This year's canoe trip into Kidprice Lake was different from last year in many ways. For starters, we travelled with two couples this time instead of one, making it easier to pack in essentials like axes, frying pans and fire grills. More hands to share the load.

We decided to make it a 5-day trip instead of three, hopefully guaranteeing a trip to Nanika Falls and down the Nanika River for some fishing.

I was also expert at fancy "lake calming dances" (that involved consuming a bit of alcohol first) and very determined to conquer all four lakes in the Nanika-Kidprice chain.

In my last article, I said "five" lakes. While it is true that Nanika Lake is beyond Kidprice Lake , connected by the southern end of the Nanika River, it has become a "close to impossible adventure" to get there.

One last change. We began our journey early, leaving Houston at 8 a:m. and managed to cross Lamprey, Anzac and Step Lake plus all three portages and be at the Kidprice Lake camp site in time for dinner.