Got up early to see the most gorgeous magenta sunrise I’ve ever seen. I scrambled for my “good” camera but when I take the lens cap off the lens immediately fogs over (it was kept in a watertight case overnight). Ahhh! I grab the small digital and have better luck but the best of the sunrise is over. It’s amazing how fast the color can change.

I was packed and ready to leave by 9:30. Portaged over to Gull and found that the campsite I wanted was taken. I paddled with a strong wind down to two other sites but didn’t like them. I decided to try Fairy Lake. Going back against the wind now on Gull and it’s really getting rough. Portaged through Gun Lake and into Fairy. The wind is starting to be a problem now. There’s white caps and it’s right in my face as I paddle through Fairy. I find the site that was recommended but I don’t like it. It’s small and not very level and exposed to the wind so I push on and portage into Boot Lake.

Down the south side of Boot and just north of the turn south to Fourtown I find another great site. It’s on a south west point facing west but there’s plenty of trees to block the now southerly wind.

I am exhausted and quickly set up camp as I hear thunder in the distance. I meet 6 canoeists shortly after and can tell they are tired from fighting the wind too. I chat with the first two as they wait for their friends. One guy is from Kansas City the other from Texas. The next canoe pulls up and I find out it’s the bowman’s birthday. He’s 67 today. They’re having a good trip. It’s nice for a change to have a conversation with someone other than a squirrel or mouse.

Journal: “Not much to do but read now. It’s too windy to fish. Getting real dark in the south now. My tarp is taking a beating. Hope no trees come down!”

Rain and awesome tarp