Day 1

4 lakes, 3 portages

We had a long night's sleep and I was awake at 8:20 Michigan time. We have decided to stay on Michigan time for the duration of the trip. [I have no idea why.] After loading up the canoe, we went to the lodge for a beautiful big breakfast at the "honeymoon table" (a two-person table by the window overlooking the lake.)

On the water by 10:00, with the sun shining, weather warm and breezy, and a light chop on Poplar Lake. The portage to Meeds is 220 rods long. It is quite a climb! The trail is good except for a section of log bridge near the end, where the logs are rotting out and you have to walk on one log part of the time. This has never been my favorite activity, and I am NOT good at it!

The portage to Swallow Lake (110 rods) has several downed trees to step over, as we had been warned by the girl at Gunflint Outfitters. It wasn't impassible, but I did manage to skin my knee pretty hard on one step-over. There were pink ladyslippers at the end of the portage just begging to be photographed.

We managed the 93-rod portage to Pillsbery Lake with no problems, but I was getting tired at this point. This was a day of very little canoeing and lots of portaging. On Pillsbery we looked at the campsite to the west (not great), paddled back to the other one and I rejected it (fire right by the lake and no trees at the tent site), so we paddled back to the western site. The tent site isn't great and in two scouts I was unable to find the biffy (toilet box). There is a pond out back. Still, after a lot of carrying and walking, I am ready to rest.

We have seen lots of moose tracks on the portages, but no wildlife except for one frog and some gulls. No loons at all--perhaps they are nesting? One small snake swimming along the top of the water on Pillsbery was the highlight of this day.

Retiring to the tent early, mainly to escape the mosquitoes, we read and rest and anticipate another day.