4 lakes, 3 portages

I was awake and ready to get up at 5:50. The songbirds were singing and I heard (but didn't see) a loon this morning. There were some clouds, but the sun peeked through. Temperature 50 degrees.

We were on the water about 8:20. The portage (58 rods) to Hensen Lake wasn't bad, and there were more lady slippers at the end, including one which was triple. We saw lots of moose tracks again; it is obvious that the moose use the "people trails" when no one is around. (Or is it that the portages are really the "moose trails"?)

We did see a large moose on shore on Hensen Lake! She was majestic, with a huge head and ears, but we couldn't get close enough to take a good photo. She turned and went into the woods, but watched us within our view as we paddled by.

Encouraged by this event, I wanted to explore a little bay on Hensen Lake because I thought I saw something, but of course we had no luck. You don't see the wildlife when you are LOOKING for it!

The portage (20 rods) to Omega Lake seemed short. There is a stream along the right side and tall-stemmed purple violets along the left. We stopped at a nice campsite on Omega for a break.

The thirty-five rod portage to Kiskadinna Lake is quite a climb up and then down again. The portage trail looks pleasant in the sunshine, so I used the little disposable Kodak panoramic camera for the first time.

After we begin paddling on Kiskadinna I have to take a photo from the canoe. It will, of course, look like a thousand others, but it is hard to resist the first few "typical" views after four years away from my favorite country!

We passed by the first campsite on Kiskadinna and took the second. I don't feel ready for a bad portage today! We know that the next one will be challenging!

There are flies here in the sunshine, and those big buzzer-bugs that appear to dine on them. The breeze seems to keep the mosquitoes bearable. There are two loons offshore, which is nice. They are the first we have seen. I suspect that it is nesting season. The wildflowers are lovely: bunchberry, starflowers, violets, pink ladyslippers and a few roses. Things don't look so trampled and "used" at this early time in the season. That is why we love spring trips.

After a supper of dried parmesan-stuffed pasta [tortellini] and Italian sauce, we tried a chocolate cake in the frying pan. Splatters of rain are coming off and on. It is a good night to retire early to the tent, avoiding the mosquitoes and the damp, windy weather. Thunderstorms begin about 2 AM, with lots of noise, light, and rain. We survive nicely.