September 4, Day 2
Ben and I woke up at 7:30am. and started making breakfast. After breakfast we started taking down camp and packing for another traveling day. The weather was windy, cold, and dry. We paddled the rest of Fourtown Lake hugging the shore some of the way. Jenn and Marc led the way this time. They were strong paddlers and we were about 30 seconds behind them. As we neared the first portage we were on calmer water and decided to race. Ben and I beat Jen and Marc to the portage but they were at a disadvantage because they didn’t see where the portage was until they were a little ways up shore of it.We walked a 48 rod portage to Boot Lake. Ben, Marc, and Jenn all huddled around the map and figured out where they were going at the end of the portage.
Planning our Route
Boot Lake wasn’t that hard until we started going north on it and encountered white caps. We paddled through it taking twice as long as it would on a calmer day. We did a short 15 rod portage to get to Fairy Lake. Fairy Lake was easier to paddle on than Boot Lake since it was smaller. After Fairy Lake we did a 50 rod portage to Gun Lake. At the end of this portage we took a break and snacked on our treats and discussed where we wanted to stay. The plan was to paddle for four hours that day and see where we were at. Marc and Jenn decided they wanted to continue paddling to Moose Lake rather than staying on Gun Lake which was our original goal we wanted to get to the first day. On Gun Lake we paddled underneath a Bald Eagle perched on a tree near the shoreline.
Bald Eagle on Gun
After Gun Lake we did a 10 rod portage to Bullet Lake. We paddled Bullet Lake to the next portage which led to a 44 rod portage to Moose Lake. While starting the portage to Moose Lake we met another party, a dad and son, who were traveling to Moose Lake too. We chatted with them a bit and asked them what way they were planning on going on Moose Lake. They were going east; we were planning on going east, too, but after hearing this we decided to go west and let them have the campsite to the east. The Moose Lake portage was full of mud at the end. We all got our boots soaked with mud on this one. We paddled over to the campsite just west of the portage and liked it from the start. It had a beautiful view of the lake from the kitchen area and a great landing for canoes.
Moosecamp Lake
Lunch at Moosecamp Lake
Moosecamp Lake
We looked at the the campsite at the far western end of the lake, but it didn't look inviting at all. We went back to the first campsite and unloaded all our gear. Marc and Jenn let us pick the first tent pad that afternoon. We set up our tents and then had lunch. After lunch we all decided to go fishing together. Marc was really excited to fish especially since Ben was going to show him all his pointers this time. We started trolling the west part of the lake with the Farmers behind us following.
Moosecamp Lake
Moosecamp Lake
Jenn had the first bite that day, a small northern. We continued paddling; I reeled in a dinner size walleye at the beginning of a point. After getting it in the boat, Ben and I tried paddling back, but the wind was still very strong, so it was difficult.
Moosecamp Walleye
However, the Farmers were right behind us, and Marc caught a dinner size walleye and Jenn caught another northern.
Moosecamp Walleye
Ben and I decided to paddle back to camp after seeing that we had enough fish for dinner. Marc and Jenn continued to fish. Back at camp, Ben put the walleye in the cage. We relaxed around camp until Marc and Jenn came back. After they came back it was time to fillet the fish. Marc and I decided to do the filleting. Marc cut up his fish different than the way Ben taught me. Marc cut off the entire head and then started on the sides. Jenn helped Marc finishing cutting up his fish.
Cleaning Fish
Cleaning Fish
Cleaning Fish
Marc decided he wanted to learn how we filleted our fish afterwards. Ben and I made dinner which included fish, potatoes, and tropical fruit salad with hot chocolate for dessert. Ben and I did dishes afterwards while Marc fished from the front of our campsite. Marc reeled in a small northern.
Northern from Camp
He was so proud of catching something from shore. We all played a game of hearts that night before going to bed.
