Got up at 430 and made some coffee, then threw the packs in the truck and hit the trail with Amelia, my trusty sidekick. On the Little Isabella River by 730. Water levels were really low- some paddling, but mostly poling and a fair bit of walking the canoe through ankle deep water and muck. Sounds rough, but I was actually expecting much worse. By noon I got to the Isabella River, and saw a group that had come from Isabella Lake 2 days ago. They said one day was 5 hours of pulling the canoes through the rice beds, not even enough water to pole.

Took the first campsite heading towards Bald Eagle, since it was getting really hot and windy. this was to become the theme of the trip- hot and windy.

Went swimming, felt amazing! Had this idea that with the low water, all those rocks at the bottom of the river that gaze longingly up, dreaming of tasting the blood of canoes, are finally getting their dreams fulfilled.

Saw weird reddish purple clouds on the SE horizon that afternoon- figured out when I got back- that was the start of the Greenwood fire.

Amelia and I had a leisurely afternoon watching critters and lazing in the shade.

Critters seen: Sharp Shinned Hawk, toads, garter snake, hummingbird, nuthatches, vulture, some small marsh bird- a Sora? Size of a large sparrow/small thrush, brown, walking in the reeds.