Day 7-10!

Day 7:  Started the day later waking up around 830 to ensure we would be well rested.  Dave made some fantastic Blue berry Muffins which were excellent (yea so that's right muffins!).  After saying goodbye to our very kind host Mike we made a short but windy paddle 12 miles to Govotners point Campground on the shores of Lake Winnibegoshish.  If you have not paddled across it you have to show the lake respect and call it Winnibegoshish.  The name translated means something to the effect of lake of deadly waters.  Once you have crossed all 13 miles of strong winds, currents, waves you can call her Winni!  We got to there early made camp and lunch took Reggie for several long walks prepared for the next day and went to bed early.  

Day 8:  we awoke at 530 packed the boat and were greeted by glassy water and a beautiful sunrise.  A good omen we thought,  well atleast that's what we decided.  The paddle started out as calm and serine as any early morning paddle does.  After about 4 miles the wind had increased to about 7 mph which on land or a small lake may produce small waves or maybe even some small white caps.  On Winni however the gentle rolling waves turned into large 2-3ft white caps and rollers which stossed our boat around.  All I could do was steer (thank god it was a tail wind).  I'm so very lucky to have such a strong paddler for a wife and canoe partner.  Whoa Amanda was paddling her butt off!  After 3.5 hours and 13 miles we arrived triumphantly at Winni dam! After paddling  another 5 miles to Crazy James' point, our planned campsite and deciding we didn't like it due to excessive poison ivy and it was also only 1pm we paddled in another 9 miles to stay with George the River Angel who had been in contact with us.  Talking with him was great.  He showed us several plants that are good cures for...well everything.  He also taught us how to prepare them.  As we shared a meal and a fire we spoke about many things.  He told us about his family and met a several of them (his son, daughter in law and two grand children).  George also spoke alot about the peace treaty 150 years ago that was made between his clan and others in the area which is how he came to have land along the Mississippi.  He also shared with us hiis traditional bead work that he does!  Amazing!  George gifted us each a necklace.  What a great man and a wonderful experience. The next morning we were greeted by wolves howling.  Several across the river and one lone howl on the side we were camped.  George explained that the howl we heard on that side of the river was "big foot". Which in his culture wasn't some mysterious creature but rather a spirit which was there to help mankind.  

Day 9:  what a beautiful mess.  To make a long story short the campsite we wanted to stay at was not able to be seen or accessed.  The following are bullet points of the disaster:

- paddled 15 miles to Sandy's house (a river angel).  She wasn't there so ate lunch on her dock, walked Reggie and moved along to Leaning Willow campsite

-  attempted to find Leaning Willow but no sing around

-  argument ensued, moved on

-  made decision at 530pm to paddle the remaining 12 miles to Grand Rapids!  

-  arrived at Pokegama Dam at 8:06pm 

-  ate Ramen went to sleep

- total mileage for the day 34

Day 10: Showes!!!

We camped at the dam which is officially the Pokegama Lake Recreation Area.  Not a great place to sleep because of it being right next to the train, but we're so tired the night before we didn't care.  Anyway, we got a hot shower at the campsite!  Wow what a way to start the day.  We called the portage service and a guy named Al picked us up and shuttled us past both dams in Grand Rapids saving us several miles of portaging.  Thanks Al!  The an easy 18 miles to Black Berry campsite.  The topography has changed dramatically, and is absolutely beautiful scenery.  As we rounded a corner a small little creature was swimming awkwardly across the river.  As we approached we realized it was a porcupine!  We both started laughing and circled it trying to get a good pic.  Ridiculously funny.  Anyway we are now camped at Black Berry.  Which is our third favorite campsite aside from Stump lake and George's place!  We ended the day ( well before writing this insanely long update) with a great meal of dehydrated Chilly and three cheese biscuits!  Just as cost effective and light weight as other backpacking foods but much better tasting.