Boundary Waters, Trip Reports, BWCA, Stories

1980, Return to the Namakan: Going Back in Time #5
by Spartan2

Trip Type: Paddling Canoe
Entry Date: 06/19/1980
Entry & Exit Point: Quetico
Number of Days: 10
Group Size: 2
Part 3 of 12
6/20/80 Day Two:

Neil was up at 5 AM. As usual, he started the fire and I crawled out of the tent once he had it going. The sunrise this morning was beautiful.

Some ducks came by as we were eating our breakfast. And I was intrigued by a "big brown bug" at the water's edge. Of course I learned later that this was the carapace that a hatching dragonfly leaves behind. It was a few years before we actually observed one hatching. Or before I got camera gear that would effectively photograph dragonflies, anyway.

We left camp about 8 AM and arrived at Beatty Portage around 9 AM. Took a look at the pictographs on Lac La Croix and also saw a group of 11 canoes--33 people! Enjoyed our lunch at a sandy point at 11 AM. This is where we had camped on our second night of the very first trip. We explored, enjoying the sun and some memories of 1971. Stopped at Campbell's at 12:30. Sent t-shirts and post cards to the children.

Camped at 2:15 on Lac La Croix, Island 41. Nice site on a point--gorgeous view from up high. There is a picnic table and a unique stone "fireplace."

Did a little laundry to take advantage of the sun and a nice breeze.

Neil surprised a heron, and we saw a small furry animal. [?]

Our supper was freeze dried. The turkey tetrazini would be good on biscuits. Peas and peaches were good.

We are windburned and tired, but I feel good. My new sleeping bag is VERY warm!

We are boiling water on this trip, for now anyway. It's a bother.

Mosquitoes not bad at all--lots of flies and ants at this campsite.

The site is 3-bedroom, with two easy paths to the water. The weather is hot, dry, and sunny. There are scarcely any clouds. No chipmunks so far (or squirrels.) Lots of dragonflies, of course. The rock is pretty. It sparkles, contains mica. I photographed a group of purple flowers [look like fireweed] growing from an outcrop of rock.

The pictographs were neat to see. I think it is odd that we didn't stop and see them on the first trip.

I find I am tired tonight. We had a light chop on LLC, and we paddled and portaged enough to feel it, even though we had a tailwind all of the time. It feels so good to get back here, and to soak up the solitude and silence.

It is just incredibly dusty and dry here, and the hot wind isn't helping things either. Anyone who has a campfire should be very, very careful.