I was up and out of the tent at 6:20. With a plethora of aching joints, and after sleeping on a thin pad overnight (getting up the first time in the night and literally falling out of the tent onto the ground), I rose to my feet rather gingerly and stretched out my complaining back. However, the chance to photograph a misty morning is always a big draw for me, so I was soon on the rocks with my tripod and camera, looking for a misty shot to remember this first morning in the canoe country.

We had a good hot breakfast of bacon and fresh eggs (which we shared), oatmeal, hot chocolate and decaf coffee.

Piwi was full of energy this morning and wanting to play. Bill had a bit of a challenge keeping her play from including the occasional loud bark, and we didn't want to disturb our neighbors.

I found a small, lone bunchberry flower on the path to the landing as we were packing up to leave. Such an odd flower to see in September when the bunchberry plants should be setting their red berries!

After taking a long time to clean up, get organized and pack up (fortunately Bill and David aren’t upset about not getting on the water by 8 A.M.), we finally began paddling to the first easy 80-rod portage that would take us on the way to Ada Creek, Ada Lake, and finally via Cherokee Creek to Cherokee Lake.

I was pumped! The trekking poles were a huge help on the portage trail, which wasn’t a difficult one at all, and once I adjusted my thinking to the fact that I would just carry my camera equipment—I insisted on doing it myself, even though the guys offered to do that as well—I began to enjoy the perks of sitting on the end of the portage waiting for the “guys” to bring the gear on their second and third trips. Such decadence to be a “princess!” Or perhaps “queen” would be a better term for the dowager lady on the trip?

The second portage, 80 rods to Ada Lake, after a paddle through a marshy area, is rockier footing, with a sort of bright, sunlit open area in the middle. Bill talked to some people after this portage who made it through by the creek and made about the same time that we did. (I suspect we’ll try that on the return trip.) We met two young men with an aluminum canoe on the portage. We photographed a rather impressive pile of wolf scat on the trail near the end of the portage.

The day was sunny, with a cool breeze. Just perfect!

Ada Lake looked bright blue in the sun as we began our short paddle across it.

Then there was more creek paddle and a little 13-rod portage to Skoop Lake.

It was a busy place, with two canoes going the other way (friendly lady from Austin, TX), and two canoes going our way as well. And then a third one came by as we were having lunch off to the side on a rocky area.

The last portage, the one to Cherokee Creek, is 180 rods, and we arrived there at 1:05, still under sunny skies. I struggled just to walk the portage once with my trusty trekking poles, and truly do not see how Bill and David can consider it “fun” to carry over this portage three times (!) with heavy packs!

I did notice this flower on the portage and snapped its picture. I have no idea what it is, but anything other than a purple aster in September catches my eye.

It was sprinkling by 1:50, and I sat on a rock at the end of the portage as two wonderfully fit young women paddled up, took up two packs and a canoe and started off single-portaging on their way. I spoke briefly to the second of them and discovered that the one who had gone on first was a BWCA.com member: canucanu2 was on her way with a canoe and a big pack and I didn’t get a chance to introduce myself. She did speak with Ho Ho further on down the trail.

I think the long portage tired Neil out.

He rested as our good friends carried the last of the packs, and then we were ready to start out on Cherokee Creek.

And, at long last, after ten years. . . . .I was back on Cherokee Lake! As we rounded the point, it was a big disappointment to see that “my” campsite (the one on the southernmost point) was taken! Not that surprising, when we were arriving after 3 P. M., but nevertheless, a disappointment. We checked out the one directly across the lake, found it most agreeable, and began to make camp. I figured we’d just watch and perhaps the people would leave on the next day.

Piwi was quite thrilled with the site. She immediately ran to us with a new “toy”, the back half of a rather tattered old snowshoe hare that had definitely seen better days. Of course Bill and David made a quick effort to separate her from her grisly treasure, and then a search ensued to find the rest of the poor animal and dispose of what was left of it.

The trail to the “biffy” at this site is a hike up the hill, and I would have found it treacherous, especially on the down trip, if I hadn’t had the trekking poles.

The skies became gloomy and gray, sort of matching my mood as I stared across the lake at the campsite I had come to claim. But my mood was broken by the sighting of an eagle in a tree across the bay,

and by getting busy preparing supper. I boiled some macaroni to add to our Mountain House Chili Mac, and fixed a double portion of the Packit Gourmet Strawberry Cheesecake with added strawberries, so that we had a dessert to share with our friends. The sunset wasn’t anything spectacular.

After some fellowship and talking in the evening, we again retired about 9 P. M.