23APRIL2011 near Charlson, ND - Awakening to a bright sunny day at 28 degrees, I was beginning to load the canoe when Peggy arrived. She was happy to get two nights rent and happy to add it to a present for her daughter - today is her wedding shower. Checking the water level I note that the lake rose an inch overnight ... that's a lot of water. That is also greater assurance that the ice will break up.

Driving to McKenzie bay was much easier than yesterday. But ... the ice was much worse than I perceived. While it appears I could proceed along the north shore, the liklihood of crossing to the south side looks very slim - and for several days. I then chose to drive around to the south bank and put in at Charging Eagle Bay. My put-in spot will be at river mile 1443, two miles farther west than McKenzie Bay. The dam being at 1390, I will start 53 miles from the dam. Driving around was 85 miles of intermittent dirt and paved roads as well as a stiff NW wind. At one point I went about ten miles of dirt road in 30 minutes. The final ten miles down to Charging Eagle Bay was also dirt and it got worse and worse as one got closer to the lake. I expect that I could drive back out, but doing it in July with (hopefully) dry roads sounds more appealing.

Gordon Hoffner was fishing and we struck up a conversation. He suggested that I stay in their lake area home - his primary home is 20 miles away in Halliday. So sure enough I am bedding down in a fine double-wide, eating popcorn and enjoying a Grizzly/Spurs NBA playoff game on the radio.