4 lakes, 3 portages

Neil was up first in 39 degree temperatures, and took a picture of the misty lake.

We were on the water by 9 AM in bright sun and calm air. Paddled to the 230-rod portage to Kelly Lake. This was one of our longest portages, but it had good footing and I felt fine both trips. [In addition to one trip with the food pack, it was my task to carry the big black SeaLine bag that contained our sleeping bags, dry shoes, clothing, and miscellaneous packs. Spartan1 carried the canoe, and then the heavily loaded Duluth pack, which contained the tent, his 3/4 ax and camp saw, another box of food (some of the heavier stuff) and other miscellaneous items.]

Paddling up Kelly was neat. It is a very narrow lake with a "feel" more like a river, tall trees lining both banks, and many water plants in the shallow water. Near the end, two otters played with us for a few minutes. One would come up and scold and chatter, then dive down, and the other would repeat the process. It was a fun diversion, and we did hang around for as long as they kept it up.

We ate our lunch at a campsite near the portage to Jack Lake. After lunch we went to the portage and as we were disembarking I noticed a group of eight yellow swallowtail butterflies [a "puddle" of butterflies] sitting in the mud wing-to-wing. It was such a colorful sight!

This is a good 65-rod portage, with a stream and rapids which you can hear along the trail. One of the butterflies hitchhiked for awhile on my shoulder as I walked the portage trail. The sun was warm and I took my wool shirt off for the first time in 11 days!

Jack Lake was quiet and calm, no canoes and no one in campsites. This is another long narrow lake with "moosey" vegetation along the banks and in the water. We saw a cow moose in the water just before the portage to Weird Lake.

On the portage we met a family from Oklahoma with a young boy who excitedly told us about the BIG BULL MOOSE they had seen minutes ago on Weird Lake!! Another canoe was coming up and I got really excited when I saw the fire grate at the campsite and realized that the site was vacant. Thankfully, the other couple didn't want to camp yet, and they told us about a cow moose they have just seen! The site, when we reached it, was pretty, if sort of "visible", and we hoped to have a moose experience!!

There was no disappointment in that regard! As soon as we were unpacked and the things hung up to air, I went to the water to rinse out a couple of items of clothing. I looked up across the narrow lake and immediately saw a small moose (yearling cow) coming out to feed; looking down the lake I saw the antlers and head of a bull feeding in deep water. I watched them for a long time! Neither were close enough to take a photo, but of course I tried.

We were tired after a short but physically demanding day, and perhaps slightly dehydrated. We rested in the tent awhile and then a two-canoe party came over the portage. I think they were disappointed that this site was taken. We are glad to be here!

After supper, doing dishes, hanging packs, and doing all the other tasks needed to prepare the camp for evening, we had a "pet moose" across the lake watching our every move--the young female. As the sky was clearing after another set of sprinkles, we went out in the canoe to get closer to her. Photographed her, then went down to see if we could see the bull. He didn't seem to be around, so we headed back; then I looked back and saw him feeding out in the water. We paddled back down and he put on quite a show for us, feeding and posing on the water's edge. Of course, after I ran out of film he went back into the water and was even more charming! He didn't seem intimidated by us at all, and it was a sight neither of us will soon forget!

We were in bed early again, with 60 degrees in the tent, so it felt warm. Sprinkles turned to rain in the night, with thunder and lightning, too, but not a lot of wind.