Day 3 (SW LLC to E LLC)

Up at first light. Oatmeal and coffee again (this was our standard hot breakfast - maybe some jerky, too). Finally had wind at our backs to start the day. Today we took it easy (or at least it felt like it). No urgency, no threat of storms, and we had planned a layover day for day 4. We paddled along the border on the north side of LLC. Saw a few people on LLC, but still surprised things weren't busier. The 57 miles the previous two days were starting to show. I had built up some decent blisters on my hands (though not painful) and my legs had some sunburn. The shoulders were a bit sore, too. My back felt great, though. Many, many kudos to Kevin (Rags) at CVCA. The backband was by far the best thing I bought for the canoe for the trip.

Saw a few more float planes take off on the Canada side of LLC.

We passed a few occupied campsites on the north end of LLC. While maneuvering through some islands we took a break for some coffee and granola bars. We saw a couple of loons chasing each other. It ended up being 5 loons acting, well, loony. One kept chasing another and they were all making lots of peeps and calls. Pretty cool. We slowly paddled towards them for some pics...

Around 10:30 we made it to a great campsite and called it a day. It was on the island directly north of Lady Boot Bay (and underneath Coleman Island). Steve had it rated a 10 and it ended up being our best campsite of the trip, hands down. Great rocks, good swimming, nice shade and hammock trees, good kitchen. Lots to like. We even found some ripe blueberries (in late June!) which was a definite bonus.

So far we had seen 1 party in canoes on the water the whole trip. We ended up seeing a couple of groups on LLC at the end of the day, but again we were amazed how few people we had seen.

The weather was probably the best of the trip today. Sun was warm but I wore a fleece in the shade. I took a nice nap in the hammock in the shade in the early afternoon. We went looking for firewood later in the afternoon. Steve found enough to supply us for a week I think. Lots of beaver chew washed up on the shore. Steve scared up a snake and it went to the water and swam under the canoe (I was fishing). Had never seen that before. We also had turtles in camp and there were numerous holes from turtle eggs scattered across the site.

Had a nice relaxing evening. I made up spaghetti and garlic toast with vanilla pudding for desert (I was the cook for the trip) and we sipped some merlot and enjoyed the weather and relaxed, knowing that we had a day off tomorrow. We both got in the water in the evening. Water felt great!

Final tally:
15 miles
0 portages

Wildlife:
15 loons
4 eagles
2 turtles
1 snake

Supper:
Spaghetti, garlic toast, merlot, vanilla pudding.

Weather in Orr:
High of 75, low of 46. Light winds out of NW, calm in evening.