Up at 8:00 a.m. The night before we had decided to start back in the morning because it took so long to come in. We wanted to get a couple portages in to make our final day a bit shorter. However, there was only one campsite between Mesaba and the 480-rod portage to Lujenida. It was the campsite on Zenith that was occupied when we went through two days earlier. 

The wind changed directions during the night, and was now largely at out backs again. However, getting to the portage on Mesaba was a challenge requiring some cross wind paddling. I instead paddled into the wind, found a calm place, turned and rode the wind to the portage. My kind and patient partners were waiting at the portage for me.

We crossed Hug and Duck without incident. We were all careful about the security of our canoes. We made Zenith and found the campsite still occupied.

As we’re on the lake, two guys came off the Lujenida – Zenith portage. Their canoe was flying both the US and Canadian flags. They shot by heading the direction we came from. They didn’t say much, but when I took their picture they asked if they were going to be in the newspaper. I said no and they kept going. I never said that I wasn’t going to put them on the internet though.

Those two really seemed to know what they were doing. The wind didn’t seem to bother them at all.

We discussed briefly going to Fredrick Lake, but decided it didn’t really gain us anything, so opted for Kelso. Of course, that meant doing the 480-rod portage. I started the portage at 2:00 p.m. and finished at 4:30 p.m. DANG! I thought I was faster this time! I was the last to finish. I thought I did pretty well, but the other guys are faster than me. I saw those mosquitoes again.

We met two moose hunters from Duluth on the trail. I’ve seen more people on this trip than the one Jim and I took in June! They were nice guys though. It turned out they were the ones camped on Zenith. If they are successful, they will be doing that 480-rod portage multiple times hauling out a moose! Guess I shouldn’t complain. I can’t imagine how long it will take them to complete the portage under those circumstances.

That portage certainly is tiring, but the worse for me was the sore feet. Walking 4.5 miles in Chotas will do that. Jim took a fall on the portage and nearly turned an ankle. There was a hole on the trail hidden by leaves and Jim stepped in it. He tweaked his knee a bit, but was ok. It could have been bad. Jim, Steve, and Larry filled the hole with small rocks so it wouldn’t happen to someone else. I would have helped, but I was behind them and didn’t even know it had happened.

That paddle along Lujenida and the Kelso River is nice. We made it to the northern most site of Kelso Lake at 5:00 p.m. This is a very nice site, though it doesn’t look it from the water. It is sloped, but the FS crews have leveled off two nice spots for tents. Larry and Jim took one for the Lean-To, and Steve the other for his two-man tent. My tent is a true solo and can fit anywhere, so I found a level spot by the water’s edge that work fine for me.

After our camp was set up, we went about doing camp chores – filtering water and gathering firewood, even though there was another nice supply of cut & split welcome wood. Jim made supper -- Jim’s Famous Chili with Rachel’s corn muffins. Delicious! There was some debate whether Rachel’s secret corn muffin ingredient is Amaretto, Amarillo, or armadillo. I think I know it is NOT a Texas city or an armor-plated possum.

We hung out around the fire talking. These are a great bunch of guys to talk to. They are smart and funny and you never have to work at a conversation. They’re not much to look at, but it was dark, so that was OK. There is a huge rock backing the fire, perhaps 7 feet high, which was perfect considering the night was cooling off. The rock blocked the wind from the lake and reflected the heat back to us. It was a cozy set up.

Bed at 9:30 p.m.