“Last night blew the big one. The wind was non stop all night and the trees were singing. I didn’t sleep much although I was comfortable. It was just so noisy with the trees and the tarp flapping around, plus it was cold.”

I’m out of the sack at 6:30 and it’s still windy and gray and damp.

I make oatmeal with dried apples and coffee. It hits the spot and warms me up too! I pack up and put on a lot of clothes. I have my long underwear on with my new “windstopper” fleece jacket and my rain gear on over that as it starts to drizzle.

I’m on the water around 9:00 and it’s not too bad. I portage to an unnamed on the way to Marj and see the largest white pine I’ve ever seen. It’s 5-6 feet wide at the base. I stand next to it and wrap my arms around. I get maybe halfway. What a giant and it’s right on the trail.

I go through the unnamed then follow the McKenzie map without double checking the Chrismar map and start on what I think is the portage. “There are blow downs all along the trail and I can’t believe a portage clearing crew hasn’t been through here.”

Then I come to the dreaded “T” intersection of a very well established trail. Hmmm…. It turns out I was on a very old portage trail. Now, which way do I go? This time I drop the canoe and go left and study the lake. I then go back and walk the other way and study the lake. I consult both maps and sure enough the McKenzie map listed the old un-maintained portage while the Chrismar map had the correct location marked one bay over. Chalk another one up for Chrismar. Looks like I’ll go through the maps tonight and see if there are more discrepancies on the rest of my route.

I paddle across Marj Lake and portage over to the Burt landing. The lake is big and mean looking with rollers coming right at me. I need to go straight into the waves about ¾ of a mile to reach a site on a large island. To make things worse the landing is a sloping sheet of granite and loading is very difficult as waves slam into the boat. Getting in and pushing off from shore is extremely hairy.

I’m on the water and white knuckle it giving all I got with the yak paddle. “I go up one wave and my nose (of the boat) comes down at the bottom of the next one and water sprays up over the bow. There are only really big ones every 7 or 8 waves. I quarter the boat a little toward the island but turn into these big ones when I see them coming.“ I repeat this until I come into the lee of the island. I need a deep breath and have to sit to get my strength back. I see the campsite from here. It has a 5 star reputation so I’m exited to check it out.

The parking is top notch with a spot made for the boat to sit in while you unload.

The site is a beauty. Great fireplace and kitchen and the camp is sheltered with trees. The wind can’t reach me in here being on the back side of the island.

I set up and decide to go fishing. I don’t catch anything but lose two valuable lures to the rocks. Oh well, it was good to cast a line. I’ll be laying over for a day here so I have all day tomorrow to play.

Sunset from my porch on Burt.

Campsite tour video.