KW to Lake Three, June, 2012

We covered paddling skills and water safety ideas at the Lake One landing.  We were paddling with RK and six of his advisees from school.  There were 4 boys and 3 girls.  They all adapted to the new skills required to move a canoe through the water.  We made it to Lake Three in a few hours. Our lunch spot turned into the campsite we would spend the whole time.   There was a main camp area where I camped and we did all the social and cooking things.  Then down a trail to the north were the other tentsites right next to the perfect jumping rock.    That evening the boys and I paddled to Lake Four to catch what ever we could get to bite our hooks.   It was a beautiful evening fishing and watching the sunset.  The boys totaled a northern and a smally.  We took them to the campsite, fried them in the morning and served them with Sturdiwheat pancakes.  At noon on our second day we paddled into Lake Four and up to the first portage on the way to Hudson.  We beached the boats and walked the portage to have lunch on the far side.  We marveled at the fire burned forest.  The south side of the portage was totally black and the north side was only spots of burn.  The portage had acted as a fire break.  We returned to camp for swimming and then supper.   Again the boys and I headed out for an evening of fishing.  The continued high pressure system over us had shut off the fish.  It was, however, a wonderful evening paddling around, enjoying fellowship and the awesome woods and lakes of northern Minnesota.   We spent the next half day hanging in camp, swimming and packing up to depart before severe weather arrived.  The kids paddled and portaged like pros on the way out.  It would be great to go on a longer trip with them.    It was very nice to camp with this group.

Robert and I headed through the first lake and across a short portage to the second lake.  While on the portage we prepared our tackle for a little bass and northern action.  As we toured the hotspot Robert latched onto 2 nice bass.  As we continued on towards the pictographs we trolled with no luck.  The pictographs were beautiful and after a short while we headed for the bog.  There we saw the remains of last years crop of picture plants and observed the floating land masses that they grew on.   We also had a few nibbles and one big strike that brought Robert out of his seat as the mighty northern powered away with his lure.  We continued fishing on the return trip but with no more luck.  We crossed the portage and headed to the landing while paddling through rippled blue water.  It was a good day.

A Quik Daytrip, 5,25,12

Six of us left the Lake One landing mid-morning.  There were 3 adults and 3 teenagers.  We zig zagged our way through channels and bays to the main part of the lake, and headed south right into a strong wind.  We put forth maximum effort and covered a mile of waves and whitecaps.   At the first campsite we stopped for lunch.  Bratts and an assortment of other goodies made our lunch.  We greatly enjoyed the breeze, sunshine, fresh air and company of each other.  The woods were beautiful with fresh green, blue sky and blue sparkling water.  Our return trip was easy at first because we were going with the wind.   The trip through the narrow channels into the winds  was difficult for some. We all made it to the landing eventually.   It was a wonderful day complete with the wind and into the wind paddling.  It was especially fun to watch the girl's canoe power ahead of us as if they had a 2 horse kicker.