2APRIL2010 - With a second set of portage wheels I arrived at 2028 Missoula Avenue at 1PM. After several minutes affixing the wheels I was able to commence with the grand portage. To my great joy the 4-wheeled portage device rolled out the driveway and onto Washington Street quite easily, then down the hill to Boulder Avenue and east under Interstate Highway 15. Once past the interstate, Boulder Avenue became dirt and the portage became a bit more difficult. I reassured myself that this inconvenience would serve me well somewhere in the next few months when I encountered a dirt passage around a dam.

Apparently finding me extremely irresistable, a big brown dog soon introduced himself to me. Though there was no fence to keep him from getting close, he nevertheless was quite satisfied with keeping a respectable distance and barking every 6 seconds or so. This kept up for at least 200 yards before Fido fidoed back to his area. Meanwhile I had swiung right and was in the process of pushing the canoe up a slight grade. Though the whole dirt stretch was no more than 500 yards, pavement looked wonderful, not only because the pushing became easier, but also since it provided a wider roadway. Turning east on Billings Avenue I wheeled past the rear of Walmart, across the Staples parking lot, across the parking area of an abandoned Conoco station and onto an asphalt walking/jogging trail alongside US Highway 12. At this point the pushing became extremely easy as the need to guard aginst an encounter with traffic was no longer a concern. In the mile that I was on this path only an occasional street crossing made me do anything other than push while enjoying the view of the snow covered mountains and the gathering springtime . Wind from the south caught the canoe broadside yet was not strong enough to cause any loss of control. All-in-all it was a pleasant way to spend 45 minutes.

As I approached Howard's Pizza I wondered how efficiently I would cross highway 12. In this area between Helena and East Helena and at this time on Friday afternoon the traffic is meaningful. The highway is 4-lane with a fifth (and center) turning lane. It is not a road one would slowly walk across and probably a canoe (fast or otherwise) has never crossed it. Upon reaching the Janet Street intersection, I turned the canoe south, grabbed a handle and waited for the traffic to lighten up. I waited and waited and waited for what seemed a fairly long time but was probably no more than 10 minutes. It was enough time for me to cool down a bit, relax yet not begin to get chilled. And then it happened that the traffic had a serious lull. Not wanting to take any extra time, I grabbed the front handle and trotted across pulling the canoe behind me. I had plenty of room to spare, but was glad none the less for my good fortune at having gotten this far without a mishap nor having the police suggest that I do something else.

Depositing the canoe near a chain link fence I turned around and my wife was approaching smiling widely. We drove back home where I picked up a lock, returned to Howard's Pizza and locked the canoe to the fence. Enjoying the "Sleeping Giant Chef Salad" and telling Mike (Clasby) about my trip was an enjoyable way to end the day.