4 lakes, 3 portages

We heard rain in the night and at 6:30 it was drizzly again. Slept some more and got up at 8:30, with a temperature of 51 in the tent. Neil built a fire in drizzly mist and we enjoyed a hot breakfast. We broke camp in the mist and were on the water at 11:25. There was much wind assist in traveling east on Winchell Lake, with the waves in rolling swells and a few whitecaps.

Took the 62-rod portage to Gaskin Lake; it was up and down a lot and both rocky and muddy. I took a photo at the muddy end of this portage which looked fairly "typical". In Gaskin we encountered a wind-tunnel effect while traveling north, and there was some very hard paddling for awhile in the wind and waves.

The 102-rod portage to Horseshoe Lake starts at a log dock that is still in fairly good shape. This was also rocky and muddy, with plenty of up and down. Saw my first daisy of the trip at the beginning, and picked up a half-gallon Citrus Hill jug at the end (to dispose of later.)

We followed Horseshoe Lake to the east, and after passing two campsites we spotted a moose and two calves standing by the water. This one didn't take us in her stride the way the Weird Lake one had, but ran away quickly like she was afraid. Of course the calves followed.

Before I had put the camera away it started to rain! We kept paddling and watched the antics of several ducks, some with ducklings. Truly this is weather for ducks!

The portage to Vista Lake is only 21 rods long and very rocky on both ends. It was a challenge finding anyplace to put in at the end.

There are two campsites on Vista lake and the one on the southern shore [the really nice one] appeared occupied. I never would have seen the second one, since the grate is up on top of a high cliff and the entrance is just an opening like a very small portage trail, off to the side. Neil saw it and sent me scouting. The trail turns and is quite covered by branches; when you arrive at the top, there is a small clearing with a lake view and the fire grate at the base of a group of large trees.

The view of the lake from about thirty feet up would be nice on a good day, but the site is very muddy and has standing water in some places. There is a lot of down wood out back, and a terribly old wood biffy with no lid (slimy). The mud doesn't do much for my cold feet, and I try to keep moving by gathering birch bark and twigs for firewood, as well as helping Neil locate rocks to build up the fireplace.

The temperature is about 50 still. The reason I wanted to come to Vista was for the view of the Misquah Hills. I think this site has a "vista" of the lake, rather than the hills, but it is unique and we will do fine again in our wet tent.

Some trouble getting a fire going tonight necessitates burning some pages from one of our books. It seemed appropriate to use COVENANT OF THE FLAME! We had our supper and retired, still hoping for a sunny day in the morning.