Saturday, August 26, 2023 That Man, No Man, This Man, Other Man, No name, Bit, Bell.

We woke up about 6:30 and broke camp. Thick clouds covered the sky but there was no rain forecast. Breakfast was cereal and milk with the required good coffee. We had been equipped with the large French Press and it made four cups in each batch. No need to use my smaller one. We paddled the short distance to the end of the lake and checked it out. I had heard that the creek could be passable under the right conditions so I steered towards it to see. Mart and Liz went right to the portage for the sure thing! We proceeded up the creek and found it entirely passable. In fact, there were many cut off branches to make a clear path. This is one case where a LNT violation seems acceptable to me. It looks like it’s been standard practice for many years on that route. We kept on paddling, got out and pushed the canoe in some shallow spots, and felt we were going to get through and eliminate a triple portage.

The only obstacle was the log pullover mentioned in other reports. It was there just before No Man Lake. But it wasn’t too hard and we paddled into No Man. Mart and Liz had made one trip and were on their second. Rob went back to help and I stayed with the food and gear. So we made much better time using the creek. A quick jaunt across No Man to an easy This Man portage and on to Other Man. The portage to Other Man was significantly harder. It wasn’t too hilly but was tight and rocky. We stopped at the Other Man End and ate lunch as it was just past noon. We hadn’t see anyone all day and there was no sign of anybody coming our way. So weren’t worried about blocking the portage. The clouds were still solid across the sky but the wind was light. After chilling for a while, we launched and proceeded up the Lake. Just as we got out of the narrows, the clouds started to break. The wind died to nothing and it started looking more like a nice summer day. Had a very pleasant paddle and enjoyed the scenery. The portage from Other Man to No-name was short but could be tough. A little up and then across a corduroy log path. This would be a sloppy mud bog if it was wetter. Then a choice of up over the rock or around to a short steep downhill. Across a Very shallow lake and the short and easy portage to Bit. Then onto Bell and find a campsite. We found the one near the portage was available and settled in around 3. It is a large site with plenty of room and very open. Though most of it is on a slope, flat spots are kind of few. No problem for hammock campers. It’s on a high clearing overlooking the lake with a excellent western view.

I decided to fish the cove, just to the south, from the shore. BAM a nice little pike hits my spoon after half a dozen casts. Then I trip as I’m reeling it in and working my way down to the shore. Right onto some sharp rocks with my forearm (are there any other kind of rocks there?) Blood flows as I get the fish to shore. No problem, “ It’s just a flesh wound” . I make sure it’s clean then slather with Neosporin and cover it with gauze. I didn’t want blood all over my hammock and sleeping bag! Another dinner with NY steaks and off to bed. It was like a 14 mile day and we were tired. Planning a early rising and get a good site on Saganagons. People seen: ZERO