The next day we checked out a part of Extortion Creek with its pitcher plants everywhere:

and checked out the pretty paddle to the Ham Lake portage. I found these paddlers had an interesting way of negotiating the rocks:

That night's last meal was a hefty and delicious plate of spaghetti and meat sauce (dehydrated once again by the master chef Old Scout). Ho hum, just another great meal in the Boundary Waters:

That morning about 5 am a big thunderstorm stated to sound its way in. We were able to get things packed during a lull, but once we set out it poured away all the way to take out. Undaunted, I thoroughly enjoyed the scenery and wearing my Frogg Togg jacket and REI rain pants, it was a comfortable paddle (sorry, the camera was safely packed away in a dry bag).

We paddled through the narrows where the Ham Lake fire started. It was kind of eerie for me thinking back to that time when over 36,000 acres of the area got scorched. However, nature was doing a nice job of healing and there was lots of greenery popping up.

It was a pretty paddle all the way to takeout. The hot shower waiting at the lodge was very welcome and it was time to say thanks to Andy and Sue and head back down the Gunflint to Grand Marais.

That night I had a great time doing an interview with Buck and Bob on Grand Marais' public radio station, WTIP as we were promoting my singer/songwriter performance at the Art Colony in Grand Marais the next night.

Saturday took us to setting up the staging area. Here is Old Scout helping out with Marcie (who volunteered in the staging).

What IS IT with OS and the girls??????

I had a wonderful time at the Art Colony with yet another warm and friendly audience:

I shared the stage with a talented young singer/songwriter from Thunder Bay named Shy-Anne Hovorka from Thunder Bay. The audience loved her. Here we are for a pic outside the venue just before the show:

Maybe a little of Old Scout's charm was rubbing off on me?