Nature called at 3:00am and I should have stayed up. I was using an older Cabala's thermarest type mattress that I acquired and the cover was separating from the foam. There was a big air bubble directly under my knees as big as a beach ball. If I tried to keep more of my body on the mat it didn't have as big of a bubble but it was kind of uncomfortable. I should have brought my trusty Therm-a-rest pad instead. With the big moon shining as bright as a spot light, it was difficult to tell when morning was starting. I got up around 5:30am and could hear thunder rumbling in the distance with some clouds moving in. Couldn't decide if we wanted to take the tent down before it got wet or leave it up to get out of the rain. While having breakfast the sky cleared with the thunder staying south of us. Packed up and took the gear across the 52 rod portage into Section 3 Pond. Section 3 Pond had three beaver lodges and as we neared the south end two otters were playing. When they saw us one climbed on the back of the other, watched us for a moment, then they turned, swam to shore and disappeared in the weeds. Another 52 rods and we were in Slim Lake. Slim was intriguing and I wouldn't mind spending more time there.
From Slim to Little Loon Lake was a killer 173 rod portage for me. There was a lot of down hill carrying and the canoe was digging into my shoulders. Made it across and Wil asked if I could look for his Frogg Togg cap on the way back for the pack. Took my time looking but it wasn't anywhere to be found. I figure the Northwood's gremlins had already snagged it. We were out of portages for a while as we paddled Little Loon, then into East Loon Bay, then Loon Lake. Motor boats are allowed on Loon and we saw two anchored to shore. I felt like we were back in civilization. Thunder was again rolling towards us so we picked up the pace. We averaged 4.5 mph crossing the lake trying to beat a storm. The wind was picking up but luckily it was to our backs. We wanted to get off the big water and into the Little Indian Sioux River before the winds got stronger and the rain hit. We made it and paddled to the 160 rod portage around Devils Cascade. Just as I picked up the canoe for the portage the rains started. I had to walk back for the pack and got pretty wet in doing so. The bright point on the walk was seeing a snake eating a frog. Nature at it's finest. Wil saw it on his way over but since his camera was dead he guided me to them. Just think if snakes were as big as trees. I would be scared every day of my life.
We were hoping to claim the first campsite on Lower Pauness but it was occupied. So were the second and third sites. After passing lake after lake of empty sites, now we can't find an open one. The rain was lightly falling as we paddled across Lower Pauness but lightening was now flashing. Wil and I wanted to get off the water but there wasn't a good spot. We crossed the beaver dam and the 8 rod portage into Upper Pauness and saw the campsite at the portage. We didn't like it so we headed to the next site. As we drew near three canoes appeared out of the mouth of Little Indian Sioux River and headed for the site. An older lady got out, walked around, and then got back into her canoe. At that point Wil and I were right behind them and I asked if they were taking the site. After hearing a No answer we snatched it in a paddle stroke. As we were unloading packs, another canoe appeared from the river and we could tell they wanted the site also. They settled for the site we left at the portage. In fact, after 3:00 in the afternoon Wil and I counted 12 canoes entering Upper Pauness Lake from the put in. We just shook our heads wondering where they all were going to camp.
It was still spitting sprinkles as we strung the tarp and erected the tent. The tarp was more for a wind block than the rain. We put in a total of 13.07 miles today with most of those miles paddling instead of portaging. What a change of pace. Wil and I couldn't believe all the unoccupied campsites a few lakes deeper in the wilderness and how the closer ones were all filled. We decided they were all a bunch of city pussies afraid of portaging. Supper was spaghetti and it really hit the spot with fresh parmesan cheese grated on top. Wil wanted to know where the hot garlic bread was. As soon as I figure out how to dehydrate some I'll be a millionaire. The sun came out after supper and with the little breeze we had the bugs were kept at bay. An eagle was fishing the lake in front of camp and Wil was watching with binoculars. It landed in a tree across the lake and sat there until dark. We kept thinking it would start fishing again but it never moved. It was in the same tree come morning. Real close to dusk two large white birds landed on the other side of the lake. I'm pretty sure they were swans but not sure of what species. A small squirrel or as Wil calls them, a Red Jimmy, was hoping for hand outs as it darted back and forth around the cooking area. The bear bell Wil brought worked great. We hung it on the food pack in case a bear was hungrier than us. No bears at all. In fact the bell was also a tick bell as we didn't see any ticks either. It also worked as an elephant bell as we didn't see any elephants or dancing women or cold beer, etc, etc.
