Canoe Trip - Fall 2012 - Part 1

Hey folks in blog-land...Remember me? Ah...probably not - I've been noticeably absent these last6 months...It's not that I haven't had anything to write, I've just been busy and chose to abandon the blog for a while. I can't promise that it won't happen again...and I thank those of you who still check in from time to time.

The next few posts detail a canoe trip my husband and I took this past fall. It was the longest paddling trip I've been on and when I feel stressed at work, or frustrated by life I return to this trip in my mind and am instantly calmed. Read on and you'll see why...

DAY ONE – Saturday September 29, 2012 – 9.3 miles

We arrived at Mom and Dad’s with the news that we were going to head off that afternoon. The original plan was to leave on Sunday but the weather forecast was calling for cooler temperatures and the possibility of rain into Tuesday and Wednesday. Saturday was blistering hot (for September) and Eagle Lake was pristine like glass, a rarity in the fall. Our revised plan had us leave from Mom and Dad’s and head backward along our planned route. The reason being we would get the “big lake” paddle out of the way. Eagle can be unpredictable and since it is quite open in spots it can get pretty rough and dangerous when the wind kicks up.

So we left the dock at 2:00 and began our adventure.

The first couple of hours went quickly and we made good time across Eagle. Our map was good but we still had a couple of “where are we?” moments as we tried to decipher the lay of the land – the islands looking like mainland upon first glance until we paddled a bit more and saw them from different angles.



 

Our first destination was Walleye Lake. Dad had suggested we head into the smaller lakes for a couple of reasons. They would be more remote so a lesser chance of seeing other boats (most boats on Eagle are those of the motorized variety), and to avoid the big lake and having to paddle through the larger bays which get very choppy. We found the portage easily and began the trek to transfer gear from one end to the other. I had taken off my shoes and socks when we hit shore as it was quite muddy. The water was quite low this year and the bay in which the portage was located was shallow. Clayton and I sank to our ankles as we pulled the canoe up to the shore. I grabbed the first load and headed up the trail barefoot (Bob would have been proudJ). The path was soft and mossy and covered with leaves making for a refreshing walk up to the next lake. I dropped our gear next to a couple of boats (and a gas can0 that had been left on the lake by one of the local tourist outfitters for fishing. I met Clayton on the way back with his load of stuff. We returned for a second trip, me with the remaining gear and Clayton with the canoe. It took a couple tries to figure out the canoe but after using one of our inflatable pillows to cushion his bony shoulders from the hard wooden yoke he was able to carry the canoe up the portage. It is balanced quite nicely and since it doesn’t weigh very much (relatively speaking) once it’s on the shoulders it’s just a matter of watching where you step.

We got up into Walleye Lake and loaded the canoe again and set off to find a campsite for the night. Dad had pointed out some islands that he thought might be suitable so we set off in that direction. After circling one island that had no flat areas we spotted a point that had clearly been used for shore lunches. It had a large clear mossy area on which to set up a tent, and was basically a big flat rock. We unloaded the canoe, set up the tent and then took a quick dip in the lake and dried off in the sun before we proceeded to start dinner. It had been a very warm day for September and it was nice to feel refreshed and somewhat clean before bed.

Our sunset (I claimed it as ours because there was no one else on the lake seeing the majesty of Mother Nature) was stunning and we sat staring at it over a glass of wine, unable to look away for fear of missing part of it.

Just before we ate dinner on a lark I turned on my phone. I was surprised to find a signal, a weak one but a signal nonetheless. I dialed Mom and Dad’s number and had a brief chat with her. It was very surreal to be as remote as we were yet still connected to the world. I know Mom appreciated the call, knowing we were safe, because she looked worried that afternoon when we left the dock.

After supper we started a fire (actually Clayton started it) and we sat around the fire passing our flask of Drambuie back and forth a couple times. The moon was rising through the trees behind us – it was large and bright and looked full. (Full moon was actually the following night - September 30^th, 2012) It was a magical night with sunsets and moonrises and soft silence. I said something to Clay and heard an echo, then another. When it got quiet again we called out. This time we heard 5 echoes back and forth across the bay. It was so totally cool!

The night was warm and the tent glowed in the moonlight. I slept on and off and had to get up to go to the bathroom. When I stepped outside the tent I was bathed in moonlight so bright that I had a shadow as sharp as it would have been in sunlight. I stood there staring at the moon, which had come around to shine down on our point. The night was still and I drank in the moment for fear I wouldn’t be able to recall it again.