I set the alarm for 5:30 and woke up before it went off. It’s very calm and warm and the sunrise is beautiful.

I make a strong pot of coffee and only eat a powerbar and a couple of cookies. All the food I have left is 3 freeze dried dinners. I did well with my packing this trip.

As I load up a bald eagle flies into our site and sits in a tree maybe 25 feet from me. This is the 2nd time this has happened on this trip. On the McEwen island site an eagle did the same thing. I’m wondering if they are checking out Luna. Luckily she’s tucked under her bush.

The skeeters are out and make me hurry while packing. We’re out of there at 7:35 and it’s one portage into sucker Lake then a 2 hour paddle down Newfound and Moose and back to Williams and Hall outfitters. I take my time and savor this last day on the water. I see the tow boats whizzing by with campers just starting out. It’s a gorgeous day to be in Quetico.

I settle up with the guys at the outfitter and get a shower before leaving for Ely. I check in with Mia on the phone then, with Luna I walk the main street of downtown. As is my custom I stop in for ice cream at a local shop. No one is there and I wait with Luna by the door to be served. I go for a big chocolate shake this time and the girls in the shop are all over Luna who eats up the attention. Ely is bustling pretty good this Saturday. 

It’s been a different kind of trip this time for me. I went solo but with Luna there it felt like anything but. It was a good trip and she did just great. We hopped in the truck and drove home into all kinds of traffic. Welcome back, rat race.