Kevin has traditionally done a father/son trip with each of our boys, one on one. This trip marks the first time they all went together.
Poplar Lake to Entry Point 47. Lizz/Swamp Lakes, Caribou, Horseshoe, Allen, Gaskin, Henson, Pillsbery, Swallow, Meeds. Base camp with day trips.
While Kevin's solo trips and father/daughter trips are generally loop routes over multiple days, the father/son trips tend to be base camps with day trips. Not sure why, but the boys don't like to move as much.
Day One:
We left early in darkness and arrived in Grand Marais for breakfast at the Blue Water Cafe. After eggs, we found our way up the Gunflint to the Poplar Lake access. This is a great access point as it has ample room to unload canoes and gear at the put-in area and ample parking up top to leave our vehicle. It didn't take long to unload and get paddle ready. The group ahead of us zig-zagged their way across the water. We surmised it was likely their first time in a canoe as they did not appear to steer well and we overtook them easily when we left maybe 15 minutes later. I don't recall seeing them again during the trip.
We paddled across Poplar to the Lizz lake entry point. The canoes were fast on the still water. The sun was shining and glittering on the surface of everything. We made good time on the water and portages through Caribou and onto Horseshoe. There were a number of canoes on the water at Horseshoe so we took one of the first campsites we saw - the peninsula site to the right just after the portage. It suited us well. The canoe landing was decent, it had a couple of good tent pads and 1 or two decent spots to hang a hammock. We spent the afternoon setting up camp, snacking, reading and playing cards. Cormac cast his line a few times in the vain attempt at catching a fish or at least getting a bite.
Day 2: We paddled around Horseshoe and down into Vista - spent much time in camp just kind of lollygaggin'.
Day 3: Big loop day. We paddled and portaged from Horsehoe to Gaskin, lunching at the sheltered campsite with 3 small islands off its western edge, then up through Henson, Pillsbery, Meeds and back through Caribou to Horseshoe.
Day 4. A quick loop from Horseshoe to Gaskin, Allen and back to Horseshoe in the morning to allow our tents and gear to dry off in the sun and breeze from the light showers the night before. All was good when we returned to break camp. We were on the water by mid afternoon and on the Gunflint to GM soon after, arriving home after dark, closing in on 10pm.
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