Friday, May 23, 2008 My girlfriend and I pulled in to Piragis at 6 a.m. after staying in town the night before after driving from Elk River. Drew had the boys load up the kevlar wenoah champlain on our neon while we reviewed the map and he pointed out some nice camp spots on Agnes and Boulder Bay LLC. Right away I was thinking, there is no way we are going to make it to B. Bay with the shape my back was in. Around 7:30 a.m. we are about half a mile to E.P. 16 and I shout, look at that moose.  That has to be a good start to a trip. After double tripping the first and longest of all the portages on the trip, were off. The weather was already getting a bit warmer and little to no breeze and my back is already a little tender. To me the moose river was the hardest part of the trip. Tight and turny, two short portages which the worst is just lifting the two Duluth packs in and out of the canoe at lets say over 45 pounds each. Nina moose lake was a pleasant sight and easy voyage. Into the Nina moose river. A bit wider with two longer portages at 70 and 96 rods. Some beautiful picture areas at these rapids and little falls.   I was a bit worried coming up to Lake Agnes after finding out about its reputation for strong winds and waves. Ha, we were in luck, we headed up to the eastern shore line going through the narrows by the island and then made a charge for the 115 rod portage on the north east corner. While at the shelter of the island, we talked about setting up camp at the closest site by the portage, sense I was a little bit in pain and worried of hurting my back again. As we get close to the N.E. corner, the views from the canoe showed no open camp sites. Sh#t...We decided to take lunch at the beginning of the portage to the Boulder river. While lying on the hand plained wood planks, looking out into the hot calm beautiful bay, we decided to charge on. Pain or no pain, this is what we have been waiting for all winter. The paddle on the Boulder river was fairly easy and relaxing. Our muscles were sore and our charge was gone. We pass some fishermen in the bay and they say they haven't found the walleyes yet. The first three campsites on B. bay were full. My heart began to sink and I half laughingly said, "well, we might be heading to Canada yet today." We turn the corner and the first island is full, then the far island by Warrior hill, both full, the smaller island full, then we went to the one single campsite in tiger bay.....Yes no one was there. A great campsite, easy unloading, a elevated view fire and kitchen area, a nice pad for the tent, and the whole bay all to our self's. Nine and a half hours after we started, we made it, as did my back. All we could do was laugh at the thought of us making it this far in the first day. With a few hours left to soak in the beauty, we went to sleep.