just beautiful. But as we came down the hill to the Northshore boat launch, it was completely still—no boats, no trucks. The reason became painfully obvious the moment the smell hit us. 🤢 Bright blue-green algae was splattered heavily along the shore, backed by about 30 feet of dead reeds pushed up by the wind. We didn’t even bother getting out (or taking a picture).
Time to pivot. We’d never driven into Mystic Beach before, so we thought maybe there’d be an alternate spot to drop the canoe in. It’s a very nice subdivision, but while we could see down to the shoreline, the water was still choked with that vibrant blue-green hue. 😟
Alright, down the highway to Golden Sands we went! Finding that launch is always like playing hide-and-seek through twists and turns. The glow of the algae was right along the edge of the lake here, too, and yes—it still smelled bad.
Third Time’s Not a Charm
With 13 boat launches on Lac La Biche, we decided to try our luck at the next one: turn at the golf course and head to Churchill. As we crossed the causeway, we had to hold our breath (still that smell…Oo that smell 😅) There were vehicles at the launch and people out fishing, so we backed the truck up ready to unload anyway. But looking for a nice, leisurely paddle means not having to hold your breath the entire time. Honestly, I couldn’t wrap my head around how they managed to fish through that odor!
Back in the truck we went, and it was time to “phone a friend.”
“Why don’t you go to Beaver Lake?”
Well, of course! That’s just five minutes away.
Finding the Sweet Spot
After about an hour and a half of touring the canoe around in the truck box, we finally ended up at Beaver Lake. We launched quickly, managing to paddle across the open water before any wind picked up. Taking our time exploring the secluded areas along the south shore, we ended up having a genuinely lovely day.
Unfortunately, a picture at each boat launch would have been a great inclusion for the story, but that smell was just too distracting to stick around for photos!
Just four days later, I noticed the shores along Nashim Drive had greened up even more. I might not have lived on this lake all my life like a lot of people (it’s only been 25+ years😅) , but I have canoed all the way around it in a single year, and we spend countless hours each spring, summer, and fall in the canoe exploring different areas. I have simply never seen the blue-green algae hit this hard. It’s sad to see.
Here is hoping September brings us plenty of calm, clear paddling days. Cross your fingers!🤞
P.S. Speaking of paddling adventures, we do have an extra special trip planned tomorrow!! — though not in a canoe! We’re taking on a double kayak on the ocean in Sitka, Alaska, and we seriously can’t wait for this totally new experience! 😊
#GreenbeenAdventures #SillySisters #LakelandCanoe #LacLaBiche
