Tuesday, August 29, 2023 Saganagons. Lillypad, Jasper, Ottertrack. Woke up to another cloudy day. Out of the hammock and packed up quickly. We did a quick breakfast of cereal with milk. Yes, the cold pack is still quite cold and nothing has spoiled yet. We haven’t had real hot weather and that probably helped. Packed the canoes and were off before 8. We headed due south to the portage to Lillypad. The Sun came out and most of the clouds were disappearing fast. We got to the portage and had a lot of trouble finding the entry We went in where it should have been and found a mucky marsh. Mart went around to the east and thought he found it. Until he tried stepping out of the canoe and sunk in mud up to his knees. Not good we thought and returned to our first choice. We maneuvered through the high grass and muck to get close. Then Rob thought it would be a good place to get out. He put one foot over and tried to step out. Then it sank into the mud so he quickly used his other foot to stop it. Which resulted in him stuck in the mud up to his crotch. With a little panic in his voice, I hear “Tim, I think I’m going to lose my shoe!”. Using my best Indian Jones logic, I tell him that he’ll have to lay on his stomach (in the muddy weeds) to take the weight off his legs. Then slowly work your feet loose. He worked that out while I spied a rock or two on the surface. I stepped out onto those and managed to stay above to mud. Rob was out of the mud and able to walk around on the grassy area. We found the portage trail and began the first of the day. It was another tricky portage with a lot of up and down. We got to the tiny landing at Lillypad and stacked our stuff where ever we could. Then across to the Jasper portage. This one had a much larger landing for ease of unloading. But it was very rocky. It was like a cobblestone street that had every other stone removed. You had to step very carefully. Finally a quick paddle across Jasper. Eagle sighting in the tree. And the final portage to Ottertrack. It could be called two portages because there is a beaver pond in the middle of it. Mart and Liz launch first across the pond only to be confronted by the beaver! Apparently it was right in front of the canoe and Liz says “what should I do?” I don’t know. The only time I’ve seen a beaver, they were trying to get away from me. The beaver decided not to make it an issue and swam away. Liz was pretty lucky to get to see it up close. Another very short easy jaunt down the creek. Yes the path is part of the outflow from the pond. Then we’re on Ottertrack and looking for a lunch spot. The overcast has moved back in and there’s a stiff breeze coming from the East. We paddle across to a campsite on the point and have lunch. It’s a very rocky landing and there’s a small fire pit behind a rock. I thought this was a highly rated site but it looked small and cramped. Until I walked back and found the main fire pit. It is a BIG site with lots of room. We chill out (literally) and have our cold cuts and cheese on pita bread. Back on the water we launch and get blown safely away from the shore rocks. It’s all paddling now. We have the wind coming from an angle behind us and the water only had a mild chop. The we turn more to the West as we get to the border and have the benefit of a full tailwind. That negates the first day’s headwind. We make good time to the other end of the lake and are at camp by 3. The wind dies down and the Sun comes out in full force as we approach camp.

It's a beautiful spot around the corner from the Knife portage and we settled in. A ton of room in the trees and many hammock hangs available. I’m wandering around hanging wet clothes and looking for photo opportunities. Then hear a splash and look down in the lake. It’s a HUGE turtle swimming in the clear water right next to shore. I called the others to see it and get a picture. The shell was at least a foot wide and maybe 14”-16” long. I have never seen a turtle that size in fresh water. How big do those things get??

We haven’t seen anybody on the water or land yet today. Then one canoe going the other way to the Gijikiki portage. An hour or so later a party of four canoes coming down Ottertrack. That was the most real sign of people we saw since we left Prairie Portage. Rob is feeling a little sick, so he goes to their tent for a while. Then returns later partially refreshed. We chill out, have an early dinner and head to sleep. It was an 12 mile day with some hard portages. We were tired and knew we had the full length of Knife to paddle the next day.

People seen: a group of four canoes and one tandem group. Did not notice any occupied campsites