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Day 3 - Leg 3 (click to enlarge pics)
Backtracked on Portage Bay, then LakeTemagami to Cross Lake
(Distance 7.5 miles)
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I tried to bake some cookies for early morning coffee and Bible study time. It was a bust! Burned to a crisp! That’s what happens when you get out of practice! I forgot the heat distribution plate from the bottom of the oven pan. Critical! Without the plate the cookies were directly exposed to heat, like putting them in a frying pan! Oh well, I had backup Pecan Sandies for that purpose, so threw away the cookies and moved on.
After study and some reading I made breakfast. Blueberry pancakes and sausage with OJ. I was using a new fry pan and as usual it takes a while to get the correct heat setting. Worked so-so, not my best pancakes! Will try to do better next time.
By the time I was finished, pulled in the lines and backed away it was 10 am. Usual departure time for me. I try to travel about 3-5 hours, 5-7 miles a day, give or take. Then skip a day. I had contemplated staying at this location because it was quiet and off the beaten track but the goal of Cross Lake I could not shake! The boat wanted to stay though! I could not get it off the beach! I used a paddle to try to help, but that was counterproductive since I put my weight on the bow, not the right location. So, I just used the motor to work it back and forth and eventually got off. I motored out slowly since the area was full of rocks and reefs.
My next problem was to get out of Portage Bay! There was a narrow channel to the NW I hoped had adequate depth, but no guarantees! However, once I got there it was clear I could likely get through, even if it was shallow and narrow. So, I escaped my trap and headed down lake, lots of fishing boats passing me by.
I set up the solar panel on my little folding table on the bow, so I could charge up the solar power battery which I use to recharge my drone and laptop batteries. Worked great since I was heading into the sun. Got it recharged by the time I headed back north
Saw three other houseboats in Cross Lake, two together on one site as I worked my way north. I was hoping my remote site would be open. It looked ideal for kayaking with lots of nooks and crannies and a short portage into a more interior lake. Turns out it was open! However, there was an unmarked site within sight that someone could come and take, not desirable. I do not like boat sites within sight of each other.
Boat Site - North Central Cross Lake
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Boat Site Walk Through
Very nice boat site! After I got tied up I took the fire ring ashore for later on. Flew the drone some more without the floats and performance was better. However, I could not get some of the intelligent functions to work finally gave up and decided to try later.
Went to do dishes, I do those in the afternoon before or after dinner which is early each day since I do not eat lunch. Although I did snack a little. I took some cheese, crackers, nuts, and wine ashore and took a break just enjoying the day and the scenery. Later I started the grill. Tonight it will be steak, baked potato, coleslaw, and red wine. Afterward I will try to fly the drone again.
40 Watt Solar Panel - Charging Solar Storage Battery Underway Fire Ring on Ceramic Tile to Protect Deck |
BT Stereo Speaker in Window (1 of 2) (Connected to phone with downloaded Pandora stations since there is no internet) |
Drone Landing Pad, DJI Spark Drone Mounted on Floats w/ Controller |
Greater success with the drone! Did some pics with the standard camera and also with my DJI Osmo Mobile 2 gimbal phone arrangement. Played with some motion lapse pics. Have to experiment to see what works best? Sat around the fire ring but I just don’t have the energy to stay up.
I did manage to read a little from a novel in bed but I get sleepy very fast. I’ve been sleeping soundly at night except the bed is a little to firm, so I roll over more often. I don’t have heat on at night but do need it in the morning. Cool nights!
Drone Overflight of Boat Site Area
Facing South - Kayak Launch Site |
Fire Ring Used Ashore In Lieu of Wood Fire