I wake up at around 5 am to the sound of vans and canoes being loaded. It’s welcoming to me, as is the fresh and cool morning air. It’s smells like a Christmas tree here.

I got some free coffee and went back upstairs to pack the gear and other stuff I had left out.

I needed some things in town yet, but I decided on packing up everything into the vehicle first. I thought I double checked the entire bunkhouse before leaving. Little did I know I left a small grey and white cooler with some food I needed for the trip in it…

I headed to Piragis. Initially I was going to rent a canoe there, but since I picked one up already, all I needed was a solo portage yoke and my permit.

Once I go there, I had a chance to find a used bending branches bent shaft outfitter paddle, a new cvca portage yoke, and some bungee dealie bobs. Too bad they didn’t have any used yokes, but it’s mid august I didn’t expect any…

I saw a nice new trillium for sale, with aluminum trim. It was blue. Didn’t know they made blue. The trillium is the other canoe I wish I had besides the magic. I’m smaller framed at 5’4 or 5’5 and 130 lbs. It’s a little wider than my magic, and shorter. Lighter too obviously. It’s a downsized version of the northwind solo. So basically perfect for me if I’m trying to go really light or bushwhack. My ocd found some imperfections and I realized if I ever had money to buy a new one, I would need to inspect it first. The thwart wasn’t quite parallel with the seat mostly. Great looking canoe though, wow.

I talked with Adam in the shed when I watched my video, and bought my paddle. He let me know the good times to look for used gear there. I should have asked for a job too. I love this area.

Realizing how much I spent, but then remembering how nice the solo yoke is…mmmm…ahhh.

All that was left to do was drive to the entry point. Or so I thought.

I got to the entry point and it there were some people, but it wasn’t busy. Some outfitter employees waiting for their counterparts.

I took my sweet time unloading everything, repacking everything one last time, and realized something. I left half my food in the fridge in Ely.

Ughhhhhhhhhh was all I said. By then a lot of people had arrived and one of them heard me and said, “yeah unloading gear in the morning is a drag.” I agreed without telling her what the real reason was.

I set my canoe and packs off to the side on the beach and drove back to Ely. Not a good start for a solo trip.

They had to locate the cooler but they eventually found it. Woohoo.

Now let’s go. For real this time.

Get back, pack my food, and realize I’m missing one dealie bob somehow. Oh well. The fact that I’ve been so forgetful is a bad sign though. But luckily that was the last of it. In actuality, I would not be unorganized or lose anything for the remainder of my trip.

People commented on my new canoe. I said it was over 25 years old. The gentleman I bought it from took immaculate care of it and I had recently cleaned it up, sanded the trim and oiled it, and treated the inside with flood prnetrol. I’ve got a bright red ccs seat pad in there and I admit, I too think it is a fine looking canoe.

My setup is my magic, seat cover, small 5’ rod (it was 5’5 but I snapped it and superglued it together, resulting in an overlap and loss of length) and reel bungeed to the boat. I have my bent shaft paddle I carry in hand, and a kayak paddle velcroed to the thwarts with those black piragis branded holders. My frost river pack has the basket inside and sits behind me. My food pack sits in the very front of the boat. The yoke right behind it with the pads facing down.

I have a leash of red 550 attached to the bow loop back to the food pack grab handle with a carabiner. At every portage I take out my food pack and use it as an anchor to shore while I wet foot unload. It is just long enough to loop around the portage yoke and back to the bow and stay taught, and I use it to help direct the canoe while I carry it. I also have a small red 550 tether to my pack behind me with a carabiner so it doesn’t float away if I dump. Same as the portage yoke. These three items all have a red carabiner on them. I attach them and detach them at every portage. It’s an easy chore, and a good habit to keep up.

PFD is always on unless I’m at camp.

I had a lot of new gear this time, and my aim was to spend a day or two refining my system before I really set out and covered water.

This meant I happily camped on the northwest side of lake three, near lake two. I played around with my new tarp, new cordage and lines, and set up my boat to double portage. I know single portaging is fast, but it’s not really easy. I can double very fast though. I pull my weight well. First pass is the canoe, second is the two packs and carry the paddle. Frost river goes on the back, food pack in front, paddle in hand. The pack in front actually balances my body better so I don’t have to lean forwards too much from the weight of my frost river pack. It’s easier to carry like this than just the big pack by itself imo.

Anyways, No fish to cook, so no cooking. There is a trail connecting this sight to the one just north of me. It’s not remote here obviously. Lots of wind on the water, and lots of noise from other campers too.

Easy to eat snacks and an easy to eat meal then off to bed.