Stan's brother-in-law, Ron, writes:Stan, this is the "before" picture of our trip into the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness, June 29-July 2. The other picture (below), is the "after" picture. In this picture, L to R, are: Steve, Ron, Joe (Erik's friend), and Erik.
Our route was east of Ely on the Fernberg Road, starting at Snowbank Lake, then on to Parent Lake, Disappointment Lake, Jordan Lake, Ima Lake, Hatchet Lake, Thomas Lake, Kiana Lake, Insula Lake, Hudson Lake, and "Numbers Lakes". The distance was 38 miles.
We saw lots of loons, a bald eagle, hawks, turtles, and gulls. Cloudy and overcast all days, very little sun, some rain, and mist.Man Up!
Our food ranged from granola to scrambled eggs with bacon bits, bagels with lots of peanut butter and jam, highlighted with summer sausage, macaroni and cheese with Spam, (yummy!), Jamaican chicken with rice, beef stroganoff, and ample beef jerky. And of course "gorp": dried fruit and peanuts. Coffee, hot chocolate, and water were the preferred liquids, along with a spot of brandy and whiskey around the campfire to "man us up"!
Some of the great joys were the campfire conversations which usually centered around religion, politics, history, and ethics. The big suggestions to come out of the trip are:
1) Do it again next year;
2) Invite President Obama to join us!
On our way home we stopped at Gordy's in Cloquet and feasted on burgers, coneys, malts, and onion rings! Shana called us and asked Erik to bring home an order of onion rings (he did)!
Truly a great trip and very liberating. Creation is a true gift of God! The BWCAW stirs the solitude of the soul!
Next year....!
Question: Is that the same shirt that Ron has on in the "before" and the "after" picture? If so, why is Steve smiling?
