5 lakes, 4 portages

We were up at 7:30 to find a blue sky, windy conditions, and a temperature of 44. After a breakfast cooked on the stove we were on the water at 9:20. Battled heavy chop all across Alton Lake, sometimes with water splashing over the bow. After the short portage (30 rods) to Sawbill we found the water quieter there for awhile; then, in the more open part of the lake the waves picked up again, making it hard to paddle and look for the portage. The 100-rod portage to Smoke Lake was sunlit and pretty. After a 90-rod portage to Burnt Lake, a lovely lake with several nice small islands, we decided to take one trip over the portage (60 rods) to Flame Lake, to see if the one campsite there was available. I was very disappointed to see people there, since it looked like a good site and it is always fun to have an entire lake to yourselves, but we retraced the portage and began looking for a site on Burnt Lake. [I did take some portage photos on the Burnt/Flame portage. I think I was just so glad to see sunshine on the path!]

Burnt ended up being quite busy, with the first two campsites taken. Since I wasn't thrilled that the one we saw vacant was within sight of a couple others--we talked to a lady fishing at one and she said she didn't think there was anyone at the further sites--we paddled to the far side of the lake. The site on the northeast shore looked really nice but was occupied. While we were headed to check the one on the island we were delighted to see a preening display by a loon, for one of the few times ever within camera range!

[I am well aware of how inadequate these loon photos are according to today's standards. It was such a fun experience for us to see this, and I took several shots with the best equipment I had available. Of course today, these would be rejects, because I can do so much better. Photo below is from 2018.]

That site was occupied also, and we headed back to the only available site on this lake. It turned out to be very large and quite well sheltered, on a long, thin peninsula with protecting rocks and trees on all sides. The biffy trail is very long and comes out into an open area, which is a little daunting at first (but I find I am getting used to it. The latrines on this trip are far less sheltered than in places we have camped in the past.)

There was a lovely sitting rock high up over the water on the narrow bay side, and it proved to be a great site for writing, or just generally contemplating.

Since we had stopped at 1:30 and the weather was very windy and pleasant, I did a bunch of laundry, which I hoped would dry.

[I enjoy sitting on a warm rock just looking out at the water. Spartan1 enjoys fussing around with the fire. It gives us each the quiet solitude that we prefer, and it works out well in the long run.]

We are in sight of the portage to Flame and it puzzled me to notice two parties go across and not come back. I wondered where they were finding to camp there?

I spent quite a bit of time on my rock, with dragonflies all around, and even stayed up for the sunset, but it was again most UNspectacular! We kept a fire going late this evening.