Sunday, October 22, 2017 The temps were chillier today, but still 10 degrees above normal for this time of year. We packed up camp and hit the water after breakfast at 8:15. We had to paddle into a stiff headwind so I was glad that we were camped in this southern bay and not up on the main part of the lake where I'm sure there were whitecaps. We had an easy go of it single portaging and saw someone camped on the eastern site of Tin Can Mike, and another group heading in as we crossed Sandpit Lake. As we fought the wind and paddled south, I was already beginning to think of next June's trip and I had to stop myself and enjoy our last few moments in the BWCA. As we paddled across Mudro, I stopped and took it all in for a moment or two and turned to see my dad and Douglas apparently doing the same thing. There's something magical and spiritual about this place that demands respect and it is times like these that I am so thankful that we have such a treasure right in our own backyard of northern Minnesota. I feel so lucky to be able to share this pristine and untrammeled wilderness with my dad and son and I hope that we can continue to experience this wilderness and all of it's glorious bounty for many years to come. We made it to the EP at 10:40 and were in Ely by 11:45 enjoying a $5 lunch at the DQ before gassing up and heading home. We had Paul Allen to keep us company as we listened to the Vikes beat the Ravens on the radio during the drive home. We put my Northwind in my dad's pole barn for the winter (thanks dad) and Doug and I continued home to see his mom and two younger sisters who were thrilled to see Doug, not as thrilled about daddy's "pokey" beard.