The morning broke bright and calm and we made our last breakfast of oatmeal and coffee/hot chocolate. We packed up camp, loaded our trusty Minnesota 3 and headed back to a much desired shower and clean clothes.

Caribou Lake had filled up since we had been through earlier in the week. The portages were a bit busier now as we waited offshore for a group to finish loading their canoes. We passed through Lizz Lake and officially exited the Boundary Waters. We did have a pleasant experience on the last portage when I encountered a gentleman happily carrying my last pack on his return trip, making my final portage an easy single carry. Thank you!

We marooned our daughters on a small rocky island on Poplar, which then led me to accidentally extend our trip with a wrong turn down the arm heading to the Meeds portage. Once going in the right direction we paddled hard for that nice hot shower and lunch at Trail Center.

We landed back at Rockwood and Lin eagerly greeted us asking my daughters how the trip was. They answered her with much excitement, especially when they were asked if we had seen any moose. Lin finally asked my girls if the wanted to come back. While I nervously waited for their response, they both happily answered they would love to come back! Dad for the Win!!

All in all my wife and daughters did far better than I had hoped. My wife now understands and appreciates why this place is so special. Quiet, no cell phones, no email, no distractions. Just family and doing things together.

This trip was purposefully geared toward their experience level. Just to get their "feet wet" in the BWCA was a success. To have a bit of everything this place has offer: fishing, beavers, loons, moose, blue skies and water, trees and even a storm blew away any expectations we had for this trip. We did learn that we would actually like more travel days and fewer layover days.

Notes: We planned the trip to have the girls single portage (daughters carried a small daypack, wife carried a Granite Gear Solo 35lbs) and me to double (canoe/CCS Explorer, CCS Pioneer). We brought 1 REI Flex Lite chair but wanted at least one more. Meals were kept simple, but we are really intrigued to try some of the Camp Chow meals. We did sample the berry cheesecake dessert that was very good. We need more hand warmers to keep my wife happy. Bugs/Mosquitos were not a factor on this trip but we came prepared with a Sea to Summit mosquito box to hang under the tarp if needed.