It was the coldest night for us. To make it worse for me, my underquilt kept slipping off to the side exposing some of my back. I adjusted it too tight and it kept slipping during the night. I had a hard time sleeping.

The morning is very cold, calm and clear. I cook up bacon and eggs and down some hot coffee. Afterwards I find Bob and Jake sitting on the east side facing the sun. I join them with Luna and it was really nice to take in that warmth with our dogs.

Overall this was a great trip. Very strenuous and the fishing was slow but it wasn't crowded like the reports we were hearing earlier in the summer. We heard wolves howling on 3 separate mornings and saw their scat on several of the portages. One pile near a landing was so big and fresh it kind of spooked me. It looked dark green and like something that would come out of a St. Bernard. On that same trail we found a fresh mini pile. Same color but it could have been a weasel, just not sure. I like to think we were following a wolf pack with pups. Who knows, they probably saw us and we only heard them.

The dogs got along great and I think Luna might have actually play chased with Jake at this site. They are very different dogs. Jake will chase sticks and play tug of war. He'll just take off running with a glove in his mouth and has a lot of energy. He's also a stone cold killer.

At this last site we had a lot of big pines in our camp and as soon as we heard a squirrel, there was Jake under the tree looking up at it. The squirrel would jump from top to top to get away from Jake. He never gave up. I doubt a squirrel ever stepped on the ground at this site.

Then one day I was making lunch or something in the fire pit when "ZOOM"! Jake flies past me and pounces on something outside the fire pit. Apparently a mouse was either coming or going and Jake saw it from probably 20 feet away. Bob might know where Jake was when he saw the mouse. I just saw a blur of a dog fly by. He got it alright!

Another funny thing Jake does is vibrate his whole body and tail when excited to see someone. One early morning Jake was roaming around outside my hammock. I had just woken up and he was sniffing the hammock so I started to unzip so I could say hi. Well, I got it open 10 inches and suddenly this vibrating head flew inside the hammock and with his head flailing back and forth he began to lick my face. All I could do was howl with laughter. He would go and wake up Luna too. He was the cheerful morning welcome wagon. Good time Jake! BTW, Jake is being held a lot because he gets cold very easily. He constantly had his coat on and Bob says when sleeping he will burrow under the blanket.

Now Luna has quite a different temperament. She doesn't chase wildlife or sticks. Won't play tug of war either. She's very calm and controlled around camp and likes nothing better than getting a belly rub. Then, when you show her a ball or a frisbee (which I don't bring anymore) or just say the words, she is instantly ready to go. She's quick like lightning and very agile weaving around rocks and trees at top speed. I don't bring a frisbee because I'm afraid she will get hurt while looking upwards trying to make the catch.

Why she doesn't chase wildlife is a mystery to me. She seems curious of rabbits and squirrels but won't chase them. She will just stare at deer if she sees one in the woods by our house. A few years ago on a trip she was laying in an open area watching two squirrels chase each other round and round our site. They then ran right past her! Like 2 feet away and she just watched them. Strange collie.... Here she's doing what she loves. Photo by Bob.

Bob's Lean One tent.

After hearing the weather forecast for rain Friday night into Saturday we decided to come out tomorrow on Friday and cut it a day short so we won't be packing up a wet camp on Saturday.