Lakes: Kekekabic, Strup, Wisini, Ahmakose, Gerund, Fraser, Thomas Lakes. Portages: 5 Rods: 85, 10, 90, 30, 15 Total Distance: 7.5miles

I broke camp early as I had some paddling to do on some big water ahead and the wind forecast called for “not a lot of fun.”

I met a couple on what I remember to be a 3-week trip at the Kek-Strup portage. Tough fellow and a pretty (also tough) wife. Lucky chap. This portage had some elevation to it. It doesn't stick out so it couldn't have been that bad. Looking at the map now, there were some contour lines crossed for sure.

Strup was pretty, Wisini amazing. The site on the tip of Wisini was free and I was tempted... I think this was the area blown over real bad. Looked aweful.

My food pack was lighter now so I was able to double-carry all the time now. On shorter portages such as the 15 rod ones I still triple-carried as it seemed easier to just do that then take the time to load myself down and strap it all in.

The next few carries blended in and I was aware of some wind picking up. I met a few chaps on the Wisini to Ahmakose portage who throught they knew the husband/wife team I met earlier in the day. He recalled a memory of diving to get a snagged lure on Wisini Lake and instead caught his thumb. Said he had to rip it to get free and stood there on the cliff naked and bleeding as a group of women paddled past.

I got onto Fraser and wasn’t real happy at how it looked. I wanted to get some paddling miles in though so I paddled cross-wind to the south shore and muscled through it. It sapped me thoroughly. As I got into the narrow section, the wind eased. But when I got onto Thomas I knew I would not be having any fun. I skirted islands and powered through open areas to get on the lee of an island.

The Bell Magic was wonderful though. It had some quirks easily fixed by weighting it appropriate to wind direction and I could now shift my weight left or right depending on what was needed. I could also manipulate the pack in front of me to shift weight fore or aft. It worked well. Paddling was still hard though!

The two sites on the east shores were either not well or occupied. I think the northern one was occupied and I could see the northern one from the southern one. Not for me so into the fray I went.

I paddled to the center island with a site and it was free so I took it. I didn't want to risk battling the wind and waves to get further east, only to find a sub-par site or worse, none. The wind was kicking with some white-caps now. I hadn't been there 10 minutes before a father-son team came along. They asked if I saw any others free. I suggested the island site to the northwest as I didn't believe I saw anyone there. Offered a spot at my site if it wasn't free since the wind picked up even more. This site was not very sheltered from the wind and I was glad to have my windproof jacket. I might have been the first to camp on this site this year.

I made camp and gathered firewood. I was pretty tired though and rested here and there. Some youths were causing a ruckus east of me. Fishing, drinking and such. I love both, but don't broadcast it like they did. Seagulls knew what they were all about. I posted earlier in the year about this:

“...My worst experience? A**-Hats on Thomas Lake that hooted, hollered and sung from their canoes all afternoon into the evening. The seagulls knew what these guys were all about and were on them all afternoon. Then they paddled to the Alice Lake portage and made a fire at about 730pm. Yes, a fire at a portage. And next to/burned a log to sit on and rest or change your shoes. Damaged the cedar tree right above it. Fueled their fire and then took that long portage at about 830pm. I followed and photographed their trail of destruction the next day. 5 guys in two aluminum canoes. They know who they are.”

I rested up and the wind died so I tried my hand at some fishing about the islands and in some deeper water. No luck. More freeze-dried and forgettable for me.