One to Seagull, one-way
by noodle
Trip Type:
Paddling Canoe
Entry Date:
06/03/2023
Entry Point:
Lake One (EP 30)
Exit Point:
Seagull Lake (EP 54)
Number of Days:
6
Group Size:
1
Discuss Trip:
View Discussion Thread (6 messages)
Day 6 of 6
Thursday, June 08, 2023
Day six. One last big portage, only 100 rods, so not BIG big, but ... the last one I'd have to do. Well before this time I stopped being foolish with the portages -- most of the time I wore water sandals, which were great, but on repeated portages the straps would rub against my feet and lead to blisters if I wasn't careful, and since I told myself that I am in zero rush ... well, when I landed at a portage, I'd pull my wet sandals off, dry my feet with a camp towel, put on dry socks and camp shoes, portage, and then switch back to wet shoes before pushing off. Sure, on most portages it doesn't matter, but after miles and miles in wet sandals I decided to start taking the extra few minutes for warm, dry feet. I crossed that, launched onto Seagull.
That was flat. Another perfect day to cross a larger lake. Two hours of paddling across that got me to the exit, over into the motorized section, carefully down some quickly moving water into the little bay with EP 54, and then, well, not quite done YET. I still had to get up to campsite #11, about 115 rods from the landing, then back to get another pack, then back to the landing, then ... no, not back to get the canoe. It can stay there off to the side for a little bit. When my friend arrives, I'll teach him to portage. I got there on Thursday, a little before they arrived, and then we proceeded to spend the next four days lounging, feasting, and sleeping. I ate more that night than I had in any two days combined. 
We had planned to do it again this year. He would drive up with his dad, grab a site at Trail's End, I'd paddle across and join him. Maybe the same route, maybe go up through Knife, maybe through Little Sag and Gabimichigami and Paulson and the 409 rod portage into Seagull from there. But our faithful old dog was in his last few weeks, and the last thing I wanted was to be gone for a week, wondering all the time how he was doing, and knowing that I would be 24 hours at least from getting back home if things turned for the worst. So there's no 2024 solo yolo, but at least I can make up for it by recapping last year's.
Be well, learn from your mistakes, walk with humility. I know I make too many mistakes. I hope I make fewer.
Daily distance: 6.5 miles, 4.9 paddling, 1.6 portaging. Total 60.2 (44.9/15.3).
Day six. One last big portage, only 100 rods, so not BIG big, but ... the last one I'd have to do. Well before this time I stopped being foolish with the portages -- most of the time I wore water sandals, which were great, but on repeated portages the straps would rub against my feet and lead to blisters if I wasn't careful, and since I told myself that I am in zero rush ... well, when I landed at a portage, I'd pull my wet sandals off, dry my feet with a camp towel, put on dry socks and camp shoes, portage, and then switch back to wet shoes before pushing off. Sure, on most portages it doesn't matter, but after miles and miles in wet sandals I decided to start taking the extra few minutes for warm, dry feet. I crossed that, launched onto Seagull.
We had planned to do it again this year. He would drive up with his dad, grab a site at Trail's End, I'd paddle across and join him. Maybe the same route, maybe go up through Knife, maybe through Little Sag and Gabimichigami and Paulson and the 409 rod portage into Seagull from there. But our faithful old dog was in his last few weeks, and the last thing I wanted was to be gone for a week, wondering all the time how he was doing, and knowing that I would be 24 hours at least from getting back home if things turned for the worst. So there's no 2024 solo yolo, but at least I can make up for it by recapping last year's.
Be well, learn from your mistakes, walk with humility. I know I make too many mistakes. I hope I make fewer.
Daily distance: 6.5 miles, 4.9 paddling, 1.6 portaging. Total 60.2 (44.9/15.3).
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