Portage for Dummies

"Portage" means the act of carrying something, usually a boat or a canoe, over land from one body of water to another. It's like when you want to go boating or canoeing, but you can't sail or paddle on the water the whole way because there's maybe a dam or rocks blocking your path. So, what you do is, you lift up the boat or canoe out of the water, put it on your shoulders or on a special cart, and walk with it on land until you reach the next body of water where you can continue your journey.

Let me paint you a picture to make it even clearer. Imagine you're walking on a trail in a beautiful forest and suddenly you come across a big river or a lake. You really want to explore the other side because it's just as mesmerizing, but there's no bridge or easy way to cross. That's when you know you have to portage. It's like you become the superhero of the boating world, lifting the boat or canoe on your back and bravely walking through the wilderness until you find the water you need to continue. It's a bit like carrying a giant backpack, but instead of textbooks or your lunch, you carry a whole boat or canoe!

To put it simply, portage is like a temporary break or pause in your boating or canoeing adventure, where you have to physically carry your boat or canoe for a little bit to go from one waterway to another. It's a bit of extra effort, but it allows you to go on an awesome journey and explore places that would otherwise be inaccessible. So, think of portage as a way to overcome obstacles and keep on adventuring in the water!