Sunday, August 19, 2012

Sunday was more of a no nonsense kind of day. Up early and started the chores of breaking camp. Quick breakfast of oatmeal and on the water toward the EP by 9 am. The 315 rod portage back to Poplar felt a lot longer today compared to Thursday. My legs were fatigued and my shoulder was still hurting. Ran into another group of 4 that were up from Louisiana. Made the first trek across and headed back for the last load. The last leg was a real bugger. My pack was a lot heavier this time as I swapped some of the gear around in order to make my wife’s pack lighter for her (I’m such a great husband). I was really feeling the extra weight by the end of the portage and ended up busting up my shin on a log across the trail. I saw the log coming and even saw the jagged chunk of broken branch sticking off of it and thought I better be careful so I don’t hit my leg as I step over. But apparently the thought never got far enough south to reach my leg as I stepped over with one leg and stepped right into the branch with the other. The branch left a pretty good cut that was bleeding pretty good by time I reached the end of the portage. I opted to wait for first aid until back at Rockwood which was only a short paddle away.

Back at Rockwood the trip was over. We cleaned up, tended the wounds and mentally thought about the next trip. On the way home we stopped for pizza in Grand Marais and topped it off with a few of the World’s Best Donuts. A fine way to end a trip.
Overall the trip wasn't exactly what I picture and planned in my mind. I really wanted to make it further in and to see a few more lakes but with a bad shoulder and a content wife I knew better than to push it. In the end being flexible still allowed us to have a great trip without feeling the disappointment of the trip not living up to what I had hoped for. After all there is always next time.