I awoke at 5 am foggy as all get out but did get a great sunrise picture. Loaded up all the wet gear from the heavy heavy dew. And had some great hot cocoa, shot of butterscotch schnapps, and oatmeal with dehydrated Strawberries (which were great) Was packed up and off by 7:30 am off to Lunch Lake. The first portage of the day was beautiful started out as a beaver dam, and the portage followed a great water way to Lunch Lake I love all the bubbling water, gurgling, and smacking the rocks bouncing there way down to the next lake. I put in and had a great little paddle onto Lunch Lake. Oh the MOSS it is amazing, it is more then amazing, like walking on a six inch foam pad. It is green and white and red and wild stuff…once you experience it you will never forget it. Jan said the moss would amaze and he was correct on that for sure. NO WIND I paddled like a man on a mission, streaking across Lunch Lake. I ran into a couple and their dog on an island in the middle of Lunch. I shared some visit and headed NorthWest to the portage. One of my favorite spots. You come off of Lunch Lake and turn a corner and can here the water rushing …you have to get off the lake in a quick second as the portage sits right next to a waterfall dropping 40 ft over boulders into a pool of water and rushing down the hill to the end of the portage. You must portage around this. It was awesome. I took video here and walked out and checked it all out. I 2x portaged this one. Then I was on Jake Lake, a fairly big lake but the paddle to Jake was a series of nice little narrow waterway and over a small beaver dam. There was a couple camped on a point on Jake, I didn’t see them but there were two chairs out front and I paddled out in the middle and needed water so pumped water on Jake. Then headed to portage. There are six portages in a row in a short period of time. I did the first four and was getting tired it was about 1 pm so I perched on a rock in the shade at the beginning of an 80 m portage and the Canadian couple with the dog pulled up. We chatted for 10 minutes and they decided to have lunch on the other end of the portage. They came walking back over to me sitting on the rock and said you look tired we are going to carry you stuff on this one. They took my packs and I said I will grab the canoe. We had lunch together at the end of the portage and I thanked them (many times) After an hour rest before the 325 rod portage into Mexican Hat Lake. We said our goodbye’s never to see them again. WOW was I beside myself at how nice they were to this weary traveler. Then I got to the portage and WOW is all I can say. It starts out like any portage, then you walk over a 20 ft wide creek that flows into Mexican Hat Lake, then along the creek, down a hill, and along the most awesome, mighty and powerful waterfall. Water bouncing, and spinning off the rocks descending into Mexican Hat Lake. I was overwhelmed by the beauty the Lord created here. I double portaged this one and it took a lot out of me. Putting in here is a rock, that sits at a 70 degree angle into the water, a tricky entry into the canoe and slicker then snot. I saw the camp that the four solo boys stayed at and it was as beautiful as they had said. I wanted to get to the middle to west end of the lake so I would not have much paddle in the morning. I ran into some six folks in the middle of an Island on Mexican Hat where I was planning on staying…from North Chicago. I said hello and headed west. I settled in on a little campsite on South side on west end of lake. Got here about 3 pm. Nice little spot and had this part of lake all to myself, no one around. I was all sweated plum through, so after camp set up and wood cut, and chores done….I sat on a rock in my skivy’s and cooled off for about 3 hours. Till the bugs came out. Made supper (cheesy hashbrown hamburger helper) Made a Gatorade and Vodka and watched the Loons and Beaver working back and forth for the next 4 hours. I thought after all the beauty I saw today, that I wish that someone was there to pinch me, I felt so blessed to be here, and experience it all. It was overwhelming. Called Charlene at six pm told here where I was (she had a map at home to follow me) short visit and got the fire ready. It was a delightful and wonderful day no wind, waterfalls, creeks, and beauty. WOW I was simply beside myself.

Statistics  9 portages 225 rods