Monday, August 16, 2021 Got up before dawn again to beat the wind/heat. No coffee, a granola bar in my pocket. Amelia got her breakfast and we were packed and in the canoe. The Isabella is certainly a lovely river. Haven't been on it for many years. Deep enough to paddle, narrow enough to feel private- everything I love about rivers. Saw SO many beavers this morning! First 8 rod portage not needed, even in this drought- easy to paddle through the narrows. Got the 141 r portage out of the way easily. Only had to set the canoe down once...not bad for an old lady. Amelia stepped on a garter snake and just about jumped higher than the treetops! Every stick on a trail she saw for the rest of the trip was greeted with suspicion.

First campsite in the narrows at the S end of Bald Eagle was open, and the wind was picking up, so I took it. Main tent pads were in full sun, but there was a lovely shady spot under the cedars that was perfect for my 2 person tent.

Made coffee and breakfast, lounged around the kitchen area under the trees. If you look back towards land it is very open and sad looking- so much dead balsam and spruce from budworm. But, if you look off towards the lake, it is lovely and green.

Around mid-late afternoon, smoke really started moving in- felt bad to breathe. Sky was white- yesterday clear blue. So windy that I had every guyline on the tent staked out taut. Have seen no one all day.

Critters seen today: Beavers, garter snakes, jays, hummingbirds, northern harrier, raven, goldeneye, swamp sparrow, chippies.