Tuesday, July 01, 2008  Conmee Lake-McIntyre Lake

This was the nicest day of the trip so far. We originally planned for 2 days in this area.

Some bruising, sore muscles, and pains and were proof the wilderness experience was taking its toll on Laura. We had to seriously pace ourselves.

Wind and weather had impeded our progress for the first 3 days, and the weather was bound to switch to the more seasonable Southern winds, meaning we would likely be heading into it again, all the way back. A decision had to be made, we decided to take our time and begin the loop heading back.

We would take a different route back to Sarah, this is another time where talking to people like Uncle Fishguts proved valuable, there was a portage connecting Conmee Lake to Susanette Lake, which is not on the map. This area is some of the most beautiful in Quetico and we must be 30 miles from the nearest road.

After a brief paddle into Susanette we came to the site of the hidden “secret message jar” known only by word of mouth from people who have been there.

Even though we haven’t seen a person in days, we sat enjoyed the connection we felt through the messages left by travelers to this remote place which dated back for many years. There was no way to read them all. I left a short message, and thinking of how my son who is now a young adult cancelled coming here at the last minute to make some money, I left a quote from Mark Twain.

Back on the water, the wind is to our backs for the first time and it feels good.

Next stop, the Moose Head camp site, Uncle Fishguts had been through this area and told me what to expect.

I can’t help but wonder what the circumstances were that took this powerful animal down.

The beautiful intricate shore line of Susanette is a good reminder of why people come all the way out here.

A paddle through Darky River leading into Paulene Lake was next and we were making good progress, so the fishing rods came out.

A fish on every cast! Small Mouth Bass, and not a bad size either, that small crushable cooler would get some use today, four fish fillets nestled nicely it until dinner.

We were greeted with high winds at McIntyre Lake, a storm was brewing and it looked to be a big one. We quickly found a great place to seek refuge for the night, the rain tarp went up first, one corner attached to the ground to block the wind, thunder and dark skies were closing in.

We managed to get the camp set up, and a stock pile of fire wood before the first rain drop hit. Under the Noah tarp we would sip some hot tea during an hour long down pour, it left as quick as it came in. The skies cleared but the wind kept coming, a gigantic rock at the cooking area seemed to have been placed there by the hand of God just for us.

Two more waves of storms would make there way through before the evening was over. The camp was a nice set up, with two tiers, the cooking/fire area looking over the sleeping area below. A star goes on the map for this one.