Norm and Bill on lake three, 9-3-14

We waited at the second portage into lake two while some thundering clouds moved through.  Got to a camp that I've always wanted to stay at about mid day.  It's a huge site with lots of open space and smooth rock to sit on by the shore. we pitched the lean too tarp and got our stuff under it while we waited out a couple passing showers.  We popped up our tents and started a pot of coffee when the rain stopped.  A  little nap followed   all the activity.  Supper was mashed potatoes and tuna mush for me.  I was hungry and it was good.  Norm cast from shore while I watched the best sunset I've every experienced.  The sun had already gone below the western horizon but the clouds to the south were all purple and pink and totally reflected by the calm water. Add to all this a moon rise and some blue sky and I've never been so impressed by a sunset.  Within a few minutes it was gone and the whole world was gray.  Went to bed exhausted.   Ate pancakes for breakfast and watched the stream of canoeists heading east and west through the whipped up lake.  Too windy to paddle, spent the day in camp.  Woke up at 3am and sat under the tarp for a while. Felt good to sit instead of lay. Just as I was headed back to my tent a front blew through and started flapping the tarp. Soon it was all loose.  I re-staked it to the ground.  Back in my tent a few minutes later I could tell it had come undone again.  To tired and just let it blow.  When I looked at it in the morning it was ripped all along one  side.  The sun rot it had suffered through years of use had compromised the strength of the fabric.  I put it in a pack hoping it wouldn't rain again.   Today there were lots of canoeists mostly paddleing east though.  It was another relaxing day with good food and coffee.  In the evening we fished in the sunset.  It was a great experience to be in the glow of mother nature while catching sunnies, smallies and one walleye.   After cleaning the fish I watched the moon rise over a calm lake.  It was a fitting end  to a nice trip.  The paddle back to the landing was smooth and beautiful as any day in the BWCA.