The Meanest Link, a canoe trip around Algonquin Park, 2021

[@stephaniefinn488]

Awesome video! Cool to see the highlights through someone else’s eyes and relive it!

[@Martin_G]

Thank you! I just rewatched my own video. LOL kinda want to do it again 😅

[@stephaniefinn488]

Hahaha me too! There is something very satisfying about completing the whole link! It’s great to have the footage as a keep sake to watch later on.

[@1976DSCH]

OK. I am now getting back to you about your soundtrack. Thank you for introducing me to Hawksley Workman! I now have Battflefords on repeat! I am late to the playlist, but never late than never.

[@Martin_G]

You might already know this but the video for Battlefords is filmed in the little communities on the west side of Algonquin park.

[@tombeckett4340]

Nice trip. Thanks 🇨🇦👍

[@Paddlerunner]

Great video Martin. Sorry it took me this long to get to watching it :)

[@kentorlando8676]

Great edit. Beautiful scenery and water. The double blade in the stern a good idea for the lake sections.

[@1976DSCH]

We are now planning for next year. I got injured recently so I need to hold off another year. Nothing upsetting and no worries.

[@OutdoorsMyLife]

Great video, I really enjoyed it

[@Paddlerunner]

Where the heck did you find these 'portages' on the Big East? And I really think it's saying something, Martin, that you've already reached Distress Lake at 7:55, and I'm not hitting that until about 5 minutes into Episode 3 of my series! . . . As in--stop making this look like child's play already!! And why the heck does it seem to be perpetually sunny and morning??? Your talent for understatement is clearly overstated! :)

[@Martin_G]

LOL! I just don't put as much time and thought into my videos as you put into yours. Yours are a whole different League. We also got very lucky and it mostly rained in the evenings and at night. You probably took all the same ports as us. McArthur Chute, Distress Dam, McBrien Rapids.

[@mikeburns9151]

love it dood....Love the Scott, "where are we",,,,he is a camera kind of guy~

[@Martin_G]

LOL, my reluctant star. He hates it.

[@Suluk46]

Excellent work gents. Watched it start to finish and kept me at the edge of my seat. One day I'll paddle the route ....and you can bike it 😃

[@Martin_G]

😂 I'm sure you can paddle it but no way I can bike it. Maybe a hike 🤔

[@1976DSCH]

I enjoyed every minute of this. Both entertaining and beautifully shot.

[@Martin_G]

Thanks Mohsin. Are you doing this next year?

[@1976DSCH]

@@Martin_G Yes, we plan to start the link around July 15 for 15 days.

[@1976DSCH]

@@Martin_G Btw, I love the "Knot Kans™". Indeed, a great innovation for backcountry campers.

[@1976DSCH]

Indeed.... Emsdale. And my friend has a cabin near Katrine.

[@smedleyco]

Hahaha. Brutal watching you on the Nipissing mud flats.

[@Martin_G]

😂 the one bit of truth from this vid.

[@ChrisProuse]

Loved it! Beautifully done Martin!

[@Martin_G]

Thanks so much Chris!

[@BrianthatiscalledBrian]

Great job, Guys. Really enjoyed that. 🙂👍🏕️🛶

[@Martin_G]

Thanks Brian!

[@LostLakes]

Authentic canoe trippin vlog, great stuff Martin. Good for the soul right now around solstice. There should be a new meanest link route without that Big East shite

[@Martin_G]

LOL! It is pretty and memorable.

[@mascanoe1]

Wonderful, Martin. The Meanest Link in 35 minutes . . . easy peezy. 😉 Love it. And Hey, I couldn't have done "Buzz Kill" that first time without Scott propping me up. He's really a lynch pin when it comes to keeping things together, the best mate anyone could hope for (but don't tell him I said that 😎).

[@Martin_G]

Yeah, Scott can kill a Buzz kill better than anybody.

[@mikebowers123]

Nice video, but you guys are nuts!

[@Martin_G]

Yeah, so are you. Hope you are well!

[@gordonbaker6568]

Wow! Fantastic video, Martin. Simply done but told the story, and you really captured the essence of the route. You and Scott's get 'r done, no drama, lighthearted approach is to be much admired. And the music choices were spot-on, especially the jangly guitar on the Big East. When "Battlefords" started playing, I have to confess that I got a little emotional: it is such an evocative song and fit that segment perfectly. And if Scott is sponsored by AO, are you sponsored by Trailhead?

[@Martin_G]

Thanks Gord! sure looks like I'm pushing Trailhead. Haha, never really thought that through. Gotta support local! Music, stores whatever!

[@jmullin]

Loved it!

[@Martin_G]

Thanks Jonathan

[@theo.g.inthecanoe]

what part of the park are the waterfalls at 33mins at ? Great summery of you experience .

[@Martin_G]

Oxtongue river

[@papacampoutdoors]

F me hard bahahahaah! I am planning this route solo next year 2023!

[@Martin_G]

😆

[@canoeman1961]

That could have been 3 hours long, and I would have enjoyed every minute. You didn't say how long it took you ... I figure at least a couple of days 😊.

[@Martin_G]

Thanks! You are very kind. We took a couple of days and eleven.

[@scottsimpson9205]

Awesome , thanks for sharing .Just wondering how long was all that fun ?

[@Martin_G]

13 days. With a layover day.. and we finished at 9 in the morning on Day 13.

[@papacampoutdoors]

How long did it take you to complete?

[@Martin_G]

12 days

[@Martin_G]

No, 13 days. But we finished at 9 in the morning on our 13th day.

[@jimrob6684]

17:10 ?? Lol

[@Martin_G]

Yeah 😂

[@tombeckett4340]

Martin you would never make it in some of our trips north of Superior you wouldn’t last a day. Sorry.

[@Martin_G]

How so?

[@tombeckett4340]

@@Martin_G well Martin on our trips north of Lake Superior we made our own Portages and some were well over 3 miles of bush wacking. We would loose over 25 lbs of body weight. Our trips were well over 100 miles and some were over 200 miles. And days on Lk Superior. But man you were fit as a fiddle after our trips. We all worked for CP rail at that time. That was handy because we got into rivers that nobody else got into unless they fly in . I’m sure that’s not your type of trip with all the different difficulty we had to deal with and the black fly’s and the bears and wolves. It separates the men from the boys but great memories. This was 50 years ago when all our gear was heavy. Not like today’s gear . That’s what I meant.

[@Martin_G]

@@tombeckett4340 Sounds amazing! I have done a few trips north of Superior including one in the North West Territories. All were much longer than 100 miles. But nothing as grueling as yours sound. Mine were on established routes that go back hundreds of years. While there was the occasional rough spot or bushwhack through an abondoned/burned out area they weren't serious. Sounds like you have some incredible memories!

[@tombeckett4340]

@@Martin_G Hi Martin I often go back and look at some of the slides and remember of all 6 lbs speckled trout a picks and lake trout. Great memories. And my Wife and I spent our honeymoon on the Slate islands just her and me and 600 Caribou. Many years ago. We also loved the Yukon. We almost moved there sometimes I kick myself. But you know the grass always looks greener on the other side. Thanks and nice talking to you. Tom