The 5th and longest portage so far is the portage around the Blandin Paper Mill. The portage route is about 0.5 mile through a few backyards, side streets, and across one main road, Pokegama Ave.
The re-entry to the river is known as Steamboat Landing. A local man had come down to help me get my kayak back in the water. When I asked him about the name, he said that this point was as far as the steamboats could make it up the Mississippi back when Grand Rapids had rapids (they don’t any more). So there’s today’s Mississippi River fun fact for you.
I got a super late start to the day as I found time for both Taco Bell and some BBQ wings before heading out. Bob came back to see me off. I was on the River by about 3pm and only made about 6 miles down River for the day. But all in all any day I can have Taco Bell and get around a dam is a productive day.
I made a video of this portage around the paper mill and posted on TikTok:
https://www.tiktok.com/t/ZTRUs1SgU/?k=1
