That's a tough one.  I live in MN and we're only 300 miles, so it's hard for me to say given your situation.

My wife an I were in a similar scenario a few years ago.  Neither of us were ill, but we had weather as bad (if not worse) than you describe.  We even had snow one morning (this was around May 25th).  In addition, there was a burning ban on so no campfire.

We departed early in that case and went to my parent's house (which is only 90 miles from Ely).

But a 2,000 mile trip?  Dunno.  My initial thought is why stay when you're miserable?

Prouboy makes an excellent point. Don't know if that was GeoFisher's problem, but I bet it effects people more than they realize.
 Assuming your not on meds, certain vitamins, the easiest way too see if your dehydrated is by the color of your urine.
 PEE clear, means your well hydrated, when it starts too turn yellow/dark yellow, it's concentrated, and your dehydrated.
 A good habit too get into, is drinking a big helping of water FIRST thing in the morning, before you have your caffeinated beverage. Caffeine is a diuretic, if your already borderline dehydrated first thing in morning, drinking caffeine alone, just adds too he problem.
If your drinking adult beverages in the evening, the alcohol helps dehydrate you as well. Some people drink little in the evening because they don't want to make a bathroom trip. That's a mistake as well. Being dehydrated can effect your sleep and how warm you stay. Bring a P-Bottle with you if you rather not wander out in the bush.
 I think you made the right call with the the responsibility of your daughter, her welfare comes first. If I were alone, and drove all that way, I would probably try and stick it out, but that's easy too say from here.

Given the importance of hydration, and you are sure you were well hydrated, then you may be right that you were simply exhausted.  Sometimes we just underestimate the importance of SLEEP.  We think we can keep going and keep going and never give our bodies the chance to rejuvenate.  And we get up to the canoe country expecting it to do that for us, but we are already running on empty. 

OR. . . you may actually have had a "bug" of some kind and have been ill. 

Either way, it sounds like you made the correct decision, albeit it a very disappointing one.

There is always another year.  Stay well and try again.

Sorry to hear about your experience, though.  That's a bummer.

I could have done that...............actually wish I had...........

Here is a video link to my trip

(You need to Login or Register to view media files and links)

GF,

We spoke by cell on the way up and CT and I endured 7 days of what yoiu went thru and it was tough.  I remember waking up in a shiver and putting on my fleece jacket, wool socks, under armour bottoms and top and a toboggan and then zipped my down bag over my head.  It was 34 degrees and I just about froze my ass off.  CT persuaded me to leave my gore-tex Danner boots home in favor of my wet shoes.  By the time I did the Bottle portage I was cussing him.  None the less we had a good trip and cought some fish when we could fish.  All in all it was a brutal trip weatherwise.

I sent DB some photos for POD maybe he'll post them.