8:51 am Wow did it feel good to sleep in! I woke up once about 7:30 and went back to sleep. Other than that I slept right through. Emily is still asleep and she’ll sleep longer as she stayed up later than I. We went to “bed” around 7pm - we were so bushed but ended up getting up twice because Booger kept getting in the food pack. He’d crawl right down the rope and under the flap. Finally we double packed it with one of the other Duluth packs and duct taped all the openings. I haven’t been out there yet this morning to see if it worked. He sure is persistent.

I can tell the sun is out and there mustn’t be much of a breeze as all I hear are the singing birds and drone of bugs. The mosquitoes are sitting on the screen of the tent just waiting for their breakfast. I can’t count the number of bites that I have - it’s incredible. BUT I also haven’t used any bug dope either. I’d rather not if I can help it.

The sun is up enough now that it’s getting hot and stuffy in the tent. Time to get up and make breakfast.

1:06pm just got back from hiking to Johnson falls. Once Emily was up we made breakfast - not a typical breakfast but it was the solid food we were craving - not snacky stuff. Had chicken with taco seasoning. Emily made a burrito with cheese and I attempted to make the cheesy taters - they were okay. I mixed the chicken in with it and added salsa. We also had a bit of trail mix for desert. Was a satisfying meal - luke warm - but satisfying :-)

After breakfast we cleaned up camp, fixed our bear hang and headed out across the lake to the portage to hike to Johnson falls. We got behind that same group of boy scouts that wanted our campsite yesterday. They were headed to the same place we were except that they portaged their canoes to the trail head and we “bushwhacked” through the lesser used trail. It was such that I appreciate all the more what the explorers and voyageurs endured. What we’re experiencing isn’t even a fraction of it I’m sure. We met up on the trail with “the guys” and walked with them. Their leader was friendly and chatty. The trail up to the falls was really not much more than a path - mushy, full of ankle breakers (rocks, logs, roots) and tree branches that whack you in the face. We had to climb over a couple of fallen trees - of course Emily was pretty much able to step over them and I had to sit and go over. Once we reached the falls it was well worth the hike. The sun was shining through the trees and the mist was sparkling. Emily went right in the pool - boots and all - to swim. I think the boys felt a little weird with two women there but it looked like they had fun. Emily swam and visited with one of the other leaders - she’s so outgoing. I was able to take a lot of pictures. We found out that they are from Illinois and the one leader from St. Louis Missouri. They had quite the drive to get here. We stayed at the falls for quite a while. I haven’t much been paying attention to my watch other than to write the time down when journaling. I have no idea exactly how long. The water was so fresh and crystal clear and icy cold. We dipped our bottles in that water to refill.

On the hike back we got all sweaty again. The side trail we took crossed a creek and we walked through the water, over the log and through the muck. Still I would do it all over again. I’m not so sure that Mark would enjoy it - he’d like the solitude but the sweaty, buggy, hard ground wouldn’t be his thing. Still, I think he should go at least once. I’ll have to find one with an easy route.

On the portage trail between Pine and Little Caribou we were both slowing down. My legs felt like jelly. There’s no way I could do a longer portage. The 80 rod uphill was bad enough. I’d dearly love to get a different canoe - this one seems really heavy to me - though Em wasn’t sure that it is any heavier than the canoes she carried for girl scouts. Still, a lighter one would be nice. This one is okay for base camping or going to Savanna but not so hot for rough portaging.

Back at camp now and Em’s laying on “her” rock in the sun - it’s so quiet. I’m sitting in the shade, feet up on a boulder. The breeze ahs quieted a bit, though I wouldn’t mind if it picked up again. The flies are buzzing all around. Booger was here again looking for handouts. He’s crawling on Em as she lays and he’s crawled over my feet. Em said he was very soft and gentle as he crawled on her arm. He tried to get in the day pack but I have it zipped. I’m sure he can smell the trail mix in there. It’s funny watching him scratch at it trying to get in.

Last night I read aloud from The Hiding Place. Emily had finished her other book and she asked that I read to her. We haven’t played any games since we got here. It amazes me that something that’s such hard work can be so relaxing. The only sounds are the birds, bugs and wind. I need to get a CD of bird calls so that I can identify some of them. I’m also amazed at the stamina that I do have. I wasn’t sure that I’d be able to do what we’ve done - again, it’s mind over matter!

7:40 pm - we’ve had such a nice day! The sun was out though there were just a few clouds. Em enjoyed lying in the sun and then went swimming again. The water was chilly and all the floaties were freaking her out. Still, she had fun.

We made spaghetti for supper - cooked the noodles in the coffee pot - that worked pretty slick. Warmed up the sauce in the fry pan. I didn’t think to bring sprinkle cheese - that would have gone good. Will have to remember that for next time. We’re going to leave bright and early tomorrow morning. I hope that it remains dry for us. I don’t want to pack up in the rain.

Emily's description of BWCA: The gray, cracked ancient cliffs silenced by the cedar, pine and birch trees all set the scenery for a well preserved land. The air is fresh and good as the beauty of this place. The smells that your nose is bound to love come from the hint of pine obviously from the sap bleeding pine trees, the woodsmoke from a campfire bursting with flame from a campsite off in the distance, and the many lakes surrounding the land. The water smells the way the earth smells after a rainstorm filled with a cool, fresh clean smell. To be honest this water truly is the cleanest and purest water in the land. With its reflecting perfect blue and glassy untouched look that can only be broken by a ripple commonly made by a hungry fish surfacing to a yummy bug to devour. But this land is not only rich with great looks and smells but its sound as well. Every quack of a duck, call of a loon, buzz of a bug, and scold of a squirrel come together to form the song of nature. It is truly an enchanted and fun experience.