Saturday, September 08, 2012 I pushed off at 9 in the morning for my over 7-mile paddle plus four portages to a campsite near the southern end of Kett Lake. No sooner had I dipped my paddle in the heavens broke with a strong rain. Up until now the rains were light and brief but this shower amounted to something. I was concerned now about the portages. Two of them were the paired goat trails east of Nub Lake. They are bad enough when dry but when wet their character would be much different. I also added some extra mileage to my day’s journey to pick up my hat that I forgot on the portage into Kett Lake on Thursday. On the way to my first portage the rains eased up but still came down significantly. The uphill goat trail, my third portage, went well; I was careful. The fourth portage is almost as steep down, but a shorter down than the previous portage was up. I decided to play it safe and let my canoe slide downhill until the portage leveled off then resumed shouldering the craft to the end of the portage. The packs were taken with each section of my double blade plus my spare paddle used as crutches. It was slow going, as I did not want to hit the “Help” button on my SPOT. All packs and canoe now were at the Kett Lake landing and I am home free!!! Well, as Yogi Bera said, “It ain’t over till it’s over!” The water at the landing was a little deep but I thought I could enter the boat without trouble. No way buster! The skinny solo canoe tipped on its side and I dunked into the lake. Oh fine. Hey! The water was warm at least! I stood there for it seems an eternity wringing out my bailing sponge. Now try again! THIS TIME do it differently you fool!!! Success!!! Now paddling down Kett, dripping wet, would not have been so bad but the wind picked up greatly in the half hour plus it took me to get to my campsite. Luckily it was a north wind on my back. By the time I got into camp there were white caps on the lake and the howling wind was beginning to drop my body temperature significantly. The north wind was pulling down the thermometer reading too; I believe the temperature went from about 60 to the low 50’s quickly. I hurried to pop up my tent so I could gain shelter and get dry clothes on. That done I hung up the wet duds which dried rather quickly in this nature’s dryer. Lights out at 9 PM. I have beaten another day in the bush! Kett Lake campsite