Monday morning, our canoe was waiting down by Poplar lake at 7 as promised. We recognize the challenges renting gear and canoes for outfitters, so we always wet load/unload and take very good care. Since Carl was around to observe, we make sure we are standing in 3 feet of water to start and end our trip!

The 1/2 mile paddle to EP 49 was uneventful, however, we knew the 320 rod double portage would require our best effort. James took the heavy duluth pack and the kevlar canoe to Skipper. I grabbed the lighter duluth pack, paddles and fishing poles. Our 30 year difference clearly showed as he was already about 80 rods back for 2nd load when we met on the trail. Nothing finer than having a pack mule as your partner. We met a couple of gentlemen at the Skipper portage who frequently day fish the lake. We talked walleye, bass, and northern and received a few tips.

Onward to Little Rush. Water was high, so we decided to navigate the connecting stream to avoid the portage. We carefully glided thru the tall grass and appeared on Little Rush without incident. Arrived at the Rush Lake portage in good time. The 60 rod hike to Rush was pretty nice for me. The pack mule never complained.

Paddling into Rush, we encountered a group fishing on the east end. They occupied the first site. We decided to head west and, if need be, head to Banadad. Rush is a gorgeous lake with higher cliffs as you head west. As we approached the western most campsite, it was available. James hopped out and declared it our base camp. The fire grate is sitting on the rock face closest to the lake. A nice tent pad without any suspect trees and a flat spot above the canoe landing was chosen for our rain tarp, kitchen, and camp chairs.

We did not pack water, so making water was the first need. A couple of years back, James rigged up a double filter system to our water bag - one that is easily back washed with a syringe. Made a couple of gallons for immediate consumption, then began to set up camp.

Bear bag, tent, rain tarp, chairs, stove, etc. were all in the right spot. The latrine trail took you through a couple of swampy areas with dead logs to walk on. No matter how you did it, it was wet footing each use. Kind of grew on us. Someone had left a branch that appeared to be a cane standing next to a tree - and happily, I report, the cane/me never once fell off a wet log!

Over the years, we decided base camping with creature comforts was more important than packing light. Nothing like a nice living room view on a heavy duty camp chair with a portable table to play a few rounds of cribbage.

We've also dramatically improved our cuisine. This year, we had 5 homemade dehydrated meals - two beef/bean burrito, 1 chicken stew, 2 asian noodle/rice chicken/beef meals (complete with Ellie's special spice and sauce blends). Campfire pizzas never made it out of the food bag. And, as always, we hope for a Friday night fish fry.

After dinner, we enjoyed the view, set up fishing poles, and plotted our strategy to catch fish. Mosquitoes chased us in the tent around sunset. Sleeping in the BWCA is a surreal experience for us. Slept like little babies. "Meps #3, 4 or 5" - James

Coffee and breakfast to start the day - egg, bacon, and hashbrown burritos every morning. We savor our coffee, munch our breakfast, then ready the canoe to spy some fish. James decided Meps #4 was the winning lure. I chose Wilbur - my trusty orange floating rapala. Within the first couple of hours, James not only caught 30+ fish, the size of the bass were something to behold. 16-18" was the norm. I caught some off Wilbur, too. The W and S shores were predominantly shallow with lots of downed trees for structure. The N shoreline was deep water right off shore. Didn't matter much. We probably haven't had a fishing outing like that in 10 years. Took a break for a snack, then headed out mid afternoon. Fishing was equally hot. It was incredible. Released every last one of them.

Dinner was an Ellie Asian meal. To eat food like this in the wilderness is amazing. Rounded out the evening with more views, some cribbage, and mosquito induced early bedtime - but not before spying the moon rising over the S tree line.

Tuesday on repeat. Breakfast, coffee, then fishing. James caught another 30+ fish - and I moved to a Meps #3. Bass could not get enough of the lure. It appeared they struck immediately after the lure hit the water most of the time. On the deeper N shore, they could come from the bottom of the hole. The W and S shores, they came from either side of downed trees. Some weather moved through with a few sprinkles, clouds, and an E breeze - didn't matter. Fishing never shut down the entire week. Time of day was insignificant.

Chicken stew with cheesecake pudding for dessert this evening, Again, why didn't we start these food selections decades ago? We frequently reminisce about "the early days" when we had to catch fish to eat - those days will never return!

Another day, another hot fishing day. We do not recall catching so many big bass. Only caught a couple of smaller ones the entire week. We released everything to this point - and believed Friday Night fish was in our future.

Another special Ellie Asian meal - awesome as always. We not only ate like kings, we successfully fished like kings.

Our original plan was to skip over to Banadad or back to Skipper - but "if it ain't broke, don't fix it" became our new plan. We had four days without seeing another human being - and the days that people paddled to the Banadad portage, no one was fishing. Rush is a long E to W lake - with almost two miles between campsites.

Another mosquito induced bed time.

Today, the goal was catching fish dinner. We lazed around camp a little longer than usual, so fishing didn't start until around 11 am. Caught and released plenty again. As we got later in the afternoon, we agreed to keep two fish for dinner. I got one - made the stringer. James started catching northerns - but we really preferred not to fillet one. One more pass past our campsite and James pulled in an 18" bass - probably 3 1/2 pounds. That's it.

Filleted the fish and prepared a parmesan alfredo side. One fish meal a week is plenty.

Played a few rounds of cribbage and battened camp for the possibility of storms. Another solid sleeping night!

About 5 am, we could hear thunder to the E and winds from the W. A quick burst of rain, then a lull. I got up to watch the storm from the rain tarp. Wind, rain, and lightning picked up. I sat there and watched a 20' dead balsam fall and take out the corner of the rain tarp. I quickly repaired the corner, then tried to stay dry in my chair. James came out of the tent and watched with me as a few waves of storm rolled through. The most anxious moments were the lightning strikes followed by very loud thunder. I had left a pan out as a rain gauge - only received about 3/4 of an inch, but the wind and lightning was enough for us to hope it moved along quickly. During the worst of the wind, white caps were rolling east. We later talked with a group camped on the far E site - they reported 3' waves. Would be most unpleasant in a canoe!

Afterward, we noticed the latrine trail swamp had grown significantly. Nothing like walking through a swamp early in the morning......but duty calls.

Fishing was still good. The storm did nothing to slow the bite down. Caught so many fish this week.

Saturday evenings are always bittersweet. We certainly miss our loved ones, but it's only a year until the next trip. We talked about some upgrades and noted required repairs to our gear.

Waking up to the wilderness one last morning....coffee and granola bars for breakfast. Time to break down camp and pack the duluth packs. We discussed a plan for the Skipper/Poplar death portage if it was muddy, placed the canoe in the water, and packed it up.

Paddle and portage back to Rockwood. Water was still high - so skipping the middle portage was an added bonus.

James, the pack mule, did his thing again. Carrying that heavy pack with the canoe overhead is a herculean task, but he could have finished double portaging before I finished one. Nice to have him on my side!

Arrived at Rockwood - and heard about the medical emergency herculean tasks of Carl and Mike. Unreal!

Showered, packed the truck, then headed to My Sister's Place for a burger. The drive home always seems twice as long as the drive up. But, there will be another trip next year. James and Ellie have a son, my grandson, who I hope will accompany us on a three generation trip soon.