Slow and steady wins the race
by Gichimon
Trip Type:
Paddling Canoe
Entry Date:
05/22/2022
Entry & Exit Point:
Skipper and Portage Lakes (EP 49)
Number of Days:
7
Group Size:
2
Discuss Trip:
View Discussion Thread (6 messages)
Day 6 of 7
Friday, May 27, 2022 The theme for this duff day would be sunshine, and plenty of it. We took our time getting up, but I had intentions of fishing for a while in the early part of the day. Once Krystal made it out of the tent, she put on a delicious spread of pancakes and bacon. We sipped coffee for a while and then I packed up my fishing gear and hopped in the canoe with my Gichi boy under a bluebird sky. Krystal said she might go out later. In that moment, she was content relaxing in camp.
I paddled, fished, floated, and remembered grandma as I explored the lake. I only had one very big bite the couple of hours I was on the water. Whatever was down in the depths snapped my line after a ferocious grab and run of my Mepps lure. And alas, I left that channel with one less Mepps in my tackle kit. The sun grew hot and Gichi was starting to pant pretty heavily so I aimed the canoe back toward camp.
We lollygagged our way back to camp, navigating around the little island that was home to our campsite. As I made my way toward the narrow little pass through behind the island, I saw the first turtles of the trip sunning on a log. Not just one turtle, but two!
I snuck up to camp from the backside to discover Krystal and the dogs sunning themselves. Relaxation under this intense sunshine was just what I needed. After unloading the canoe and pulling it back into camp, I grabbed the dogs’ air mattress and sprawled out on the rock, enjoying this perfect day. The dogs were in the same mood and it truly was a lazy family day on the rock.
As we loafed around, Krystal relayed the burst of activities and chores she had accomplished while I was out fishing. All our wet gear was now dry and sorted. A flurry of canoeists filtered past our camp toward the portage to Kiskadinna. Neither of us envied the journey they were on, but knew the reward of getting where you are going was always worth it in the end.
We listened to the weather radio later in the day and the voice told us of impending bad weather the next few days. Hemming and hawing over if we should stay until Sunday, or leave the next day, we opted to leave one day early to avoid one more day under a tarp and winds gusting up to 30 miles an hour. That meant six portages and seven lakes to paddle the next day but through mostly familiar territory.
In preparation for a long day, we packed most of camp up before we went to bed that night. The only thing we had left to pack were the chairs and the tent and sleeping gear. Krystal set her phone for a four o’clock wake up call and we settled in the tent as the sun was setting. The sun and relaxation of the day lulled us off to sleep.
I paddled, fished, floated, and remembered grandma as I explored the lake. I only had one very big bite the couple of hours I was on the water. Whatever was down in the depths snapped my line after a ferocious grab and run of my Mepps lure. And alas, I left that channel with one less Mepps in my tackle kit. The sun grew hot and Gichi was starting to pant pretty heavily so I aimed the canoe back toward camp.
We lollygagged our way back to camp, navigating around the little island that was home to our campsite. As I made my way toward the narrow little pass through behind the island, I saw the first turtles of the trip sunning on a log. Not just one turtle, but two!
I snuck up to camp from the backside to discover Krystal and the dogs sunning themselves. Relaxation under this intense sunshine was just what I needed. After unloading the canoe and pulling it back into camp, I grabbed the dogs’ air mattress and sprawled out on the rock, enjoying this perfect day. The dogs were in the same mood and it truly was a lazy family day on the rock.
As we loafed around, Krystal relayed the burst of activities and chores she had accomplished while I was out fishing. All our wet gear was now dry and sorted. A flurry of canoeists filtered past our camp toward the portage to Kiskadinna. Neither of us envied the journey they were on, but knew the reward of getting where you are going was always worth it in the end.
We listened to the weather radio later in the day and the voice told us of impending bad weather the next few days. Hemming and hawing over if we should stay until Sunday, or leave the next day, we opted to leave one day early to avoid one more day under a tarp and winds gusting up to 30 miles an hour. That meant six portages and seven lakes to paddle the next day but through mostly familiar territory.
In preparation for a long day, we packed most of camp up before we went to bed that night. The only thing we had left to pack were the chairs and the tent and sleeping gear. Krystal set her phone for a four o’clock wake up call and we settled in the tent as the sun was setting. The sun and relaxation of the day lulled us off to sleep.
Donate - BWCA.com