Trip Day 5

September 27th, I went to bed last night at 7 pm because it was dark. Listened to my audio CD for awhile but quickly got sleepy. Got cold inside but the down comforter and flannel sheets made the difference!

Got up at about 5:30 am to stoke the heater and jumped back into my warm bed for about 30 minutes. Finally got up and made coffee and had some cookies while I read. Weather report says it is mostly cloudy and in mid-40's in most places nearby. Feels colder to me!

I made breakfast early today, about 8 am, bacon, ground beef, and cheese omelet, with toast, raspberry jam, and OJ. The sun began to peak out by the time I finished and after dishes it was showing itself more. Suppose to warm up to mid-60's later on. I will head out on my hike in a bit. Not sure what shoes to wear since there has been so much rain?

A little better weather today!

Departed the boat about 9:30 am and did decide on hiking boots. I have no idea where the trail is but based on the map I will head up over the granite hill, which I scoped out yesterday to no avail. I found nothing today again! 

Anderson Bay Loop Trail - Leg 1
(1.5 nm, ave speed .8 kts, max 2.4 kts)

At one point I just decided to head down into the woods hoping to run across the trail (See "Cross Country note above). I saw some water and figured that was the bay to the south. Not certain if it was wise, but decided to head across the bush in that direction. I did not find a trail but did find a camp ground on the edge of the bay which had a trail of sorts heading toward the direction I thought I should go. 

View from camp site I found after cutting through the woods

I managed to see some moose and wolf sign (scat) in a couple of places both today and yesterday, but no critters. Anyway I got to the overlook I think is on the map but I looked, and looked, and walked in circles to no avail (see "Searching" note on satellite Leg 1 track above). 

Searching for the trail on the granite overlook, moss was sometimes slippery as snot!

Beautiful view from overlook

I finally gave up and was going to head back to the boat along my route when I found some rock cairns which appeared to mark a trail (See "Finally Found" Leg 1 map note above). I followed them and they did end up marking the trail. After some more hiking I finally came to a trail sign that lead me to the trail head and dock (See map note above). At that point my phone nav was about to die so I quick saved my track and headed back to the boat clockwise around the Anderson Loop Trail, this would put me over new ground.

Another view on Anderson Loop - Leg 1

Main Cruiser Trail Head

Dock is quite large

Map showing Cruiser Trail - If you have time, plenty of walking to south!  It actually connects to Kabetogama Lake eventually.

Anderson Bay Loop Trail - In my estimation the NE part is not accurate, see Satellite track below.

Anderson Bay Loop Trail - Leg 2
(Est. 1.5 nm, ave speed 1.2 kts, max 2.4 kts)

After another hour I managed to finally find the boat again. Turns out the trail never intersected my path to try and find it. No wonder I could not locate it! The trail was simply a short walk up from the boat but in the opposite direction and less than 100 yards away!  But there was no sign, and no way to know it was there since it was very brushy.  (See estimated trail path on Leg 1 track, you can see why I missed it)

Trail Bridge

Back country view

Huge rock left by glaciers in the middle of nowhere!

View along trail just west of the boat site.

I had a quick snack, and since it was 1 pm, decided to head out to the next boat site at Sand Bay South. I figured I would get set up there, shower and then head to Kettle Falls Hotel for dinner. It was a short trip and I arrived by 2 pm and got set up, but not until I fought with the boat! 

The wind tried to send it sideways into the shore after I jumped off and with no one on board that was a problem! I got a couple lines tentatively tied to shore posts and then tried to get on board again to straighten the boat but it was too far out even though I was wearing rubber boots! I jumped for the side and got my feet on a thin edge and managed to get back aboard without getting wet! I then backed the engine to starboard and got it lined up correctly. Jumped off a second time and secured the lines. Whew! What a rodeo!

Day 5 - Anderson Bay to Sand Bay South

Satellite Track - Anderson Bay to Sand Bay South(Distance 3.1 nm, ave. spd. 3.3 kts, max. spd. 5.3 kts)

Showered up and ready to go by 2 pm, but that was a bit early to leave since 3 pm was my plan. I got my kit together for emergencies, personal locator beacon (PLB), a set of flares, my phone with the navigation information, heavy weather jacket for warmth, etc. Finally departed in the skiff about 3 pm to head to the Falls for dinner.

Skiff route in orange, nav failed but I estimate distance about 3 nm.
(click to enlarge for better view)

Arrived early, about 4 pm even though I took my time coming and motored slowly through the narrows which had several sharp turns with buoys marking the rocks. Walked up to the hotel which was a pleasant pathway and ordered a glass of wine in the famous sloping floor bar (see pic). 

Walkway to Hotel

Hotel can only be reached by boat, no road access.

It really slopes, at least a foot or more in the middle! Something to see. Went out on the veranda to wait until dinner. Went in to the restaurant and got a menu and decided what I wanted was actually on the lunch menu so I went in and ordered. The waitress, cook, and bottle washer were a single person. No one else in the place, though one couple did walk in to check on dinner hours.

Note extreme angle on booths to left, floor in center must be a foot or so higher than the side.

Had the walleye shore lunch with fried potatoes, baked beans, and Texas toast, which they were out of, so they gave me a toasted bun instead. It was actually pretty good. Had a sundae treat for desert. I departed the hotel about 5:30 pm and since I knew the route I put the skiff on the plane and was back at the boat in very short order, maybe 15 minutes!

Back at the boat, enjoying the evening view of the lake, very peaceful!

Put together my music kit, camera, and a glass of wine and went topside to sit around the fire ring for the rest of the evening. Very pleasant! The weather was partly cloudy and brisk but very nice, particularly with the fire. Calm winds and a serene view of the islands and the lake. 

I really enjoyed using the fire ring, in many respects is was better than a fire ashore, particularly the better views and lack of mosquitoes.

A great view to cap off a very busy but enjoyable day!

Time to go down and put things away, complete this log and hit the sack. I'm bushed! 

While hiking in the morning I fell at least five times on slippery rocks and my hands are all scrapped and bloody! Once I fell directly backward and could not slow the fall.  I fell on my back and broke my binoculars in my backpack. The backpack saved me from being hurt worse! I did not break my camera or my phone, which I was using for navigation, both were in the pack. 

The binoculars are the cheapest to replace, thank goodness! It could have been worse. The rocks were so wet from all the rain and the moss was treacherous, like stepping on snot in places. I was being very careful and using a walking stick but still fell over and over again!

(10/17/17 Update-West Marine will replace the binoculars at no cost since they had a life time warranty. I am very thankful! New ones on the way)

My body hurts and my hands are all skinned up. Had to pull out the first aid kit, which I thankfully remembered to include in my gear.  Will take a couple Ibuprofen. It has been a rough day, I will sleep well after hiking about 3.5 statute miles, in very rough terrain at times, and with numerous falls!