We leave South Temperance Lake at 7:40 eager to make Cherokee Lake. We count about 18-19 or so campsites so figure our chances are good at what we have heard is a very popular lake. South Temperance into North Temperance was good traveling. As we left North Temperance it felt more like we were in a river than on a lake. Sitka Lake was a jewel. The sun finally started to peek through for the first time on our trip and the mirror smooth lake had a pair of loons waiting for us and watching every move.

Both canoes got a little turned around as we thought the portage was straight west across the lake but with some searching we headed more north and found the portage. Thus started the worst portage of the trip, at least for me. This 140 rod roller coaster is filled with some treacherous rocks and off balance steps to take. I chose to take two packs front/back on this one and sweated out foot placement many times. Cherokee Lake was an absolute beauty worth the effort it took to portage in. We chose to head directly west and took the site on the large island near the southwest corner. No site thus far had a good landing and this one didn’t either but that was about all I’d complain about. We found plenty of tent space, a fire grate we could easily hang a tarp over, a fairly flat kitchen rock near the grate, plenty of firewood nearby, and good trees for hanging the food pack. There is a nice shoreline rock that gave us some swim area and a place to sit and read while watching the loons and otters.

That evening Terry and I took his canoe out for an unloaded spin and found it to be a joy to cruise around in. Luckily for us the sun broke through with a vengeance as we headed clockwise around our island and continued past a string of islands to check out the other campsites. A stunningly calm and beautiful lake with some fantastic scenery welcomed us on a leisurely paddle. We got back just in time for sunset. Funny how at home we let sunsets come and go but this evening we all pulled up a rock on the shoreline and sat there to watch the setting sun. Best show on earth.