[quote] It lay crossways fully blocking our progress with our own canoe and heavy bags. After about a minute, one of them asked, "Do you want to get by us?" We simply nodded our assent and moved on.
/quote]

You and TomT are MUCH better men than I would be ESPECIALLY if  I took a tumble trying to go around someone blocking the portage trail.

There is ONE benefit of getting older but still having some physicality about yourself. I have NO problem being the "bad" guy in situations like this.

Worst portage incident was when I popped some ligaments in my foot slipping off a steep rock face on the first portage off the Maligne River into Minn Lk.
I made it thru the rest of the trip but had to learn to walk with my LEFT leg my planting leg.