Friday, May 21, 2010 Got up early today, and we were in the canoes fishing by 5:30 am. It was a good morning, and fishing was excellent. We quit at 8:30, and headed back to camp to pack up to leave. We'll have 8 portages today. Our first portage was a 20 rd into Bat Lake. 20 rods straight up, that'll get the heart pounding! And it did! We met three groups going in. All headed to Gillis. They will be disappointed when they get there, as the sites were almost full. We portaged from there into Green Lake, and met no one else there. The water was green hence the name. Our next was a portage into Flying Lake, a 70 rod. Today is puddle jumping day, as the lakes are small, and the portages are frequent. From Flying lake is the portage into Gotter 50 rods, at least that's what the map said. The lake level has been famously low this year, so it was more like 70 rods. We almost changed our plans this year and back tracked out of Tuscarora, because we had been told that Gotter was impassable. Both ends of Gotter were interesting to say the least. We met this guy crossing the portage, carrying his canoe barefoot....Hmmmm. Barley and I looked at each other and laughed. It seems that when some folks enter the woods, footwear is optional. Kinda like Mowgli from the Jungle Book. :) Oh well to each his own I guess. Our next portage was a 35 rod into Edith, which we bypassed by paddling up a small creek. There was a short pull over, but no big deal. From Edith, a short 50 rods to West Round and then an 85 rod into Round. We loaded our stuff in the truck, and headed from there, back to Gunflint Lodge. It was an awesome trip, sunny everyday, not a drop of rain. Fishing was the best I've had in years. A special thanks again, and again to Sheryl, for opening her home to us. 25 years seems like a long time, but it goes by so quick. Get all the tripping in you can.