I wake up with a headache again. Need to drink more water. After eating breakfast of oatmeal and a power bar I feel pretty good. I’m not so sore this morning. The light easy day yesterday was just what I needed. The weather stayed nice and sunny around 80 degrees and we have a slight tailwind which is always appreciated. We get an early start as we need to make nine portages today to reach McEwen Lake if we are to stay on schedule.

“Saw some scenic portages especially the one out of Fauquier (72 rods) to Dumas Lake and also the one coming out of Glacier Lake.

Soon we were on the long and winding McEwen River. You get a very remote feeling on here and I was hoping for a moose sighting. It seems we’re in the middle of no where and now I notice the quiet. In the suburbs there is the constant buzz of distant traffic and jet noise. Here on the slow moving River we wind our way in silence except for the natural sounds of birds and fish swirls. I’m finally starting to slow myself down and adjust to the new rhythm of my surroundings.

Luna seems to want to crash. And crash she did! This shot of her curled up in the bottom of the canoe is my favorite pic from the trip. She slept like this for most of the river and I took the shot as we entered big McEwen Lake. I think all the stress of our new adventure finally caught up to her.

On McEwen I pass on the four star, so called “Hilton” site and circle some islands to the north hoping for a not so used camp. I try to find a good 3 star site on the next island. I never see it from the water and it appears to be all closed in. I then swing over to the south shore to check on a 4 star in a bay. We land and get out to investigate. I don’t like it and it gives me the creeps. Trees are down and it’s too closed in. The deal breaker is that the tent area is a long walk back in the woods. Nope! We’ll take the “Hilton” after all.

And, it’s fantastic! A great place to layover. I rig the tarp over the sitting area, pitch the tent on a little peninsula in a grove of trees, wash my clothes and hang to dry then take Luna swimming off the beach. I get her out there but after actually swimming she heads out and shakes off. She then saunters up under a big bush to sleep.”

The water and beach are really nice here. A great view from the island of the big western end of the lake. Me and Luna walk the trails and explore the island before I try to feed her. She wants no part of her food. I make myself chicken enchiladas by Nature High and they are pretty tasty as far as freeze dried food goes.

After stashing my food (from bears) under some bushes in the woods, we follow a beach trail that leads to a nice sitting rock jutting out into the water. A good place to dive and swim I think.

The forecast calls for heavy storms with dangerous winds tonight. Right now it’s the calm before the storm and the clouds are still and eerie looking. Some big thunderheads are off to the north. On trips like this the weather can really affect everything you do. I don’t know how much my new tent can handle as it seems a little on the fragile side. Thankfully I’m pitched in a grove of pines that should help keep the wind off.

Notes from the day: “I should have packed a bone for Luna. She seems to get depressed and will lay under bushes. She took her Frisbee and laid with it. I forgot her toy too. Well, the bugs are coming out now, time for the tent.”

Tomorrow is a play day as we plan to spend two nights here.

Tour of McEwen Lake site.

Quetico 2013 McEwen Site Tour 0001 from Tom Basso on Vimeo.