I’m on North Temperance Lake now and I just finished cleaning up a bit after eating my lunch of Mountain Lake lasagna. I had quite a day getting here a lot harder than I wanted it to be. However, I feel good and with a sense of accomplishment having traveled over so many obstacles.

My original plan was to be on Cherokee Lake today but I changed plans. The water levels have me worried about portaging through Ada and Skoop Lake so I’m stopped here.

I woke up to very cold temperatures this morning. The water in my filter bottle was pretty solid and my Nalgene bottle was 1/3 ice as well. The fuel canister on my stove seems rather reluctant to burn so I will skip the hot chocolate and hot meal.

Didn’t sleep well last night, my legs and feet were cold by about 2:00 am. I was too lazy to get out of the tent and get my long johns out of the pack. That was a mistake, leaving my spare clothing in my pack. Eventually I went back to sleep but lesson learned; at least bring them into the tent.

Just killed a mosquito and that made me feel good!

Got packed and up before sunlight hit my campsite on Kelly Lake. Did the quick portage to Jack not before stepping on my cheap sunglasses and cracking one of the lenses. I forgot my life vest at the portage on the entry to Jack. Don’t know what’s going on there. My life vest and I are playing return to the portage and come get me! At least all I had to do was paddle back to get it.

Not sure of the time but I think the camera clock is on standard time. It said I got up at 5:25 and I’m pretty sure it was 6:25 by my internal clock. Once I was back on Jack with my life vest I had a confusing paddle. Wasn’t sure I was going in the correct direction to the narrows or not. I should have had my compass out as later in my journey it was nice to have it reassure my general direction. However, going north it wasn’t too hard to find my way.

I never didn't see any of the campsites on Jack Lake that I can remember. Saw one area I thought should be a campsite but I wasn’t sure and I didn’t feel like getting out of the canoe to check. Eventually I found my way to the Weird Lake portage but not before I had to cross over a beaver dam to get to it. Not a hard pull over but being alone I was a bit concerned about getting wet.

It was while I was getting ready to portage into Weird Lake that I realized I was having fun! Man did that make me feel good. I was concentrating so hard on taking it easy and being safe that I almost forgot why I was up there. I will have to make a point of reminding myself next time.

The portage at Weird was very scenic with the morning sunshine lighting things up. The water going through the large boulders, the fallen tree and the view of the portage end really struck me as nature at its finest. I took lots of pictures but I’m not sure the borrowed camera did it justice.

Onto the portage and of course a pine tree is blocking the path. Oh well, guess I will double portage this short section. No need to break my back so early, plenty of longer portages ahead.

Made it over to the end of the portage and what awaits me, another beaver dam. Yea! What more can a guy ask for in an adventure. I think that is number three beaver dam since I think I forgot to mention the one just on the south side of Jack Lake.

Looking over the sole campsite on Weird I can’t say it’s much to write home about. But at least a person would have that beautiful area on the portage to get familiar with.

Paddled Weird Lake and I enjoyed that small lake with its grassy area off to the west. I would have liked to stay at that campsite on Weird just to check out the lake some more if I had the chance. Not a great site just a nice location if you don’t get a lot of traffic portaging through.

I paddled up to the 80 rod portage into the unnamed lake are prior to the South Temperance Lake portage. Didn’t care for the 80 rod portage but it was doable and made it in a single trip. After getting onto the water of unnamed lake, you guessed it I had another beaver dam to pull over! At least I didn’t leave my life vest on shore. Guess I won that game.

Paddled unnamed lake and enjoyed the grassy area you have to paddle around to the west. Way too short a paddle before the big one. It’s getting pretty warm when I reach the 240 rod portage to South Temperance. Stripped down to shorts and a t-shirt and put everything away and get it all secured for the portage.

I got going but boy was I hot and thirsty on this portage. I trudged while taking care where I stepped while trying to enjoy the scenery. I liked the short board walk and was grateful for the forest service putting those down. I didn’t stop at the somewhat dangerous boulder step around near the swamp. I wouldn’t want to have to step through there on a rainy day.

About 2/3 of the ways to the end of the portage near South Temperance I ran into a downed tree. Just high enough that I can’t step over and just low enough I can’t step under either. I gladly put the canoe over the tree to take a short rest and ponder how I would do things. Easy enough, I hiked up slope and stepped over the tree with my pack on. Hope I didn’t pick up a dozen wood ticks in the process. Grabbed the canoe and was on my way once I got it up on the pack uprights.

I was really feeling tired and worn out by now and the end of the portage couldn’t come soon enough. Finally, I saw the end and boy what a welcoming site at the portage end into S. Temperance. Beautiful boulder area to take in the lake! Nice view, I could have stayed there I liked it so much at the time.

I gently put the canoe down as best I could while trying not to slip. A bit of a breeze off the lake to cool me down but just not carrying my gear is doing that. I got out my water filter bottle and refilled at the lake. Boy did the water taste great and refreshing.

I was stepping over the canoe to sit when a gust of wind came off the lake and nearly pulled the canoe into the lake. Glad I was right on top of the canoe at the time. Have to be more careful about where I put the canoe as even rocks are slippery with a little wind.

Paddled through South because I didn’t much care for the scenery and I was on a mission. Also, I’m sure in time South will look nice but for now there is nothing special about the lake other than the numerous islands and coves. I would make it to North Temperance now that it was within my sights.

Found the North Temperance portage after some hunting by water. At least I went the right direction and was in the right cove with no back tracking on this trip so far.

The portage seemed farther than it was because I was tired. Then hallelujah I was there! No more portaging!

Stopped at the first camp site on the south end and didn’t much care for it. I’m sure it was once a very nice site but with the tornado there were quite a few trees blown down. Loved the landing though, real nice and easy to get in and out of the canoe.

I paddled and found the second camp site way sooner than I thought I should. So I passed by the site without getting out. It didn’t look like much from the water. Thought to myself that maybe there were more than 3 sites on the lake.

My mind was set on camping on the island camp site so I paddled to the north end of the lake. Passed a loon in the channel between the mainland and the island but couldn’t find the campsite. That lifted my tired spirits. It turns out the campsite is on the east side of the island and not the west as the map seems to point out.

I was disappointed by how small the site looked from the water. I’m sure I should have gotten out and scouted the site but I was tired by then and didn’t feel like it. So I paddled back south to take either site 1 or 2.

By now the wind was picking up from the south. I was tired and I didn’t appreciate paddling into it. I stopped at the second site this time and got out for a look. Found that I really liked the 2nd site and and made it my home.