Weather: Very hot, muggy, tailwinds
Portages: 1 (for us) to Mansonville
.7 miles, wheelable, but felt longer at the end of the day. The take out was marked with a sign and takes you to the Mansonville welcome sign. The uphill is somewhat steep, but not nearly as steep as Sheldon Springs Hydro portage. The Sectuer Nautique put-in is past the town, just before a Shell gas station.
Wildlife: Daily muskrat, Canadian geese, mergansers, ducks, heron, a fawn and two beavers by our campsite that night.
Dinner: Corn Chowder
After some discussion, decided to skip the gravel beds of the Missisquoi past Stevens Mill and go straight to the Canadian border, a distance of seven miles. Russ was interested in paddling a section with us and he graciously picked us up at the Grey Gables Mansion after breakfast. We put in just behind the American customs office and got back on the Missisquoi paddling into Quebec. Russ stayed with us until Glen Sutton. (Thanks Russ for such a pleasant morning with you. See you in the BWCA?!) Stopped for lunch at Canoe & Co., about an hour past the Glen Sutton bridge and met Francois and Rochelle (sp?). At this point we were still feeling up to the IDEA of walking the Grand Portage and did not make any arrangements to get a shuttle. We had been planning on stopping for the day at Camping Carrefour another few miles up the river, but it was still early, so we pushed on to Mansonville. Up until that point the river was fairly deep, only had to get out a few times over some low spots and/or able to punch through ripples where there was stronger current. We had been making good mileage. Turned up the North Branch toward Mansonville, which was really narrow and almost questionable if it even led anywhere. We were in and out of the canoe constantly. Lots of twists and turns and a lot of downed trees, but none that we couldn't get around. Arrived in Mansonville at 5:50 p.m. There were at least two trails to the road that looked like they were used as portages, but we kept paddling, I mean dragging, the canoe until we found the nicely marked portage with stairs that led up to welcome sign.
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| Grey Gables B & B in Richford, VT |
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| Paddling with Russ into Quebec |
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| Paddling the Missisquoi in Quebec |
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| Above the take-out, before portaging through Mansonville |
Francois had told us about some camping spots and we headed toward the portage put-in. There is a blind curve along the road after you get on the road to start the portage. And then the hill. About half-way up I was already planning on calling Canoe & Co. as I was sure that to not get a shuttle would seriously damage Beckie's and my friendship. For some reason, we keep paddling until almost sundown, so this trip hasn't been much of a vacation for Beckie. And I had serious doubts about finding any joy in making the Grand Portage on foot myself. Paused for breath by the Owl's Head bakery and made a mental note to come back to in the morning.
Set up camp by a picnic table near the portage put-in and then gave Francois a call. There's a payphone nearby and the call was local. Arranged to have him pick us up after the bakery opened. Slept well knowing we'd still be friends tomorrow.
