Saturday, September 17, 2022 I ended up completing my whole book and started on the second one before finally turning in last night. Voles or mice were scratching at my packs that I had stashed in my tent vestibules which woke me up periodically in the night. But guess what? The rain stopped! I peeled my damp self out of my sleeping bag and was finally able to sip my morning coffee out on my rock front porch again. The lake was dead calm and the sky a dark and moody gray heavy with fog. Humidity was very high! I briefly worried about being fogged in this morning, but I pushed that thought out of my head. There was more than plenty visibility out there to travel. Packing up camp was a dirty chore…my poor tent was so muddy and plastered with pine needles. Shove it in a bag to deal with it later.

I ate a quick oatmeal breakfast and off I went. Once out on the water, I was in no rush to get back. The paddling was superb - calm lake, dry skies! The tiny trickles of creeks into the lake now practically roared with life and I stopped at one along the portage to explore the waterways. I took my time floating on Caribou Lake taking the long way around a few islands watching soaring eagles and wailing loons. Lots more traffic here!

The boardwalks on Lizz Lake were practically underwater now! The portage trails have turned muddy and I was grateful for my knee boots. The large leaf asters are now in full bloom and the mountain maples now just starting to turn golden yellow. Back at Poplar Lake, I paused by the flowing creek exit for one last time soaking in the fog, pin cushion islands, tall cliffs with dangling moss and lichens. The sun tried to show its face through the silvery gloom. It was an easy coast back through the barrier islands to the outfitters. I could now clearly hear truck traffic and civilization.

I was proud of myself for overcoming bouts of anxiety and happily accepted some fresh coffee from the outfitters when I returned my gear. I hiked up the road to my car and reality, or was I leaving reality? I enjoyed the trip but I think my next solo adventure will be planned around moving every day. I think that might help with my anxious need to constantly be doing something. Haha!