.....really now, not all that dramatic....another title might be...."Why you never believe an Oct weather forecast"!

But I was prepared for the worst and made the best of it.  It was to be 6 day solo trip,  out on Northern Light lake and Sag....but I cut it to 5 days this morning when I awoke to 40 degrees, wet, wind and clouds.  My mood had soured and I decided to "bag it" and head for the car, 7 miles down on the Seagull river at Voyaguer Canoe Outfitters.  I rode a 15 mph NW wind in, and had some close calls with the whitecaps, but I made it from east side of Red Pine Isle to VCO in 2 hours solo today.

I'll say this....I paddled SE Sag (Red Sucker bay), the whole west 2/3'rds of N Light and up through Trafalger, and NE Sag.  LaVerendrye Provincial park is a "bargin"....just shy of $9.00/night Crown Land rate....and little development.  There may be an occasional boat/motor....I saw 1 in use in 4 days.  Crown Land Sag on the other hand is quite developed....even in the furthest reaches.  I'd say it beats one's typical "Basswood experience" hands down (IMO).

The "Northern Light portage", up in NE Sag, is a boat portage, I counted about 11 boats...all in their sleds on the beach (N Light side)....no empty sleds.  One crew was pulling their fishing boat across as I awaited my exit out onto Sag yesterday morning.  Old timer there told me of the last 40 years on N Light and all the changes he's seen (political and in the fishery).

Hidden gems...Wantelto lake (between Sag and SW N Light) is a gem...not for the scenery....but the fishing was fantastic.  Plus one gets to view N Light falls.  I've never marked so many fish and litteraly caught one on every cast (a fish tale)?

Ham Lake fire?  Well you can sure see it.  But not as bad as I thought it would be after 2 years.  MUCHO green growth, and the fire was quite "spotty" in many areas, leaving many clusters of prior vegetation (pics to follow).

Weather....Last Sat called for the upcoming week to have 40 degree lows, 50-60 highs, and sunny every day but Mon.  Guess what?  Rain every day but day 1.  Took most of my pics during the short sunny intervals between cloudbursts....so a false impression is given of fair weather...anything but IMO.

Bugs....No See-um's....nasty.  Got lots of welts from something.  Not a squeeter left.  No 4-legged critters seen.  Only loons and eagles.  I'm headed for the hot tub....pics to follow in the AM.