Monday, September 27, 2021 Up early to head to EP16. We get all the gear loaded and head off into the misty morning. About 2 miles down the Echo trail we realize we forgot one of our bags in the bunkhouse and had to make the trip back. We get to the entry point around 7:30AM unload and make the portage down to the river.

The suns rays are breaking through the trees and mist, creating one of those Boundary Waters mornings you think about at home during a January blizzard. The first portage down river is short. The other side has changed some even since July when we were here last. The beavers have continued to build and the water level is much higher. They've created quite a pond between this portage and the next. We paddle over to the beaver damn just to inspect their engineering feat. Its not long, maybe 20ft across but its manged to hold up 10 or more feet of water. A quick portage around and on to the winding Nina Moose. Our spider friends have really done some work weaving their webs on the wild rice and sedges. The droplets of moisture collecting on them glisten like frost in the morning light. Its really quite beautiful.

We get to the next portage and meet a couple of guys on the way out. They are friendly and mentioned in our conversation needing to find a way to EP14 to get their truck. Austin and I didn't think of it until we were loaded that we could have let them use Austins truck. We thought for sure our fishing luck would be doomed now. That changed in a minute after Austin "plopped" a decent Smallmouth right by the rapids. The weather could not be more ideal. The sun is out, its 60 degrees with very little wind. What wind their is causes the maple leaves to let go their attachment to summer and gently flutter to the ground as we portage. Just our walking seems to cause them to fall. The water levels are low. Those who have been on this river might appreciate this photo. Our goal is to make it to Oyster for a night so we paddle across Agnes and to the beach landing at the portage to Oyster River. We say hello to a friendly grouse on the river side and are on our way to Oyster. The Oyster river to Oyster lake portage is a really pretty one. Ive done it a few times and it never disappoints. We make for the north peninsula site and its open. After making camp we go out and troll for Lakers with no luck. The night is clear and calm as we dose off. I had a crazy dream that during the night something was under my hammock. This something batted my rear the same way a my cat bats at my dogs face. I remember trying to yell in my sleep but couldn't get words out just a strange panicked noise. Was it a dream? Maybe I read too many entries on the message board thread about creepy or weird things experienced in the BWCA?