We are having another long day, most of it not in the BWCA. As I write this, we are driving home on a “donut” spare tire. It has added a few hours onto our drive. Lesson learned: Don’t have tire problems in the Minoqua area after 5:00pm on Labor Day weekend.

It’s going home day. This trip was way too short. It’s what I needed though, but just as I’m starting to feel the positive effects of being here, we have to leave. Darn!

I was up at 6:30. I heard Jim putzing around before I got up. We had a leisurely breakfast, though it was our normal, simple breakfast of instant oatmeal, half a bagel, and hot chocolate. We didn’t hurry taking down camp and were on the water at 8:30.

Nice paddle. Nice day. 

We didn’t see anyone till TCM. It was a group also heading out. We held back at the portage to let them get ahead of us. As soon as we landed, a group of two heading in came up. It was an older couple; efficient, and obviously experienced. They were heading to Basswood or Crooked -- a long trip. They were confident they’d be there by 2:00. Maybe. I think 2:00 was optimistic, though I am certain they made it and spent a wonderful night there.

Before we made it too far, we met another group on the portage. After that we shared every portage with at least two groups, all of them fairly large. It looked like it would be a busy day. After the first group, I think every group we spoke to was planning on camping on Horse. It seemed like we spoke to more than six groups, which is strange seeing as there are only six permits a day available. Most of the groups seemed to think that they were the first group coming in that day. We sort of burst their bubble when we informed them they were not. One thing for certain, Horse Lake was going to be busy that night and every campsite was likely to be filled.

We made it out at 12:30 pm then headed to Ely for a quick stop at Piragis.

Things were going well on the drive home until one of the tires started to misbehave. Because of a big bulge that was ready to burst, the tire had to be removed. No replacements could be found, and so our present situation of traveling slowly on the emergency tire. They’re meant to be used for 20 miles or so. We’d be driving (slowly) on it ten times that number. We should be home a little after midnight. Oh well, it added to the adventure, though I’d rather have the adventure in the BW rather than the drive home.