Alrighty then, now that that's settled, I use to dread portages but now I look forward to them as something different especially when that pesky sun is beating down on me. Plus they make my knees happy again.

I do three trips and always hand carry my camera case and paddles but one hand is always free to squish mosquitoes. I'm organized and my stuff is out of the way if you ever saw me on one. I'll even just wait for a bit if someone else is using the portage and I don't see or expect to see anyone coming. Because I'm not overloaded I can walk faster and always feel a little uncomfortable passing people with heavy loads on a portage.

I will put my map, compass, camera & lenses, tackle ( I am sometimes surprised at what's all laying out and around) away before reaching a landing but I want to hear more about the bow paddler putting on a pack in the canoe. I'd be dead set against that w/o seeing it in action first. I do put my juice bottle and knee pads in the food day-pack just before I portage it and pull them out as I load up along with the map and compass if needed. I normally do the canoe first because I just put the yoke on it and I have to pick it up one less time that way.

So, while I have sort of a system, every trip and every portage is different and I do them a little differently all the time. Length, difficulty, timing, mood and energy level all play a factor so I guess I should say I have systems. That's why I like to hear about all the other different ways people approach accomplishing the same thing. I'd much rather have someone pointing out that they think I'm doing wrong than a bunch of folks all saying +1.

Agreed. Dithering around with toys isn't exactly portage efficiency but hey, we're on vacation, not manufacturing widgets! The trip starts and ends at the same time anyway. How can enjoying yourself tremendously in the meantime be a waste of time? Ahhh therein lies the beauty of a solo, solo trip.