Wednesday June 18th  
 Chris and Meghan made it to the village of Saranac Lake today. Being ahead almost two days, they are staying there tonight and getting some needed supplies and food. Checked into the Sara Placid motel and said something about a nice hot shower.
     They left the Raquette river drainage at Stoney Creek Ponds, and made the portages to Upper Saranac Lake and to Middle Saranac. There was no tendor along the Saranac River locks between Upper/Middle and Lower Saranac Lake and Oseetah, so they had to operate the locks themselves. Saw their first Bald Eagle on Lake Flower almost in Saranac Lake.
     They seem to be leapfrogging the paddling Dutchmen couple. Pass them most mornings, apparently they are not early starters. They did pass Chris and Meghan, when they ran some rapids on the Raquette below Long Lake, while Chris and Meghan were lining that stretch. The Dutch broke their wheels on the first day. Cheap plastic just melted around the axle. Guess they were trying to find a set with bicycle wheels like C&M have. Ranger said those are the most durable.
     Another nice person they met: When they reached the lean-to on the beginning of Raquette River, and the end of a portage on a hot sunny afternoon, they met someone and began talking about their trip. He asked how long since they had a cold beer. Needless to say it was long enough and he gave them each an ice cold Bud lime. Very refreshing.

Posted by Earle