Nice report. I did most of your route in June - starting in Racquette Lake and ended at the lower lock (where I was on a volunteer crew to rebuild the portage).

I liked the upper  middle, and lower Saranac lakes but the best part was Long Lake and the Racquette River to Upper Saranac.

It's an entirely different experience than canoe country, but still pleasant and enjoyable.

I was surprised how almost all camp sites - I used NFCT maps - were unoccupied.  I saw very few other paddlers, unlike canoe country in season. I did Sunday to Thursday and there was some motor traffic buin some areas but not bad.