Lakes: Thomas, Cacabic, Alice Portages: 1 Rods: 232 Total Distance: 3.5miles

The morning was fairly still, though the weatherman on the radio advised a front was slowly moving through and the wind would not be well. Not for a solo canoeist anyways. I had planned Alice Lake, but wanted to camp there, check out the pictographs, and relax on a beach.

The 232 rod portage was the longest of the trip. Perhaps the buggiest as well. It wasn't tough, but it was long. I did both carries without stopping. Cacabic Lake looked like great largemouth bass habitat. I portaged into the long channel leading to Alice Lake. Within 1/10th of a mile I spied movement on an island and glimpsed a wolf. It jumped along some rocks between the island and the shore and stopped on the largest to stare at me for a second. It then disappeared into the brush. It was an intense moment.

The campsite in this narrow area looked OK. Probably great for fishermen.

I got onto Alice and the wind was blowing pretty good. To much for a lone canoe. I bumped into two gents fishing on the east shore. They invited me for breakfast and to wait the wind out. They thought they were going to move along toward Thomas Lake.

I could hear the waves crashing onto the north shoreline. I paddled over to their site and put up my hammock, strung between two cedar trees hanging out onto the crescent shaped beach. Heaven!! I read a book and puffed on a cigar. The wind was howling through the trees and it crashed on the north shore, but this little gem of a cove was protected like none else!

The campsite occupants returned shortly and offered me some breakfast as they had apparently packed way to much food in. I took them up on the offer, but declined the blueberry pancakes. The sausage was wonderful and so was the conversation.

They decided to head out, but not before pondering another night at the site. They offered me a tent spot, but ultimately decided to push on to Thomas Lake. I told them about the site I vacated earlier and they pushed off shortly thereafter. You two know who you are, I'm still waiting for an email. :)

The beach and surrounding shoreline provided quite a bit of exploration and entertainment. The hammock was wonderful as well and I napped and lounged, not at all caring about a lost day.

I made a nice fire that night and enjoyed my spot.