Got up at 7am to rain. Great sendoff. Had Black Bart Chili for breakfast - delicious. Also had some coffee. Got on the water by 9:54am and to the end of the Splash portage by 11:45am or so. The paddle down Ensign was uneventful, and the rain was actually kind of nice. It was really calm the entire time which was very much appreciated. The rain from earlier lightened to a drizzle and we took off our raincoats. The Splash landing was incredibly buggy, not something we expected, but thankfully the portage was super short so we were able to get away from the bugs quickly.

The narrow areas of Splash were absolutely gorgeous though. Lots of rocky cliffs with a variety of colors. You could really see the water line was dramatically lower than normal, and this was in early June! Little inlets with birds and loons were everywhere. It looked like a very fishy area. Kinda wish I had pulled out my rod for a few casts! It was a beautiful end to the trip. I can imagine this area being a really enjoyable start to a trip as well. If you're too focused on moving quick, you might miss the beauty. We welcomed the rain when it picked up a bit more, as it dampened our hair and gave us a slight natural shower. Let me tell you, a really good head scratch while it's raining and cleaning off your head and hands, after 9 days, is an incredibly cathartic experience.

Our tow back to W&H wasn't scheduled until 1pm, but the rapids on the Newfound-Splash side were nice, and the water there is shallow enough to wade across the channel entirely. We took some photos, ate some food, looked at some photos, reminisced and reflected, and just enjoyed our last hour or two in the wilderness. Some campers were entering and leaving during this time; one big exiting group asked me to take their picture and said they hadn't managed to get a chance to ask anyone to do it earlier in their trip. I was happy to oblige.

The tow back was quick (and cold!). We took a much-appreciated shower after downing our complimentary cold ones. Getting clean and putting clean clothes on (from the car) after a long trip like that felt so good. I am super happy with W&H. Very seamless experience and friendly people.

The drive home to Minneapolis took a while, but I'm gonna be glad to get home and rest. 9 days is no joke, but it was a good trip. I really enjoyed it, despite the occasional irritation -- gotta take the ups AND the downs in stride. I got a beautiful vacation out of it, and time with my best friends. We arrived at E's house around 8:30pm; after separating gear and some hugs, I took G home and got to my place just after 10pm. After bringing all of my gear up to my apartment, I brushed my teeth, hit the sheets, and passed out almost immediately.

Great trip. It will be one to remember.