This is a layover day, time for everyone to bum around camp, explore, do whatever they want. The guys want to nap and hang out in camp, Robin and Alex and I opt to explore. Alex also wants to practice steering when we really have no pressing need to get anywhere quickly- so I'll get to duff for once. I rustle up some apple pancakes for breakfast and drink coffee by the fire, then it's time to head out.

We diddle around the lake for awhile, then head for the portage into Vernon. The bit of river before the portage is gorgeous, just about my favorite type of northwoods topography. It's all floating bog and tamarack swamp, crystal clear water with long strands of water weeds that look like pale yellow- green hair. Wow. So lovely that for once I almost forgot to take a single picture.

It's nice to hike around without our packs, we all agree, and decide to treat the portage as a hiking trail. The canoe will stay on Swan. This portage is long, but super easy. There is one last piece of a cabin wall standing in the woods- an old logging camp, if I'm not mistaken.

There's also a nice little footbridge over a creek that feeds into the Brule R.

We eat a whole lot of raspberries while hiking, and just generally enjoy a walk in the woods. We putz around paddling slowly back to camp, and get dinner cooking. Tonight we feast on chili, cheese quesadillas, and cornbread. A good day was had by all!