Its Ova-easy dehydrated eggs with fresh bacon and bagels for breakfast this fine morning. After filling our bellies, we get packed up for the aforementioned day trip to Frost Lake. After pushing off we circle around to the back (east) side of our island and check out the other site located there. It’s certainly nothing special but has a couple of decent tent pads and, would work for smaller groups. Keeping with that theme, we press on to my original target (peninsula) site and find that it is a very nice site that provides an incredible elevated panoramic view of most of the lake. However, the main camp area is somewhat exposed, there is a climb up to the site and canoe storage would likely be inconvenient. Next, we trace the southern shoreline westward trolling along the way.

Aurora points out what she believes to be a small beach near the mouth of the Long Island River and wants to pull in. Indeed, it is a beautiful little beach which serves as the landing for the well sheltered campsite located here. There is a neat staircase that climbs up to this seemingly little used site. The fire grate area isn’t too well developed but there are a couple of nice tent pads and a beautiful white pine sentinel providing shade and shelter. Really, something of an unpolished gem of a site that just needs a little TLC.

Our visit finished, we paddle into the shallow river and negotiate the 2 short portages there. The landing on the Gordon end being quite cumbersome otherwise they are quite easy. Next, we tackle the long portage into Unload lake. Putting the boulder filled landing behind us we trek down this muddy trail. We hike back a short distance from the Unload end to check out the grove of monster cedars located there. Aurora tries to do the same pose she did several years back on our visit here. Although, she's not quite as enthusiastic this go 'round.

Soon we are rounding the horn of Frost lake, past 2 occupied campsites. As the beach comes into view, we also see a couple of guys lounging there on the extreme eastern end. I endeavor to pull in on the other end of the beach. We get out and relax ourselves. The water being unseasonably warm, Aurora eventually does a little swimming riding the waves with her PFD still on. Some sand villages are constructed, and we are having a grand time here. However, clouds are massing, and rain eventually starts falling causing the temperature to drop. Fortunately, I’ve got a dry change of clothes for Aurora and help her change into them just back behind the shoreline trees while we wait out the precipitation.

A short time later the rain stops and, blue skies can again be contemplated. We load up and start heading back to camp. Once out on the lake the wind changes direction and starts pushing the dark clouds back our way. I had hoped to try some fishing here but, an unmistakable peal of thunder providentially convinces me to head for the portage. We don’t quite make it to the Unload lake beaver dam and, are given a free ride for the last 30 yards or so as the storm blows in – fortunately at our back!

I try to rudder the canoe around the obvious shoreline boulders the best I can. We hastily hop out and I drag the Black Pearl into the cattails and flip it over, while we scurry part way up a nearby rise where some jack pines provide some shelter while we hunker down. It’s white out on the lake and we marvel at the trees across the channel which are violently swaying. After 20 minutes or so it’s all over. We paddle across Unload meeting one group as we do so and another one still waiting at the landing. Apparently, Frost is the place to be today?!

While not very impressive as a campsite, the northern most site on Gordon provides a convenient spot to take a pose as we watch yet another group paddle towards the Frost lake portage. Blue now dominates the sky and, it seems almost unreal that we had a severe storm not an hour ago.

After working our way back to Long Island lake, the wind is getting a little pushy. It is our good fortune that it is generally at our back and we get a mostly free ride back to camp. Once there, Aurora hops into the lake and allows the waves to wash up over her and spends some time searching for cool rocks.

It’s nice to see that our site provides a well sheltered sanctuary from the wind. Our weather radio tells us that the weather will be changing tonight and really cooling off with high winds expected late tonight. Fortunately, prior to that, things calm down so we can have a campfire tonight, where I instruct Aurora how to build a one match fire. Apparently, she is paying attention as one match is all she needed to get it going. Proud papa.