Just after breakfast, we're greeted with a light persistent rain. (It's a pet peeve of mine to have to pack things up when there wet.) Retracing our route of the first day back to Flying Lake, we now veer off and take the challenging portage into Green Lake. There is a loon who keeps Vickie & Aurora entertained while Brad & I finish this portage. By the time we do so, the rain stops and the clouds are slowly beginning to clear off. At the Green to Bat portage I strip off my rain gear and loosen some of my clothing, thus unwittingly inviting the plague of mosquitos easier access while crossing this flat weedy portage.

We pull off, to take a short siesta, at the second campsite down the southern shore of Bat Lake. Vickie & I had stayed here several years back. It's always interesting to reminisce and verify how accurate our memories are. Soon after, we paddle the short distance over to our next portage. We are headed in the proper direction for this one, as the trail drops precipitously down to Gillis Lake. A boulder filled landing adds difficulty to getting the canoes reloaded but, we eventually get 'er done and lay claim to the second site to the west along the north shore.

This site is a definite step up from our previous home. A nice ramp landing leads up to an elevated site with a great panoramic view of the lake. While the site is open & airy it still provides a few pockets of shade. There are several good tent pads and decent trees for tarp & hammock hanging. There's even a nice overlook just behind camp, although the path to access it is quite steep & potentially treacherous. On the downside, the firegrate area almost completely exposed and firewood is hard to come by. (Of course we were absolutely spoiled in this regard on Bingshick so....).

By now the sun reclaims dominance in the sky and it's almost impossible to consider that just a few short hours ago we were getting soaked. The afternoon is spent drying things out and putting the finishing touches on getting camp setup and just plain relaxing and soaking in this beautiful day & campsite. As evening approaches, Aurora throws a couple color packets in the fire and stays up late with me listening to the loons and gazing at the sky full of stars.