Sprung out of bed around 6am and took one last hot shower before we set out into the woods for 5 days. Breakfast in the Dining Hall at Tuscarora Lodge at 7am sharp was a healthy portion of french toast, sausage, fresh fruit, coffee, and OJ. We lugged our gear down to the shoreline as our Entry Point (#51, Missing Link Lake) launched directly from Tuscarora onto Round Lake. There were three other groups launching and we made it out onto the Lake and to the first portage as the second group, fair enough. When we arrived at Missing Link, we were able to take the lead onto the beastly Tuscarora portage (430-ish rods) with no groups in front of us. We had come out with the goal(dream) of single portages and I decided I really didn't want to have to hike back the mile plus to grab my pack after portaging the canoe. With fresh legs, arms and shoulders I loaded up my back with pack and canoe and suffered my way across the trail to about ? of the way through with two breaks in between. It was absolutely brutal and I had to tap out at that point, leaving my pack behind and finishing the last 1/3 in two trips. We launched onto Tuscarora Lake fairly pleased with the results, my bruised shoulders were certainly paying the price though.

Funnily enough, I spent a good bit of time researching campsites on Tuscarora Lake before our trip, but we opted to breeze right through Tusc with our sights set on Crooked Lake. A couple shorter portages and a paddle across Owl Lake later we arrived on Crooked and made camp at the site on the North West side of the lake. A decent site for a smaller group with only two tent pads that sat sunk down in the dirt North of the fire grate area. Lots of trees to hang our tarp and hammock from. Dinner was some freeze dried backpacking meals, quick and easy after a long day of travel. Bugs unfortunately were pretty rough causing us to retire to the tent fairly early, the soft hum of mosquito wings buzzing around us all night long.