Quetico loop 08
by Journeyman
Trip Type:
Paddling Canoe
Entry Date:
06/27/2008
Entry & Exit Point:
Quetico
Number of Days:
9
Group Size:
2
Day 9 of 9
Saturday, July 05, 2008 Burke Lake – Prairie Portage
A quick breakfast and packed up we were off to an early start, the food pack sure is getting light.
It seemed they were quite eager to have some adult conversation, we chatted for a while. They too paddled around Burke last night finding every camp was taken. They met the group that staked their claim to the entire lake, it was a youth Church group, and not drunken idiots at all, they were high on life, I joked how painfully familiar the two sound from across a lake. The Scouts had a visit from a large turtle last night, it dug a hole in the sand at the tree line and apparently laid eggs. Turtles must do this in exactly the same place every year because where the hole was dug it revealed the hatched egg shells from last year. A light breeze pushed us across Bayley Bay in the direction of where we needed to go and we had plenty of time, time to relax. Laura, who was not overly excited about doing this trip, speaks up, “I – I would do this again,” she said! With Prairie Portage just around the corner she insisted she paddle the rest of the way, while I lounged in the back of the canoe.
It was kind of funny when we got the attention of a few enthusiastic paddlers just on their way out noticing the paddling arrangement we had going on, I just had to reply with “you guys should have brought your women to do all the work!”
I couldn’t wait to get something cold to drink from the newly remodeled store.
I absolutely couldn’t believe they do not sell any refreshments. I talked to the lady there and she said, they were open to suggestions on what kind of souvenirs people would want to see. I told her if there was a sign outside that read ‘Ice Cold Beer $20’, I would have ran in! She said she would pass on the information. Maybe next time they will have something.
We were up early and it’s another beautiful morning.
A quick breakfast and packed up we were off to an early start, the food pack sure is getting light.
We were greeted by two Boy Scout rangers at the far end of the portage leaving Burke, it was a large beach area and they were camping on it.
It seemed they were quite eager to have some adult conversation, we chatted for a while. They too paddled around Burke last night finding every camp was taken. They met the group that staked their claim to the entire lake, it was a youth Church group, and not drunken idiots at all, they were high on life, I joked how painfully familiar the two sound from across a lake. The Scouts had a visit from a large turtle last night, it dug a hole in the sand at the tree line and apparently laid eggs. Turtles must do this in exactly the same place every year because where the hole was dug it revealed the hatched egg shells from last year. A light breeze pushed us across Bayley Bay in the direction of where we needed to go and we had plenty of time, time to relax. Laura, who was not overly excited about doing this trip, speaks up, “I – I would do this again,” she said! With Prairie Portage just around the corner she insisted she paddle the rest of the way, while I lounged in the back of the canoe.
It was kind of funny when we got the attention of a few enthusiastic paddlers just on their way out noticing the paddling arrangement we had going on, I just had to reply with “you guys should have brought your women to do all the work!”
Prairie Portage was a welcome site,
I couldn’t wait to get something cold to drink from the newly remodeled store.
I absolutely couldn’t believe they do not sell any refreshments. I talked to the lady there and she said, they were open to suggestions on what kind of souvenirs people would want to see. I told her if there was a sign outside that read ‘Ice Cold Beer $20’, I would have ran in! She said she would pass on the information. Maybe next time they will have something.
We got the eight mile tow back to the outfitter, the second welcome site, I couldn’t wait for a hot shower and clean clothes! Then the drive through Ely and the third welcome site, the Ely Steak House.
The drive back to the cabin up north was enjoyable, we felt good, we had just paddled/hiked a loop of 60 miles and 33 portages and the trip was a success!
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