Loranda, 8,24-27,2011

Loranda and I started on the Island River where it goes under the Tomahawk Road.  We started into the 20 mph winds and made our way for 1/2 mile when a huge gust of wind blew us sideways.  We ended up in the weeds and swamp along the sides of the river in a very wide valley.  We had only one choice.  We got out of the boat and started pulling it through the swamp.  We were knee deep in water with half our legs down in the muck.  For a couple hours we'd paddle a few feet and then pull the boat many feet.  We finally made it to a campsite and decided this would be home.  After our steak supper the wind stopped blowing and we had hopes for a better tomorrow.  We started the next day early with desire to make up the miles we didn't cover in the wind.  Our journey crossed 15 miles and 6 portages totalling 404 rods.  At 5:30 we arrived at Bald Eagle lake exhausted.   We recovered after a swim and some good coffee.  We also enjoyed cribbage and our tournament was tied 2-2 at the end of the evening.  In the dark we heard a beaver slapping it's tail at some night fishermen while we enjoyed a magnificent view of the stars.  The next days journey brought us through Gabbro and Little Gabbro.  We paddled to a 120 rod portage and crossed into the Kawishiwi River system.  After another shorter portage we found a really neat campsite.  There we took a break and then went fishing on a point across the bay from camp.   Loranda landed a nice walleye within seconds of arriving.  We went on to catch many more. It was a good afternoon.  Supper was cabbage salad, rice and fish.  It was superb.  Our cribbage tournament continued and we both won one.  Loranda was happy with a tie but I asked her if she would play one more and the tie would stand and the last game would be supplemental.  She said o.k.   We played and I won.  However, Loranda changed her mind and said that it should count and that I am the Kawishiwi River International Invitational Cribbage Tournament Champion.  Our last day took us through 4 portages before lunch.  We sat on a sunny rock knowing we were having some of our last conversations.  It was a good lunch.  Soon after we left we caught a bear crossing the river right in front of us. Loranda got a picture of it as it turned to look at us from the top of a large rock.  The  other wildlife we've seen this week include, beaver, deer, eagles, loons, mergansers, squirrels and of course walleyes.  We really enjoyed the rock canyons we paddled through the last hours of our journey. The rocks and boulders  were arranged as if by gifted abstract expressionists.  It was a classic BWCA day with blue sky.  It was a serene ending to a great week in the woods.

Neil, Charlotte, Mark, Marsha, Ruth and Bill in the BWCA, 8,17-21, 2011

We battled fierce winds for an hour before we decided that enough was enough.  Neil and Charlotte struggled with boat control and after some load adjustments were able to make some headway. We snuck into a sheltered bay and were glad to find a home out of the wind.  We spent the afternoon playing cribbage and fishing.  Coops trolled for northerns and Neil and Charlotte fished from shore around the small bay we were camped at.  In the morning we headed out early hoping for calm water.  It was good paddling.  We did the six portages and ten miles to Lake Insula arriving at my favorite campsite and finding it free.   Our first activity was swimming.  The cool waters of Lake Insula were very relaxing.   The next day was a layover and we had a pancake feast for breakfast.  This was followed by yoga on the beach.  It was good goofy fun, but felt great.  In the afternoon Ruth and I went fishing for bass.  After trial and error we located them off a point not far from camp.  Ruth caught several, a couple of them quite big.  I only caught one.  Coopers caught a couple Northerns by trolling.  Mark cooked all the fish over an open fire.  They were served with rice and all was delicious.  During the fantastic sunset Neil taught us about "Jumping."  While jumping in front of the sunset we would take  pictures trying to catch the Jumper air born with the lake and sky in the background. It was so much fun and the photos were really neat.  The remainder of the cool evening was spent around the campfire.  In  the morning our travels took us back across the long portage and 3 shorter ones to a very nice point in the middle of Lake Four.  The afternoon heat made a swim feel great.  Neil and I fished for 2 1/2 hours during the evening.  We caught only a couple small walleyes.  We cherished the evening campfire knowing that it would be our last for a while.  As we paddled out in the morning we realized that it was a good idea to stay on Lake Four because all the others were very crowded.  The sky was beautiful blue with a few white clouds. The breezes were gentle. It was a perfect day of paddling that made you sad to be leaving such a magnificent landscape of trees, rocks, and water. 

Jack and family on Clear lake, August 9-12, 2011

Devin says the paddle across Farm Lake in the waves and wind was awesome. Jack, Jennifer and I felt it was challenging.  The strong northwest winds blew us south of our goal and we ended up on the east side of Farm.  Regrouping with a phone call to Kate we adjusted our goal for the day by going to South Farm.  Our campsite was a welcome piece of terra firma.  We were experiencing occasional showers so the first thing we did was pitch the tarp and tents.  Lunch was next, we were very hungry after our extreme effort to get across Farm.  The boys kept busy all afternoon fishing from the shore.  They also played tic tac toe, found some fish bones, went swimming and spent a lot of time tending the campfire.  The following day was easy compared to crossing Farm.  We made it to Clear at lunch time with Jennifer especially enjoying the portage.  Devin was very pleased with the awesome campsite with it's amplitheater seating lakeside.  Devin's response to the afternoons activites are: I like collecting sticks for the fire and I saw a frog.  He also goes on to say that the portage was "kinda" fun and a log that had been chewed on by a beaver was facinating.  He also "really" liked the Tang orange drink mix.  Robert thinks the campfire seating area is great and also likes the many rocks to swim around.  He handled the five leeches that attached to his ankle during the portage like he'd done it many times before.  Robert got his lure caught on a rock and his mother swam out to set it free.  He loved the tuna on tortilla for lunch.  He also liked swimming to a far away rock with his mother.  He loved the bacon and hot chocolate that he had for breakfast.  He liked riding Duff in his mothers canoe.   Jennifer thought  the Red River hot cereal was really good with the flax seed in it.  She agreed with me that there's nothing like a good cup of coffee in a beautiful wilderness.  She also enjoyed seeing all the people, kids and dogs on the portage.  She enjoyed the physical workout of portaging.  She was happy that Devin got a chance to paddle with me from the portage to the camp on Clear Lake. 
Some days seem perfect....The winds were at our backs, the sky was blue and the clouds were excellent white fluffs floating across the heavens.  Experiencing the wilderness through the eyes of an eight and ten year old is wonderfull with Devin and Robert.  The trees, rocks, sky and lake look even more beautiful because of them.   Their energy and enthusiasm is exhilarating.  I miss the students, church youth groups and Boy Scouts I've camped with in the past.  Our layover day started with scrambled eggs and bacon.  Robert and I fished the hotspot during the middle of the day and did very good.  We had  5 bass, enough for a fish fry. Jack, Jennifer and Devin paddled and fished the northern bay of the lake.  It was windy and the anchor proved to be the key to success.  After a mid-day shore lunch we swam and watched a doe swim across the lake.  It was a wonder of nature that an animal with that small of feet could swim that fast. The pizza for supper was well recieved.   The 4 guys took the Seneca for a short fishing expedition while Jennifer stayed in camp.   It was a beautiful evening with a 90% full moon rising in a clear sky.  We had an evening campfire and I told all my bear stories.  Life as a human seems so good in the Boundary Waters..

We started the day early and were on the water by 9am.  When we got to the portage Jennifer carried the Champlain across without setting it down once.  She also made a 3rd trip for the extra pack.  The remainder of the trip out was classic Boundary Waters paddling. Devin slept in my bow seat and his head would roll back and forth with the gentle rocking of the canoe.   We had a great lunch on a sunny rock at the 1/2 way point.  Robert paddled with me for the rest of the way.  Crossing Farm Lake was beautiful, serene and etherial as it seemed we were floating between heaven and earth  in a mostly blue and green world.  We passed under an Eagle sitting in a tree along shore. We also had a Loon greet us mid-lake and wish us safe travels.  

Adventure Island in Lake One, July 26, 2011

We paddled across Lake One in a little over an hour.  When we arrived at our destination we were very pleased to find our campsite available. A lunch was made and then we sat near the shore in the shade of several large pines. Ruth and the kids swam and splashed for most of the afternoon. Ruth and the kids also did some paddling.  After a supper of mac and cheese with hot dogs we took some hikes on the trails that criscrossed the island.  Cora lead this adventure and it was a lot of fun.  The evening was spent looking out over the lake which was a world class view of the best wilderness around.  The water was very blue, the sky had a few white puffy clouds and the trees across the bay were a golden green from the setting sun.  It rained during the night and for part of the morning.  It was just enough to make it slightly muddy and settle the dust.  We made pancakes under the tarp enjoying shelter from the weather.  Griffy and I spent part of the afternoon and evening fishing out of the canoe and from shore.  We never caught anything and never lost any bait but it was a very serene experience.  I loved it.  Griffy also learned to paddle and did excellent for a 4 year old.  It was amazing.  Cora danced on a rock ledge like a princess in her wilderness kingdom. She also spent time in her hammock with her dolly and sometimes grandma or Griffy.  We all enjoyed fry pan pizzas for supper.  We paddled around the island again with the dogs following on shore.  It was cool.   The next morning we had an efficient breakfast and broke camp.  Everything was wet from the dew.  We paddled out through a perfect wilderness morning.  The sun was bright, the air was cool, the breezes were gentle. We were all very happy with this positive experience.