Saturday, June 24, 2023

Yikes! I could NOT fall asleep last night. Brain was wired and then the thunderstorm had me on edge. The tent performed well though. Even with the vents open and wind gusting like crazy during the downpour, I was dry. I really like the space in my new Durston X-Mid 1.

It stopped raining by morning and I got moving quickly because the bugs were awful! I ate breakfast out on the lake. The portages were all well traveled and pretty flat save for 1 or 2. Most landings were easy. Came across a couple beaver dams including one that required a 2 rod portage that wasn't marked on the map, but then one of the other portages that was on the map didn't exist anymore. Guessing due to the beaver moving a dam...good old beavers. You can always count on them to keep us guessing.

Once I reached the Kawishiwi Lake entry point landing, I left the canoe off to the side and started carrying my pack to the Hog Creek parking lot 2.5 miles away. However, about 15 minutes into my hike, the family I had chatted with at the landing pulled alongside and offered me a ride. Very nice couple with 2 adult sons. Apparently, I had also paddled past them as they were fishing on Kawasachong Lake earlier.

Once I had the car loaded, I was eager to get on the road thinking I would be home in time for dinner. Just a few issues would prevent that. Remember back to the beginning of this tale when I mentioned I had charged my EV to 75% capacity at the Lutsen charger? Well, I had counted on being able to top up in Lutsen again upon exiting the Sawbill Trail. However, in the 4 nights I had been on trail, that charger had gone on the fritz. Ugh, only choices were Grand Marais which was the wrong direction and Duluth which I quickly calculated was outside of my remaining battery pack capacity. I had no choice but to go out of my way to Grand Marais. Unfortunately, upon arrival in Grand Marais, I pulled into the lot just in time to see a couple in an Audi attempting to use the fast charger. So I had to plug into the level 2 unit until they were finished. They had some difficulties connecting so I helped them which paid off when they paid for my charger after I had trouble getting my card to work properly. Nice couple on their first EV road trip.

I wandered around town and got a much needed meal. Once the Audi was done, I topped up to 80% on my Chevy Bolt and headed back down the shore. I had a very strong tailwind so my range was starting to look like I might be able to make it all the way home. So I bypassed the Duluth charger (good because there was a big weekend line) and Moose Lake. Then the winds shifted, I suddenly had a head wind and saw my range start to creep down. After calling my husband to ask exactly how many miles from North Branch to our house, I realized I would have to stop in North Branch for a short charging session before making it home. Once again, someone beat me to the fast charger by moments and I was relegated to the level 2. Fortunately, I didn't need many electrons to make up the difference to get home. I used those minutes pick up a pizza at a nearby bar and use a restroom.

This trip was wonderful. It really cemented my confidence that I could do a lot of miles in a day and get up fresh the next day to do it again. It also cemented my portage technique: step out, split my double blades and bungee them into the canoe, flip the portage yoke from behind my seat to proper portage position, put on my pack after stuffing the BeFree and map into a side pocket, flip up canoe and GO. Few steps, done efficiently, less than 2 minutes at each landing. I felt ready to tackle the Border Route Challenge in September! Story to be published at some point :)

Travel Time: 6:00am-10:00am (4 hours) Distance: 10 miles (8 portages) Places: Malberg Lake, Koma Lake, Lake Polly, Kawasachong Lake, Square Lake, Kawishiwi Lake
Total trip was about 82 miles in 5 days, 4 nights (including 47 portages). Damn! I rocked this!