Thursday, July 04, 2013 Happy Independence Day! Woke up at 6:30 to another beautiful sunny day, though I can tell it’s going to be a really hot and humid one today. I’m glad my plans were to only travel as far as Beaver Lake (formerly called Elbow Lake on some older maps).

I saw no one on my journey to Beaver Lake this morning. First real sense of isolation/serenity. I’m starting to feel more into the solo. I guess that must have been a major factor.

Because of the high water level, I was able to avoid doing another portage - the 60 rodder into Trapline Lake. All that was required was an easy lift over a beaver dam.

I stopped and checked out the sole campsite on Trapline Lake. Being elevated and isolated, it was quite inviting, but it wasn’t any good for hanging a hammock. Maybe I’ll stay on this site another time when I bring my tent.

Back talking about Beaver Lake, my destination for today. It’s one of my all time favorite campsites with lots and lots of memories …like: a friend in our group who tore the nail off his big toe (ouch!) while jumping into the water off the high rock ledge, …on an early June trip we had set up camp early on this site and were holed up safe, warm and dry under our tarp as a bone-chilling sleet began to blow sideways. As we were sitting there a very unhappy looking couple paddled by while covetously eyeing the site, …a friend in our group who caught a really big Northern on this lake, ...memories I had of spending many good hours on a really nice, flat and well shaded sitting area right along the shore which always caught a nice breeze that kept me cool and the bugs away, ...and on last year’s solo trip I was only able to stop and have lunch here because staying the night would have thrown me off schedule. So I sure hoped that the site was open this time around - - and it was! Yippee!

I set up camp, took a much needed shower (my small and light Sea to Summit shower worked great! I highly recommend it.) I took a book out on the breezy, bug-less veranda and began to read. While I was doing this I looked up, and there was a big otter with his head out of the water checking me out, ..then it nonchalantly swam off.

Near evening, rain threatened, but luckily the storm passed me to the southeast.