Day Six: Travel Day

I was up later in the night with pain. It was very calm on the lake and the moonlight was wonderful, but I was cold and uncomfortable in spite of all of the beauty, so I didn't stay out long. Awake again at 6 AM I noticed that the temperature in the tent was 48 degrees. That made the outside temperature of 37 somewhat of a surprise, I guess our tent does keep us warm, even when the flap is secured (?) with plastic clothespins!

We enjoyed a hearty breakfast of scrambled fresh eggs and bacon, coffee cake (yes, we baked another one last evening while waiting for the fire to burn down for marshmallows), oatmeal, and hot chocolate. After all these years, I think we are getting a little tired of Tang; we drank about half and saved the rest to have with lunch.

We broke camp and were on the water about 9 AM. Headed back now. We met Red Solo in his red canoe as we paddled on the pretty stretch of river. Introduced ourselves when we found out who he was, and asked him to take our greetings to the other Quiet Journey soloists who were meeting on the 12th on Adams Lake. We were disappointed that we didn't get there to tell them "Hi!" but it just wasn't to be. I had so hoped to walk the beautiful Beaver to Adams portage again, just because it is one of my favorites, but sometimes you make plans and they have to change.

On Lake Insula (why is it Lake Insula instead of Insula Lake?) we saw another group of mergansers, and also had the treat of seeing two loons, one adult and one immature, which allowed us to get close enough for photos. We took a stretch break at a campsite and were entertained by the antics of a busy, hungry red squirrel. I also noticed some initials someone had inlaid carefully into the log by the fire grate. Why do people want to deface the wilderness?

As we paddled on Insula we asked another couple nearby if they wanted the live bait. They don't fish! You mean there are more of us? The next canoe we came close to carried two men who said "Yes" they used live bait, and "Sure!" they would take ours off our hands. Whew!

We stopped at a campsite for lunch. We thought we were near the portage to Hudson, but later it turned out that we weren't where we thought we were! So we went off in search of the route to the portage (after a little argument over the map!) and while paddling around looking for where we should have gone: bump! scraaape! We paddled ourselves right up on a submerged (not submerged enough, obviously) flat rock! No little rock this one--it was huge! We maneuvered off that monster, said a prayer of thanks for the skid plate, and paddled a bit more carefully around to the portage. I still am not altogether sure where we were, or where we should have been heading, but perhaps when I look at Spartan1's marked map it will be clearer to me.

There were three canoes on the portage, and then more people coming back for gear. Another busy place! I enjoyed clumps of purple asters swaying in the breeze on the portage trail, and thought again that I really miss the flowers when we come in the fall. I tried to photograph a mourning cloak butterfly at the end of the portage, but was unsuccessful. Butterflies are something else that I miss from the late spring/early summer tripping time. But we do NOT miss the BUGS!! And yes, I do realize that butterflies are insects, too!

We camped near the portage, at about 2 PM. It is a nice site, with a clearing out back. As we were pulling in, a small turtle peeked at us and swam away. There were a few purple asters, and places to find birch bark and good firewood. With the weather beautiful, we rested awhile after camp was made, then Neil started the fire. Supper was BPP Chicken Cashew Curry (skip this one another time ), BPP Rice Pudding with Raisins (good), and ½ package MH corn (leftover from the fritters.)

A red squirrel was busy collecting his winter's supply of pine nuts and chattered at us from the tree above our heads.

Neil hung the packs down by the shore, and he told me about a beaver who was upset with his presence, so I went down to try to see it. There was a beaver lodge across the short inlet, and you could hear the kits murmuring, especially when the two adults came swimming back to the lodge.

We sat by the fire awhile, just a little pine fire Neil made after our good cedar fire (for the cooking water) had burned down. It was very calm at 7:40 with wonderful reflections.