Starting out from the Mandy's in Ely.
Jolene is going to conquer the canoe portaging experience!
We entered at Little Isabella (#75) - we snaked along for several miles...
We spent the night on Bald Eagle Lake - at an inferior campsite on the west side - buggy and no redeeming qualities.
Off we go in the morning - with several portages ahead of us.
We are crossing Bald Eagle, then going through Gull, Pietro and Camdre - on our way to a familiar spot on Clearwater Lake.
Portage ahead, Jolene is our greeter.
This is a good team. Jolene had never been in a canoe before this trip!
Nice weather today - hot, but good for catching some rays.
Love this guy!
Lucky shot of a lotus flower and bug visitor. We remember this entry to Gull Lake.
Jesus rock! Jolene walks/rocks on water!
Oh yeah!
Now I need to get back into the canoe without tipping it over!
The start of trying to meet Sia's challenge of a double hair swoosh in the lake.
Too soon.
Too late.
Almost.
How many times do we have to do this?!
Good one for Jolene, but Brit is already done.
I give up. Brit is getting cold and we are tired of trying.....
We split up cooking duties. Brittany and Danny are cooking tonight.
Another good team.
Hanging out.
Danny is working hard - this meal is fantastic! Rice noodles, chicken and kung pau sauce!
Open your mouth for the little airplane of food - chocolate mousse!? Can't be that tough to take!
It's all about the deuce.
Readying for a long portage from Clearwater to Turtle Lake.
Fashionista on the water.
Waiting at Turtle.
And how are you going to get under that tree?
Teamwork!
Alex being a rockstar - carrying 2 canoes up to Turtle.
Oh boy - another Jesus rock. This time it is Brittany's turn.
Yoga on the water!
There must have been a fire since 2003 - lots of burned trees in this area.
Turtle on Turtle Lake.
Rapids between Bald Eagle and Gabbro.
We portaged past the rapids, but then had to take some photos to pretend we had gone through them...
Made it!
Made it (not really).
Last again - just a little pick up over the rocks and we're on our way into Gabbro. The water level was down close to 2 feet from normal.
Need I say more - another Jesus rock for Alex to show off on.
I missed the mooning and got this shot instead.
Hey there - great lake time at the last possible campsite on Gabbro!
Danny's on fire duty while Jo and Alex make supper.
Yummy sunset in the making.
Filtering water - not so bad with our new pump.
Hmmmm
Sweet couple - Brit and Danny.
This is our site on Gabbro. We stayed here before with Kelsey and Kallan in 2003.
Sun hitting the trees as it sets.
Lovely sunset looking into Little Gabbro.
Hanging high - we have 3 bear canisters, but end up hanging lunch out of the bear's reach every night.
Sun coming up at Gabbro. This was a lovely campsite, except that the mosquitoes were horrible last night and chased us into our tents early.
This was a crazy morning. The water levels were very low, so we ended up having to pick up, portage and deal with a lot of rocks before reaching the Kawishiwi River.
Rocks ahead.
It's all about the adventure. And the neon colored shirt.
Teamwork getting across and loaded up again.
Lotsa loons.
A fun little bit of rapids in the Kawishiwi River, right next to our next campsite. Brit and Danny check out Alex and Jo's technique and progress.
Now it's our turn.
We made it!
Tight quarters here, but the bugs were minimal!
Shadow of Brittany jumping in. Pretty cool!
Life jackets as "diapers"
Trying to go feet up - all 4 at once.
Sunset through the pine needles.
Sunset over the Kawishiwi River.
Hmmm. :)
These ducks were making a bee line for the rapids for their morning breakfast.
Catching fish at the base of the rapids!
Look - it's right there.
Literally - best loon shot of the week.
The portage out was so short - 147 rods - we couldn't believe it was all over.
We witnessed great stormy clouds as we drove back from Ely.
Finally we had thick rains descend on us as we drove down 35.
But of course, the sun came out and we were blessed with a beautiful rainbow to the east.
Trying to do a 4-some feet up - Danny has a little trouble and Brittany displays her sailor lingo.
