“We experienced a rain like I can’t remember last night. An extremely hard downpour for maybe 1 and 1/2 hours with thunder and lightning. The tent did ok and we were sheltered from the wind. I woke up in the night with a bad headache. Most likely dehydration.”

I’m sore and slow moving today. It takes a long time to eat, do all the chores and then pack up. I’m just trying to get used to everything again. Find out the best way to pack everything in the packs. I use a small pack (BWJ Guide) which I carry with the canoe. In here I try to keep it as light as possible. My gear pack (CCS Pioneer) is comfortable with a heavy load and it’s packed up to the max. Carrying Luna’s food takes up some weight and space so I left my chair and depth finder (for fishing) at home to compensate.

Today started gray but has now cleared off to be warm and sunny with very little breeze.

I’m in no hurry and go for a swim to clean off yesterday’s grime. I dry off on the porch rocks and bask in the sun. I’m going easy on myself as I am feeling the effects of yesterdays exertion . The map shows Glacier Lake to be ten portages to the northeast and we will shoot for it.

My route this year is inspired by a trip report I read a couple of years ago by a friend who goes by the name “Ho Ho” on BWCA.com. I use notes from his report and others for referencing the campsites and portages I’ll encounter. This area of Quetico is one I haven’t been to before and my route has three sections comprising a loop. This first leg runs northeast from Louisa Lake to the “Falls Chain”. We’re taking the rugged and scenic McEwen River chain of mostly small lakes and streams to get there. It’s off the main routes but it’s just how I like it!

We’re packed and ready to hit the road at 10:15. “The first portage is a doozy at 96 rods (a rod is a measurement for portage lengths and is approximately 16 feet long). It’s got bugs, a nice trail, and is overgrown in parts. It’s very narrow and to make it worse is very wet from all the rain last night. The tree roots are very slick and I avoid them. There’s also a boggy section that has a lot of water but no mud.”

I’m using a wet foot boot which has built in drain holes. I wear thick wool socks and even though my feet are wet I hardly notice. To me it’s better than trying to keep your feet dry and tippy toeing around at the landings. I used to trip that way and it was frustrating. Now I just go with it and so does Luna. She’s become a pro at hopping in and out of the canoe on command.

We then enter small Arp Lake then a short 25 rod portage into Star Lake. The landing out of here is difficult to find but my notes from Ho Ho’s trip report help me find the right channel that leads to the portage. We go 52 rods into Fauquier Lake. I now have to make a decision. Do I continue on to Glacier or just call it a day? There’s very few sites to choose from between here and there. I’m feeling sluggish today and my body could use a rest so I decide to take the last site across from the exit portage.

That’s one of the benefits of going solo - I can do whatever it is I decide to do. The site is decent if not small. Lots of grass and certainly doesn’t get a whole lot of visitors.

On past trips I had converted to sleeping in a hammock which I really love. Because of Luna coming with this time Mia gave me the ultimatum - “She sleeps in a tent with you or she doesn’t go”. I wasn’t about to argue much because I had doubts about her sleeping outside by herself too. So I found a great deal on a discontinued tent from Sierra Designs called the Lightning Strike 2. It weighs three pounds and is made for two people. For me and a dog it is perfect!

“The eating area is exposed to the sun and Luna has taken to laying in the bushes. It must be cool in there.”

I get to play a little Frisbee here with her. She loves it and would play forever if I let her. “I put her PFD on and get her to swim with me for about 15 seconds. She’s not very comfortable in the water so I don’t force things and help her out. I take a good dip and a breeze helps with the bugs as I dry off in the sun.”

“I eat lunch of salami, cheese, cookies, Atkins bar, gorp, and ice tea. I couldn’t get Luna to eat. Hopefully no rain is in the forecast and I can get an early start tomorrow.”