Slept in until 5:30 [!], left Myrtle Falls about 8 AM. [I am sure some of the delay this morning was my reluctance to leave one of my favorite canoe trip spots thus far.]

It is cloudy, gray and overcast, and much cooler (mid-60's.) Reminds me of the weather we had here on our first trip, actually.

Saw an eagle flying over Three Mile Lake.

We ran Squaw Rapids and Quetico Rapids, and stopped for lunch at High Falls. High Falls is a lovely place. We were surprised to see the water level much lower than when we visited in '71.

For comparison, I took this photo of Neil at High Falls on our first trip:

High Falls in 1980:

High Falls in 1971:

Back on our way. The portage at Hay Rapids was better than it was nine years ago in the rain (mud) but it surely is a long hike in the woods at 146 rods. We had to vault over a fallen birch tree just for variety.

Saw a family of eight adolescent ducks (brown head, long body.) [Probably common mergansers, but I didn't know that yet.]

We found a real surprise at Lady Rapids. There is a road and they're building a bridge over the river! There was a coffer dam, a road, and equipment and trailers. We chatted with an older couple there at the trailer. The rapids were changed on the right side, so Neil decided to take the portage. [We had run these exciting rapids in '71 and I was really looking forward to doing it again.]

We paddled into Namakan Lake about 3 PM and made camp on an island. It is one big rock, like pink marble. Has sparkles in the rock. There are oak trees and red pine. Some small trees with red berries that attract some small red bird (cute.)

We're tired but relaxing. Considering whether or not to lay over here. It is a very private camp up high on the island and doesn't really show from the lake. there are a few daisies, wild lily-of-the valley, juniper-like shrubs. The trees are mainly oak. Many songbirds, too. Sound like canaries. [I really wonder if these were the white-throated sparrow. At this time in my tripping I hadn't identified that bird.] The clouds are clearing some.

After supper as I was washing my hair, I noticed the "haze" or fog was coming in and smelled smoky. After our recent experience, that was a concern. I told Neil, who was in the tent, and he came out to look. As we were looking around, a boat pulled up and a man in an Ontario Natural Resources uniform came up to our hilltop camp. He told us that the smoke is from an extensive fire sixty miles away at Thunder Bay. It is out of control. "There is nobody left to fight a fire."

He told us NO SMOKING OR FIRE! If we have no stove, then we should "get out".

I'm afraid we will have to cut our trip a day short. We don't have much to eat which can be eaten dry. It is a shame to think of this beautiful place burning up!

I took a hazy sunset photo at 9:30 and we retired soon after.