With the north wind still emptying its bellows of the low grey clouds, and my partner's ankle still swollen, we decided it best to head back the next morning. Our paddle to the portage took us directly into the crosswind. We couldn't hug the shore for fear of being blown  into the rocks, so we had no choice but to battle it out across open waves.

We reached the portage safely after a seemingly furious struggle, and by the time we completed the short trek to Happy Isle, the wind had pulled the clouds into tiny white tufts of cotton, and hung them in the furthest reaches of the brilliant blue sky.

Greeting us at the portage was a hectic little mink, whom we followed for several hundred meters around the northwest edge of the lake. After he lost us, we stroked our way back to the big portage to Opeongo, anxious to start early since my partner's condition required me to shoulder the entire load.

Though it was still windy, the day turned out to be gorgeous. We had no more portaging, and we were both loath to leave so soon, especially now that the sun was shining. Besides, Opeongo was still restless from two solid days of high winds.

We set up camp just west of the portage, not too far from the mouth of the great wild Hailstorm bog. After setting up, we canoed several hours into the bog, hoping to see our first moose of the trip, or perhaps some waterfowl. While we were unsuccessful in that regard, we were thoroughly entertained by four river otter patrolling the lethargic creek. We also attempted the first known canoe-based, 360-degree PanoVR (to my knowledge!). Later that evening, we enjoyed a splendid combined moon- and sunset.