I got up at 4 and was on the water by 5. I found it always took me an hour from wake up to on the water this trip.  Wind was up a little but was supposed to drop through the day. Basswood is huge water and I didn’t want to be windbound there.  I have to admit I have some negative thoughts when it comes to Basswood lake. Just too many overused sites with chopped down trees and trash. It is a real shame because the lake is truly magnificent and great fishing. I would prefer that motors were outlawed there to bring it back to a more BWCA like feel but I also respect everyones right to enjoy our public lands with in the laws. I guess it really goes back to my first BWCA solo in 2019. I ended up camping my last night in Pipestone Bay directly across from the Newton Lake Portage. Radios blaring and people floating right in front of the portage all afternoon. Just left a bad mark on an otherwise amazing trip… Anyway, off at 5 and headed south toward lower Basswood Falls. I was able to enjoy the incredible pictograph panel on the river at day break with the moon still rising behind the incredible rock wall. Like the Lac Lacroix panel I find myself just as impressed with the pallet as I am with the actual drawings. The current on the Basswood river was starting to become noticeable where the wind met the current and I was noticing more and more drag on my boat as I neared Lower Basswood Falls. The falls were pushing hard and there was almost no vertical between the top and the bottom. I was able to use the normal take out just barely and spent some time taking pictures of the falls. The put in above the falls was more swift than usual but I didn’t have to bushwack further away from the falls and put in at the normal spot. You definitely don’t want to mess around here, have your canoe pointed up current and your paddle ready! I enjoyed the rest of the paddle through the river and tackled the 360 rod portage into basswood lake. Its amazing how even a 30 lb canoe can feel heavy if you carry it long enough. I double carried the portage and that took about an hour. I was trying to hustle as I still had Basswood Lake, Newton Lake and part of fall lake to cover. Not a lot to mention for the rest of the trip, lots of base campers on Basswood Lake. I made it back to the the Fall Lake EP pretty warn out. I was able to get really good cell service at the Newton Portage which was handy for lining up a pickup from my outfitter. I have hopes to complete the Hunters Island Loop through Quetico as soon as next year so this trip served as a good test to see how many miles is realistic for me to cover in a day. Great trip and looking forward to the next one. - Tyson