DAY 10, SEPTEMBER 6, MINK TO KIOSHKOKWI; 7.25 MILES, 2 PORTAGES (410 AND 640 METERS)

Trip Total: 94.5 miles, 35 portages totaling 21,980 meters (13.63 miles)

Several times through the night Tia heard light sprinkles, and at 6:00 we had steady drizzle. Stayed in the sleeping bags until 7:00, when rain stopped. Dressed quickly and made potty runs, then heard rain coming up the lake—back in the tent for Farkle and McManus until the rain stopped, then the coffee and breakfast routine. No way to dry gear before getting on the water. While we were eating breakfast, a flotilla of canoes passed us, making us feel like slackers for not being on the water already. We caught up with them at the portage from Mink into Little Mink, where the portage landing looked like a paddler's dream yard sale—canoes, blue barrels, life jackets, packs, and paddles everywhere. As they saw us approach, they moved a couple canoes and asked us to play through—Thanks! We walked the portage with one of the group and learned that a church youth group makes this annual trip and that 18 people (I don't know if it was two crews or three) were heading back to Kiosk and home. The young man had met his wife on an earlier Algonquin church trip, and in the spirit of romance Tia shared that we'd just celebrated our 49th anniversary. On Kioshkokwi we had westerly winds again, but nothing like yesterday.

When we reached the take-out at Kiosk we left the canoe near the lake and carried packs to the car. We organized and loaded the car, leaving wet gear where we could get to it and hopefully dry it before starting back to North Carolina. We ate lunch in the car, then loaded the canoe. I stopped briefly at the ranger's desk to sign out, and saw the church group coming in.

Back in North Bay we cleaned up, made dinner reservations, and then took advantage of blue skies and a warm but windy afternoon to erect the tent in the motel's courtyard and spread out the dining fly. In 30 minutes all major gear was dry; we left our portage boots & shoes outside overnight for more drying time. How nice to start home with dry gear—wet portage boots inside the car make for a long and stinky drive.

  Thanks, Ontario, for letting us play in your backyard!