Sunday, June 17, 2012 Day 5 was nice almost all day. We had a really big breakfast, cleaned up, packed and were on the water at 9am. Not early, but we were not in a rush. Strange because it wasn't like we did not have enough rest the day before. I think we all just wanted to enjoy the morning. The portage to Tesaker was short and not a spacious put-in at the end. The least used portages I have encountered were on this trip. Tesaker is a long pond and no more appealing than an industrial waste pond but with better water. The trail to Gun was longer and I was surprised to see signs of recent maintenance. Gun is a very nice lake with a remote feel and it seems little used. I doubt I’ll ever get back there because there are so many others to see but I enjoyed it this day. We moved right through to the trail to Eugene, then Steep and baby, am I glad we were going down.
We had seen no one since we left Snow Bay but on South Lake we had trouble finding the portage out and were surprise when a group came up behind us and sailed right into the portage. I think the high water camouflaged the opening because we were right near it after going back and forth a few times. It is also mis-marked on the map and if the other group had not showed us where it is we might still be there. Well maybe not, sincea group of young men passed us on the trail heading in the other direction. They were heading for Trillium and should make it easily. Good luck with the fishing guys. Wish I was going back with you.
On Section Pond we encountered a couple of canoes heading north in a comical situation that was also sad. One couple had a nice boat but the couple with them had a canoe that must have had a lot of rocker. They could not make that boat go straight and were paddling twice the distance of their friends. Where is Chevy Chase when you need him? They must have borrowed the boat from a friend or family member without any understanding of the difference in boats.
There was a big group of Boy Scouts working on the trail between Slim and Little Loon. I have to confess that I am never happy when I encounter large groups of Boy Scouts or others clogging up the portage trail with their canoeing gear. Now I got to see what a benefit to the BWCA the Scouts are when they work on the trails. I had no idea that they did trail work and they were doing an excellent job with rudimentary tools. Very resourceful and respectful too. Time to change that thinking. I’ll still be irritated, but in a nice way.
Little Loon was very pretty but the guys decided that they were not ready to stop so we didn't. In fact, except for a twenty minute rest and some food we booked all the way to the EP. We arrived just as dark was settling. The first load to the car I did not need a light. On the second I did need a light. We loaded up and as we hit the Echo Trail rain started.
Halfway to town I asked how we were going to get a room since our valuables were locked up in VNO and I only had my license. With lightning flashing and thunder crashing I was suddenly thinking of my comfortably dry tent now packed away. We must have looked too tired and ragged to be a risk because the Paddle Inn took us in. [paragraph break]We slept well and left Ely before breakfast. In the next two days Duluth got ten inches of rain but we were long gone. I wonder now how that couple with the zigzag canoe made out. Before I left the LIS river I stood in waning light and thanked God for the chance to visit this beautiful place with three great friends. I can’t wait to get back again because the lakes owe me now. Right?