Opener, 5,10-14,2012....Seagull

It was a bright and sunny day as we paddled away from the landing. There were gentle breezes that didn't require a lot of effort to move through.  Our group included Norm in his new solo boat, and BB and I in my new Champlain. It took us one hour to get to our favorite spot and no one had taken it.  Camp was made and we all relaxed after several days of preparation, travel and logistics.  I fried a steak for supper and turned in early, it was supreme to be in the woods and lakes.   Slept for a luxurious 10 hours that night.   Most of the morning was spent under the tarp because of occasional showers.  Coop and Brian showed up around 1pm.  When I crawled out of the tent the next morning BB walked into camp from the east rock and was carrying two lake trout, nice ones.  Norm and I headed for the bay to the west of camp.  We trolled for 2 1/2 hours making 7-8 passes around the bay and were rewarded with  a nice lake trout and a good northern.  After lunch we paddled  to the east bay and worked the waters for an hour with no luck.  We returned to camp to find almost everyone there and they had fish also.  I took a 2 second swim, refreshing but shocking.  Most everyone lounged and napped.  Supper was French onion soup, salad, sweet corm and baked trout.  Very filling and delicious.  The remainder of the evening was spent around the fire with the 9 of us partaking in several conversations at once.  It was fun to listen and tell your stories too.  It was wonderfull to be a part of such a nice weekend.  After everyone turned in I watched the fire for a long time unable to give up on such a great day in the woods.  I awoke to a windy day, everyone fished off the rock to the east because the waves were too big to fish out of a canoe.  At 11 Bill P. and Todd took off into the malestrom.  They successfully made their way into the channel and were gone.  We then had a brunch of Sturdiwheat pancakes.  The afternoon was spent reading, writing, napping, relaxing and fishing.  We were trapped in paradise by the two foot waves racing down the lake.  We didn't mind being idle because the previous day was so busy.   Norm says:  This is  my second trip to the boundary waters. It has been a really great trip.  We have caught all the fish we can eat will probably take some back. It has been nice to see friends again and also meeting new people who love camping and being outdoors.  Seagull is a huge lake and we are having a very windy day which kind of scares me about going out tommorrow.  The temps have been unbelievably warm and comfortable.  It is truly an honor to be invited to the Bill Club and I am looking forward to coming again.   Brian says:  It has been great getting with new friends and old.  Fishing is good for some and so so for others. Typical.  Rain , wind, sun and glorious scenery.  Just isn't the northwoods if you don't get wet, cold and too hot.  It's always interesting to see the plants that grow precariously from the rock cliffs. A little pine in a 1 inch depression or a columbine 4 inches above the waves.  Also enjoyed seeing the local Fisher slink through camp.  Bill's for ever.  Mark C. says:  Changing the 4 F's is what has happened as I've aged,  They are now  "friends" "food" "fun" and "fishing"   There is no better way to experience the 4F's than the fishing opener.  Mark E. says:  That this annual trip keeps him grounded. The busy hectic world that we live in has a tendancy to change us. Even as we pack and prepare for the trip it can be hectic.   Things we wanted to do, to bring or repair before the trip don't always get done. We throw what we have into our backpacks and go anyway.   If I forget something, someone will have it. If I didn't do it someone else at the camp will help me get it done. We come from different locations with different backgrounds and the BWCA helps us all get together and have a fabulous outing.  Sitting around the fire or on a rock sunning ourselves I seem to get a better perspective of what life's all about. It is like I am visiting my roots.  This stays with me well into the year. By next May I'm going to need another dose. My body has gotten older and scarred with parts functioning but compromised.  My mind is always revitalized by the trip. My outings with the "Bill Club"  are theraputic and keep me balanced.  I always look forward to the trip and my wife and family see and know how important this is for me.  Bill B says:  NW 73.8 x SE 73.8, that folks is where the trout are. That and several  other locations on the lake.  The trick (luck) is how to catch and land them.  Seems like I've had that luck the past few trips up to the lakes with the "Bill Club" over the years.  No skill or expensive gear is needed, just a  lot of effort.  Griffy says you can't catch fish sitting in camp. I suspect that is why Griffy doesn't seem to catch many. Although someone seems to feed and care for the crew, and Griffy does a good job of that.  Feeding us from dawn to dusk.  Always there is a special entree on the menu.  This year it was Onion soup, very filling and delicious.  There was also salads and sweet corn to add to the baked trout.  Warm weather, wind and plenty of sunshine has kept us all in good spirits.  One more bag night and it's back to our separate homes and loves. Always enjoyable and relaxing to be with the "Club", the Bill Club, a good mix of fellowship that continues to excite and make me want to return year after year.  Thanks to my friends for their entries in my blog.  The trip continues the next morning, our last breakfast.  We started early so we could beat the mid-day winds.  We succeeded.  The sun was bright in the eastern sky and we all wished we were headed deeper into the woods rather than heading for the take-out.   It was a beautiful day and we were all glad to be paddling after our wind bound camp yesterday.

Lake Four, April, 26-30,2012

We departed the Lake One landing amongst a dozen Forest Service workers.  Most left before we did.  The paddle through Lake One was glorious.  The sky was clear and the breezes were gentle.  We crossed the portages smoothly and were in the middle of Lake Two in an hour and a half.  We stopped at the first campsite as we entered Lake Three.  While there a research crew from the Forest Service arrived and began to make camp there.  We visited for a while.  We met Kevin, one of the leaders and a couple named Burt and Johnnie.  They were researching and mapping the burn area.  We then continued our journey to Lake Four.  One of my favorite campsites was available and unburned.  Camp was pitched and coffee made.  Everyone enjoyed the break and Terry joined in the conversation and camaraderie even though he didn't drink coffee.  It was a pleasant but chilly evening and we all went to bed early.  I had gotten cold and it took an hour and a half to warm and go to sleep.  We had pancakes and bacon provided by Joe for breakfast the next morning.  It was a very cool morning and when it warmed up at mid day we headed for Fire Lake.  We struggled through several windfalls near the second portage as we traveled.  We paddled nearly to the end of Fire before we got to a sunlit campsite.  We enjoyed a great lunch hour while basking in full sunshine. On the return trip the windfalls were navigated efficiently having negotiated them previously.  We enjoyed another evening of food and conversation.  Awoke early the next morning and had pleasant and long morning of talking and laughing.  After a tortilla and tuna lunch we  headed for Bridge Lake.  The route was beautiful as we paddled and portaged our way west.  The lakes were narrow and lined with mother nature's rock sculptures.  It was constant visual delight.  When we got back to camp we had coffee and treats, scrumptious.  It was much warmer that evening and we really enjoyed our conversations.  I went to my tent before dark.  The morning was warm as we devoured our pancakes.  Terry and Joe had to leave and watching them paddle away was like watching the end of a good movie.  They were very mellow and capable wilderness canoeists and it was great traveling with them.  During the afternoon Norm and I read and journaled.  We also paddled around our part of Lake Four and got a close-up view of the campsites that were burned. Two Forest Service workers were cutting trees and rehabilitating one of the campsites we visited.   In the morning we had a leisurely breakfast and packed up.  We paddled out knowing we had responsibilities to fulfill but enjoyed the wilderness views along the way.