Day 11, Leg 9

Monday, September 16th

0600-57F/50F. Up before sunrise preparing coffee cake to have with coffee for my study and prayer time. Got a few things ready for the kayak trip over to the portage and the hike up Napoleon Mt. for some drone flights.  I put the solar panel on shore to charge the battery pack while I'm gone.

Early Morning Fog
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Peaceful Morning
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0930-Finished breakfast and was ashore for one last alignment of the solar panel before leaving.  As I was coming back aboard the boat I stepped on the end of the gangplank and it gave way, sliding down the rock face and into the water!  I went down on my back and up to my hips in the water!

Site of My Demise! Plank Slid Down Rock Face Into The Drink, With Me On It!
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First Aid & Emergency Kits

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Unfortunately, while falling I threw my hands back to fend off the rock face and took off a big patch of skin from the back of my hand, which bled profusely!  I had to do first aid on myself before I could go anywhere!  Fortunately, I carry a fully stocked first aid kit of my own and was able to fix myself up well enough to continue with the kayak and hiking plan for the day.

First Aid Kit
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First Aid Kit Contents
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Day 11
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Day 11 - Kayak Trip & Hike, Boat Move In Afternoon
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Google Earth Shot Of Area
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1000-I finally finished the first aid and got into the kayak!  However, in trying to hurry along, after the forced delay, I rushed too much!  As I sat in the seat of the kayak ready to push off, I noticed I was not wearing my life jacket!  Getting into the kayak while carrying a full pack is like putting on a tight glove and doing this from the stern of the boat, instead of shallow water, makes it precarious at best!  Conditions were sunny and calm so I almost said forget it!  Then I came to my senses and said that's stupid!  So I got back out of the kayak and went to retrieve the life vest and started the glove fit all over again.  After two delays, I finally got away in the kayak.  Not sure the time I actually departed.

Backpack Emergency Kit
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In Addition to Drone & Photography Gear
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1030-Arrived at Napoleon Portage.  Two guys arrived from the other end of the portage and were getting ready to load their canoe and head west into Sharp Rock Inlet.  They assisted me in pulling my boat into shore, since it was very shallow.  It kept me from getting wet feet!  After a nice talk they departed and I pulled up the kayak, high and dry.  Put on the back pack with all my drone gear and was off!  The portage was rocky in places but well used and easy to follow.

Rocky In Places! But Well Used
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I had no trouble finding where the mountain trail left the main portage, though it was another steep rock climb, not as well maintained, and I lost the mountain trail a couple of times.  Like Devil's Mt., I used roots, rocks, and trees for hand holds as I worked my way up the steep mountain.  I finally made it but I was huffing and puffing when I got there!  Beautiful day to be on the overlook!

Rock Wall To Climb!
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Trail Hard To Find In Places!
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I set up the drone and other photo equipment.  Yea! I finally got the Litchi program to work!  I had to program it on site.  The pre-planned flight would not work!  So, the good news is I figured it out, the bad news is it makes the program less useful!  I also lost the map cache and have no idea why?  Litchi needs to do some work with their program!  Works great with an internet connection but loses a lot of functionality in the wilds!

Napoleon Mountain Overlooking Sandy Inlet
Ferguson Mt. In Distance
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Drone Flight -  Napoleon Mt Overlook

Played around for 45 minutes to an hour flying the drone and taking other photos.  I drank some cold water but was not hungry enough to eat with the warm temperatures (around 70F). Finally packed up the gear and headed back down the mountain.  I noticed my bandage was coming off while using the strap on the walking stick so I stopped using the strap, which seemed to be pulling too much on the bandage.  I slowed down and took my time going down.

On Top Trail Was Well Worn
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Difficult In Places Coming Down
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1300-Returned to the boat at about the time I anticipated.  Had some white wine with my mountain lunch of cashews and chocolates, after rebandaging my hand. Got everything ready to depart.  Retrieved the solar panel from shore, pulled the gangplank, and departed the site for the channel over to Sharp Rock Inlet.  It was touch and go with the shallow water, but thankfully, no bumps! I did not have far to go to the boat site I had in mind.

Departing Channel Boat Site - Heading To Sharp Rock Inlet
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Day 11, Leg 9
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1500-Arrived at the new site on the far end of Sharp Rock Inlet.  Distance 2.3 nm, time 1:47, average speed 2.3 kts.  The slower average was due to the slow passage through the shallow channel into the Inlet.

Sharp Rock Inlet - Shallow Channel, Enroute, & Landing

View From Sharp Rock Inlet Boat Site
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Boat Site - West End Of Spark Rock Inlet (See Map)
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A couple of canoeists passed soon after I tied up.  I offered them some cold beers but they declined!  Must not drink?  They said thanks, but they had a long way to go.  I thought that was weak!  The day was warm and drinking a cold beer takes a couple of minutes and something I know I would enjoy when working up a sweat on a hot day!  This boat site is nice, though not as nice as the last.  There are a few fishing boats around.

1650-A Leisure Island Houseboat (#4) came by my site, obviously looking to come in here!  They kept going up lake to look for an alternative.  There are some on the far end, but they were either too shallow, or they didn't like them, so they came back and took the site just east of me, around the corner and out of sight.

I was going to start dinner, but decided to go swimming first. 78F/72F.  Water was cool but not bad at all.  Cleaned up then put the chicken on the grill.

Prepared for a fire tonight by cutting some wood with the ax and saw, and also took up what I had left on the boat.

1821-Dinner was grilled chicken, coleslaw, potato salad, hot ciabatta roll, and white wine. Nice evening, so I will go up and read ashore, while I enjoy my evening libation with chocolates.  I later followed that up with a fire. 78F/72F.

2153-61F/61F. Sat by the fire and listened to music until now. Took a few sunset pictures.  Will read some more in bed and then hit the sack.  Beautiful starlit night! 

Peaceful Evening Sunset By The Fire
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