Over the last 6 months, adventure has taken new shape for me with the newest edition to our family – a beautiful baby girl.    Once my wife and I knew that she was big enough for the trip, we decided to take the whole family back down to Costa Rica.   What was once an easy to manage affair would now be challenged with stollers, diapers, wipes, distractions, etc.    This was beginning look like my biggest adventure challenge yet!

Once we locked in on our dates, my wife and I began to research where we would stay for our 10 days.  We knew that the majority of time we would stay with family, but what beach?   Where with kids?  In the end, we decided to go to Los Suenos resort on the pacific side, about an hour and a half from Alajuela.    The drive was short enough for both kids to tollerate (5 month old at the time and a 3 year old) and it looked like the Marriott has several good options for everyone.   In addition, the rates in October were fantastic!   By signing up for their loyalty program, we got a discount on the rate as well as a $50 a day credit for food.  Not too shabby.

In the final week before the trip, I began to think seriously about buying an iPad.   In past trips with just one kid, we used a dvd player for the long car rides (you never know when you will be delayed traveling thru the mountains), but many of the movies we have are now scratched.  In addition, since our purchase of a bluray player, we don’t have any of my son’s favorites on plain dvd.   One night while the kids were a sleep, I grabbed one of our bluray movies and noticed it contained a “digital copy”.  I read the brochure and followed the directions and thru the disk into our iMac.  I opened up iTunes, plugged in the code on the brochure and the next thing I know, we had “Horton Hears a Who” on digital copy.  Hmm.   I immediately plugged in my iPhone and the next thing I know, I have the full length movie (that my son watches multiple times a week) on my phone.   This all started to make sense to me.   I can have the bluray movie and home and then take the digital copies with me – I don’t have to worry about scratches, switching disks, etc.   Just tap and there it is.  In addition, the resolution on the phone was outstanding…i wonder how good it would look on an ipad.

The next day at work (and the day before we left), I asked a co-worker if his kids used his ipad on his recent trip to Korea.  “Yes, it was awesome.  They drew, watched movies, played games.”    Needless to say, over lunch I bought one.

The night before our trip, I was downloading as many free kids apps as I could, creating digital copies of our blurays and synching photos.

The ride to the airport was an early one – kids in pajamas, mom and dad half asleep.  However, lines moved slowly and we were at the gate before we knew it.    The flights were fine and as we approached the second hour in the air, I pulled out my secret weapon – my new iPad.    My son knew almost immediately how to use it because he used my phone in the past to play some games.   I was amazed.  The second flight was just like the first - we talked, he napped, watched his movie and the next thing you know, we were in Costa Rica.   So easy!

In fact, the hour and a half car ride to the beach was no different.  It was the right balance for him – I never once heard, ‘are we there yet?’.   Amazing.

Los Suenos was perfect.   The hotel offered everything both both my wife and I as well as both of our kids.  The pool was great and offered depths for all ages.   Wifi access poolside meant I could take a picture with my iphone and send an immediate email to family or friends.  It was really cool.  In fact, this was my first trip to Costa Rica where I didn’t take my digital slr.   I figured my hands would be full with two kids and therefore would only have enough “space” to use the camera on my phone.   It actually worked really well.

While the beach wasn’t fantastic at Los Suenos, everything else was perfect.  There is a great marina for dinner / drinks, there is a 18 hole golf course, great (but expensive) restaurants in the hotel, and plenty of kids activities.   While at the beach, the only times we used the ipad/iphone for my son were at the end of the day to watch a movie or while we were waiting for our food for dinner.

I think that this trip would have been completely different if I wouldn’t have had those two devices with me.   It was well worth the investment.   In fact, I don’t think I would ever go without two devices.  I learned on the way home that if you have a passcode lock on either device and you (or your son) key in the wrong code too many times, you have to reconnect your ipad/iphone to itunes to reset it.  Kind of hard to do when you are on an airplane.

The harbor at New Harbor, ME

Eastern Egg Rock Island lies about a half hour by boat from New Harbor and starting in late May, Hardy Boat Cruises makes trips to the rock a few days a week throughout the season. The island is one of several off the coast of Maine where Atlantic Puffins come to breed.  The tour company will cast off when at least eight nature buffs sign up for the day’s tour. Absent that number, they reserve the right to cancel.

Fortunately my friend and I were two of twenty eager for the chance to see the birds.

We had arrived after several hours on the road, passing through coastal towns and thickly forested countryside. Maine (and indeed much of New England) has a well-earned reputation for natural beauty.  The weather this time of year can be dicey, however, which is why most of the tourist traffic on Maine’s coast doesn’t really pick up until after Memorial Day, following a normally chilly spring.  For those who do venture up, finding camping sites or other lodging is not a problem.

Let’s digress…

Unusually warm and humid had been the rule on the early portion of our New England trip, which started in Boston a few days earlier, followed by a drive up to Scarborough, ME to try our luck at a well-known birding location that shares the town’s name.  Scarborough Marsh is #27 in Chris Santella’s book Fifty Places To Go Birding Before You Die. It’s a salt marsh visited by the tide twice a day and which attracts numerous shorebirds and other species to its nutrient-rich and twisting salt creeks.  The fall migration is apparently the better time to view shorebirds at Scarborough and along the Atlantic Coast in general, though we were fortunate to spot Willets, Glossy Ibis, and Black-bellied Plovers, among others.  Non-shorebird specialties of the region include Nelson’s and Saltmarsh Sparrow,  the eagle-sized Great Black-backed Gull and the Common Eider. The latter two are conspicuous at coastal inlets and rugged islands off shore.

While at Acadia National Park the next day, we checked on songbirds in the wooded areas of the park and looked for ocean-going birds just beyond its coastal cliffs.  The area is treacherous for boats, so lots of small buoys dot the water’s surface.  Better adapted to these waters is the small and energetic Black Guillemot. Like the Puffin, it too is a small Auk.  The Black Guillemot is one of the more common and “obvious” birds inhabiting the region.

Back to the Puffins…

We arrived at New Harbor late in the afternoon on Wednesday May 26th.  The tour would run from 5:30pm to around 7:00.   A western sun was shining through clear skies and the breeze was light.  I was reluctant to bring a jacket at first, though I relented only so I’d have something with which to shield myself from the sun. By the time the boat pushed off, however, clouds had begun to move in from the ocean.

The boat had an upper deck which could seat about 30, completely open to the elements.

Scanning for Puffins on the observation deck.

As we cleared the little harbor and began navigating a strict course between buoys, the wind picked up and the temperature dipped to near 60F.  No longer either was the water calm. Standing up to take a picture proved a little hazardous.  I nearly lost my cap to the wind several times while straining to hold my balance.

Nevertheless, within half an hour we reached what amounts to a treeless island seven acres in size.

While a few researchers spend their summers living on the island, we would not be disembarking from our tour vessel. Rather, with commentary coming over the speaker from a guide somewhere INSIDE the boat, we were treated to a rocking but informative trip around the island and to views of Black Guillemots, Laughing Gulls, and several groups of Atlantic Puffins.  A number of people had cameras and most carried binoculars. I was using a handy Canon Powershot G7 and a pair of Nikon Monarch (10X42) binoculars. It was difficult to use either effectively, since holding steady was nearly impossible.

Eastern Egg Rock Island

Still, good looks at the Puffins on the water and flying near the boat were had by all.  The Puffin is distinguished from the nearly all-black Guillemot, which is similar in size, by its massive orange bill, all-black back and wings, and solid white breast and belly.

In better conditions, where the sea is calm, one might see more birds on the island itself.  As it was, most of our time was spent scanning the water in the vicinity of the boat. The guide was very good at spotting and pointing out the various species of birds.  The chances of spotting a Puffin from the mainland are slim to none, so taking a boat tour is the way to go.  Hardy charged $24 per person.

And when you return to shore, right next to the dock is the very casual Shaw’s Fish & Lobster Wharf Restaurant.  They’ve got food and lots of it, and as good as it sounds, it tastes even better after braving a chilly, but satisfying and successful, birding adventure.

To learn more about this tour and others offered by Hardy, go here http://hardyboat.com/.

For a great article on the Puffin comeback, including information about Eastern Egg Rock, see  http://www.smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/A-Puffin-Comeback.html?c=y&page=1 .

We created a wish list of activities to research based on each of our ideas of the perfect, once in a lifetime vacation. We knew going in that we wanted extreme adventure as well as time for relaxation. Many hours were spent researching numerous exciting areas of the world, literally all over the world, with our final decision taking us to Costa Rica. We will never regret making the trip nor going to this location. The bar has definitely been set very high for future travel.

We visited many regions of Costa Rica, but our most memorable adventure was to the Pacuare Jungle Lodge . There are two ways to get to the lodge. One way involves a bus ride, a 4-wheel drive vehicle, a hanging gondola over the river and ends with a hike. The most common method, which is where our adventure began, is to white water raft into and out of the lodge.

Our first morning began early with a few Pacuare staff members picking us up at our hotel in San Jose. From there we traveled 2-1/2 hours across a breathtaking route through Cartago, the old capital of Costa Rica, before continuing on toward the town of Turrialba. The route takes you past the slopes of the Irazú and Turrialba Volcanoes toward the north, and the Reventazón River Basin and Orosí Valley toward the south. Majestic scenery includes fields of ornamental plants, sugarcane, coffee, and macadamia, and the jungle-covered mountains of the Talamanca Mountain Range. A stop along the way is taken to enjoy a delicious traditional breakfast and beautiful views of the town of Cervantes.

Upon arriving at the river, the expert river rafting guides, who doubled as our bus drivers, go over safety precautions and provide us with the necessary rafting gear. Once in the water the excitement increases as you learn to paddle, steer, and rescue, or dive into the raft. The day of rafting starts with smooth floating and escalates to Class I and II rapids. Much of it is calm water where you can take in the views of the scenic canyons and crystal clear waterfalls. The jungle surrounding you while rafting is breathtaking and you have the opportunity to see a variety of tropical animals and birds, including some endangered species. As you round one more bend in the river you arrive at the Pacuare Jungle Lodge, which is in a protected zone of jungle. Here you are greeted by welcoming staff and shown to your bungalow at the edge of the jungle. The simple elegance of the lodge gives you an appreciation for the incomparable beauty that surrounds you. One aspect that surprised us was that our river guides had now also become our lodge staff. Later in the day they served our evening meal in the open air dining/bar room under a canopy of stars, and also lead us on the many optional tours that were available.

You can choose to spend multiple days at the Pacuare Lodge but we decided to spend just one night so we could see as much of Costa Rica as possible. Knowing that we had an even greater adventure awaiting us the following day, we all turned in early. Another important reason for turning in early is the fact that the lodge has no electricity. The middle of the jungle is a very dark place at night and the only light to be had is from the lanterns that are in your bungalow. The sounds of the jungle and the rushing river lulled us to sleep under our bed’s canopy netting, away from the bugs.

The next morning begins with a delicious buffet breakfast to provide you energy for the thrilling adventure ahead. Again the guides review safety precautions and prep us with the knowledge that rafting out today will be more difficult, but exhilarating than rafting in. We quickly discover that rafting the second portion of the river is quite an adrenaline rush and is even more thrilling as it involves maneuvering through class III and class IV rapids. We also discovered on the first rapid of the day, that staying in the raft was not always possible and was definitely going to be a challenge. We had many opportunities to exercise our newly learned safety and rescue techniques! The rafting gave us an extreme sense of accomplishment though as we experienced and conquered everything from getting hung up on large boulders to rafts being overturned. What an awesome feeling we came away with after conquering each new rapid! While we were busy navigating the elements of the river, the paparazzi (kayak photographer) captured all the excitement on film for us to take home to remember our Pacuare adventure.

Costa Rica is such a beautiful place to visit and the Pacuare Jungle Lodge was the highlight of our trip and should be experienced at least once by anyone planning to travel to Costa Rica.

Welcome to Yellowstone...In January!

This past January we ventured to Jackson Hole, WY for the “Guys” Ski vacation.  Once again,  my husband kindly brought me along!  I was really happy, as I like his friends, we enjoy the same activities, and we can’t afford to go on a second ski vacation!

After going to Jackson Hole last year, and being exhausted from four pretty intense days of high altitude skiing, and trying to make everyone’s schedules work together, Dustin and I decided to choose to do some of our own things this year.   We had heard fantastic reports about the Snowmobile trip into Yellowstone.  Having never been to Yellowstone, and being excited about getting stamps in my National Parks Passport, I was eager to give up a day of snowboarding to take this side trip.   Knowing we were doing this, it was a no-brainer to bring the camera!

Yellowstone Gysers

I must tell you, I am NOT an avid snowmobiler.  In fact, I have only done it once, and it was not my cup of tea.  Knowing that, I decided to give up driving the snowmobile to be a passenger.  I do not regret this decision one bit as it allowed me to look around and enjoy the scenery the entire day!

We decided to go on our trip through the Heart Six Ranch.  They came and picked us up at our condo very early in the morning and drove us to the ranch where we had a cowboy breakfast.  After breakfast, we suited up in very nice rental clothing, got in the van, and ventured to the South entrance of Yellowstone National Park.

(Insert Map).  We had a small, but great group of people which included a large, extended family and us.  Our tour guide was a fantastic young guy from WI who had spent the summer working with the horses on the ranch.  He was quite knowledgeable about the land, the park and the wildlife.   After getting suited up, and getting on our snowmobiles, the tour took off!

Some highlights included:

-       The little walk around the paintpots

-       Lunch at Old Faithful Lodge and a viewing of the geyser

-       Last stop was the snow slide…We slid down the slide to see the waterfall, then walked back up the stairs

At the bottom of the Snow Slide

Unfortunately, the only wildlife we saw were some grazing caribou on the way to the ranch.

I have to go back and look, at my photos,  but I think that we only took the 18-200 lens with us.  Sure, I wish we had a bigger zoom, but I think that we got some pretty good shots.

We ended the day with a beautiful sunset coming out of the park.  Unfortunately, we weren’t able to get a very good shot, as we were in the van, and there was not a good place to stop.  We were also able to get to Grand Teton National Park and get one last park stamp.  I would recommend this off season trip to Yellowstone to anyone!  If  snowmobiling is not for you, there are many other ways to see the park in the winter.  Feel free to visit a few more pictures in our MobileMe Gallery!

Due to lack of planning on my part, I scheduled my dives through the hotel the night before.   I was a little apprehensive, but it was an acceptible compromise considering I was traveling with a pregnant wife and a 2.5 year old.   In addition, this was the first trip in quite some time that I did not bring all my gear – I only traveled with my mask, fin, snorkle and point and shoot underwater camera.

The morning of the dive, the owner of AquaCenter swung over to the hotel and picked me up. During the 5 minute drive to the shop, I met my assigned dive buddy for the day and learned a little about the housing market in Playa Flamingo – lots of property for sale.  Hmmmm.   As it would just be the two of us diving for the day, I couldn’t help wondering if tourism was slow or was the dive shop not as popular as others.   In all of my past dives, there have always been 4 or more people on each dive…I hoped this little adventure didn’t turn out to be a bust.

The dive shop was a small little outfit, literally run out of a few connected garages, but they seemed to have their stuff in order.  I quickly signed all my liability forms, trial fit my 3mm full length wet suit and met the dive staff.  As a side note, many shops in the area tell you diving with a shorty is fine.  However, I always find myself getting a bit chilly on the second dive.  Do you self a favor and get a full length 3mm suit even when the water is 80 degrees.   It is better to have to open up the suit a little to cool down than not have enough to stay warm.   Back to the experience…..Hanna, our guide for the day, was great and was quick to answer all questions and escort us down to the beach.  I began to feel more comfortable.

Once on the beach, we could see the boat a short distance away – I was impressed.  It was quite sizable and in VERY good order.  There was going to be tons of space for the two of us and it looked like we would get to our dive sites in very quick order.   The dingy came ashore and after we hopped in, it was nor more than 2 minutes and we were in the dive boat heading to our sites.  I started to feel much better.

Today’s dives would be Elephant Rock and Dirty Rock.

Elephant Rock

Once in the water, I looked down to check the visibility – wow!  It was or more clear than I have ever seen it.   I have been diving in Costa Rica for the last 9 years and cannot recall a time in which I could see as far and felt as warm at water’s surface.   This was going to be a great dive.   At that moment, I kicked myself a bit.  In the morning, I decided not to bring my digital camera since I was renting gear and hadn’t dove for about 9 months.  I wanted to ensure I was completely focused on my skills and technique – you never know what the water is really going to be like.   In addition, with gear that I was not familiar with, I didn’t want any extra distractions that a camera and housing could provide.

Elephant rock did not dissapoint – we saw plenty of what I came to love about Costa Rica diving.  We saw plenty of big morays, a few cow nose rays, a spotted eagle ray, angels, jacks, etc.

Dirty Rock

After our surface interval, we shot over to Dirty Rock.   Similar to the first dive the descent was clear and the dive quickly presented various marine life.   The most extraordinary moment came when an angel separated itself from the large school that was following us and positioned itself perpendicular to the nose of a large moray nestled in some rocks.   It litterally put its entire body (flat side) against the eels’ nose as if it were protecting us.  Again, I was kicking myself that I didn’t have my camera.   When we finished the dive, Hanna and I both marveled at what we saw and couldn’t believe that we didn’t witness the eel grabbing a fast lunch.

As I woke up to my second dive day, the weather turned on us.  The skies were cloudy and the wind had picked up a bit.  Upon arrival at the shop, I learned that I would be diving with a family of 4 and there would be an additional dive master with us.    As it turned out, Hanna would be my dive buddy – I felt comfortable that we would be able to maintain enough distance between each other and the family to ensure everyone had a good time.

Catalina Classic

Both dives on day 2 were in relatively the same area – Catalina Classic.  What was great about this site is the opportunity to see whitetip sharks.   These are not the sharks to be frightened of – they are  nocturnal and spend most of the day hanging out in the sand or in small caves.  They simply swim away if you get too close.  While non-territorial, they are of descent size, enough to give you pause and quicken the pulse a little.

As it turned up, these sites lived up to their reputation.  The entire group was able to get approximatley 10 feet away from two different whitetips AND I had my camera.   My whole mode of operation was: take a picture, inch forward, take a picture, inch forward, etc.  I continued this until our little friend swam away.  It was a blast.

If you are in the Playa Flamingo area of Costa Rica, give Aqua Center a shot – you will be happy you did.

Family on the trail

This summer, we invited my brother in law and his two kids, ages 4 and 6, to join us on a trip to the Boundary Waters. This particular trip was met with a lot of, “Really?!? Have Fun.” or “Have Fun” (with sarcasm) or “YOU ARE CRAZY!”  I’ll be the first to admit, I was a little skeptical of our trip. I live far away from the kids, and I don’t have any of my own, and if I was a parent, I’m not sure I’d plan a trip like this.
Worries and negative energy aside, we started to plan our trip. Upon suggestions from other paddlers and trusted trip planners, we decided to embark on our trip through entry #50, Cross Bay Lake. I had never entered through the Gunflint side f the BWCA  and was very surprised to see how many lodges, cabins and outfitters were along the Gunflint trail. I was also surprised to find out that the actual entry point of #50 was not where we actually entered, was two portages in!

After spending the night at Cascade Bay State Park, we set out the next morning to eat breakfast at the World’s Best Donuts in Grand Marais, MN.  They were good, but I’m not sure that I could classify them as the best.  After a drive up the Gunflint Trail, we find our entry point and we are excited to find that it is very easy to load and unload from, which is great as we are with the kids.  We finally gear up and get on our way!

A few things we learned about traveling with the kids:

Rock Jumping!

- They walk slowly.  When you are walking with a 60lb pack, you have a lot of force behind you and it is difficult to stop.  Keeping them moving was challenging at points.

- Bring an extra adult paddler unless your solo canoeing skills are superior.

- Picking one campsite and not creating a very long trip was a good idea.  I think next time, I would travel more, but it would be more challenging.

- Every day ended well if we were able to make a campfire and roast marshmallows!

- That said, all were able to find some solitude as well as spend quality time with each other!

Here are some of the things we brought with us on this trip:

- My camera, of course!  I purchased a new CCS Rucksack to put my Pelican Case in.  It worked much better and I was able to put my raingear and my water bottle and GPS  in it as well.  In my camera case, I packed my Nikon D70 with 18-200 lens, 12-24 lens and 50mm 1.4 lens.  I find that I really only use the 18-200 when I am camping, but hate to leave the others at home if I have them.  I did really enjoy the macro on a previouscamping trip, as there were lots of interesting little things to see!  I will have to borrow that one again, especially if I am spending ample time in one place!  Also in the Pelican Case, I pack my car keys and a cell phone, just in case.

- Garmin Oregon 400T GPS.

- For our group of 5, we had a MSR Hubba Hubba tent and a Sierra Designs 3 person Comet tent.  Both of these tents are great and pretty light. We also always travel with a CCS tarp now, which we’re learning how to adjust based on conditions and locations!.

-  Two stoves. This comes in handy as you can boil water and cook at the same time.  Please read my review about the fantastic Primus Eta Express!

- Chair kits for the fantastic xPed DownMats!  Durable and super comfortable!

We had a fantastic time.   Four days was a great amount of time; long enough to get away, but not so long that everyone got too tired and cranky.  The weather was beautiful!

Fishing in Solitude

I asked everyone at the end to tell me something special to write in my journal, and here are some of the responses I got:

“I loved eating mac and cheese every day”   “I loved eating marshmallows, camping and eating marshmallows!”  ”I loved spending time with my family that I don’t see very often”

Based on this trip, I would reccommend to anyone to venture to the BWCAW with their families.  I’m looking forward to taking the kids again!

Although last year, paddling through the locks was more dramatic, it is still pretty cool!  As per last year, we got stuck before the lock and had to wait for it to fill.  Unfortunately,there is no place to go, so you just have to wait.  I have to imagine that it is quite a sight for those waiting on the other side of the lock to see all of the canoes and kayaks paddle out!  I’ve included some photos for the scale!  For those of you who are unfamiliar, the locks are directly behind the Guthrie Theater and the Mill City Museum.

Waiting for the lock to open...

I look forward to participating on some other volunteer activities with the Friends of the Mississippi River.

To make a long story short, we had a great time last year, so decided to paddle again. This year’s paddle attracted 400+ people, including many families. I had the opportunity to learn more about what is causing the pollution to the river and was able to spend time with friends!

Lock #1 Opening!

Lock #1 Open! Paddle On!

Saturday night ends at Fort Snelling where all of the paddlers camp!  What an exciting time, and a cool way to spend the night!  Food and entertainment are provided and everyone has the opportunity to check out the fort!  Kids love it as they get to climb in all of the turrets!  Here’s an evening view of the River from the fort:

View of Mississippi RIver from Fort Snelling

Tent Village at Fort Snelling

Click here to learn more about the Mississippi River Challenge or the Friends of the Mississippi River!

My move to Minnesota almost four years ago brought me close to being able to visit the BWCA again.  Last summer, like any good Minnesotans would do, Dustin and I purchased a canoe!  Not just any canoe, but a Bell Seliga Tripper.  A true Boundary Waters tripping boat!  For those of you who are unfamiliar, Joe Seliga handbuilt canoes for the YMCA Camp Widjiwagan for years.  If I ever have children, I will send them there.

September of 2008 brought my first BWCA trip in thirteen years!  It was extra special as my husband, our friends Justyna and Nate, and my brother, who had also done the same trip I had in high school,  joined us.  We also brought along our two Jack Russell Terriers, one of whom proved to be a great camper!  As the trip was late in the season, it was the only one we were able to make it on last year, but it left us eager to get out again.

In order to enter the BWCAW, one needs to obtain a permit.  We went ahead and booked a permit for entry #16, the Moose River N, which was the same entry point that Blair and I had both travelled on previously.  It was exciting, and a little comforting knowing that we would be travelling on a similar route.  Although it is hard to remember everything, there was an air of familiararity.  Unlike the last trip, we had two cars which allowed us to paddle in a loop instead of backtracking when we came out.  This to me is great, as you get to see new things the entire time!  We paddled up the Moose River, and ended up in Lake Agnes.  Unfortunately, it was very windy, and the wind had pushed us across the lake to a very windy campsite.  Unfortuantely, the campsite was not ideal, but we made it home for two days as our friend Nate would be paddling out solo.    After spending another windy and wet day at the campsite, Wednesday turned out to be a beautiful paddling day.  Nate set out on his solo journey and the four of us paddled up towards Lac la Croix.  We made better time than expected, and quickly paddled up to Warrior Hill and the Indian Pictographs.  This is pretty cool as it is only accessable from the water and has been there for years.  We don’t get a chance to see history like that very often!  There are also some great waterfalls on the Canadian side near here, we just didn’t make it there this trip.  We pulled over to a sunny Canadian beach for a relaxing lunch.  As we paddled on, trying to decide where to camp, Blair somehow remembered an isthmus campsite he camped on during his last trip.  We managed to find it, and it ended up being a great site!  The weather was great, and we were all able to swim before dinner!  That night, we saw the Northern Lights!  A rare spectacle indeed, it was incredible!  Although I tried to photograph it, it didn’t turn out right, so I will have to remember it…

The rest of our trip went without a hitch, although we did spend one night at a rather unusual campsite.  Like most evenings, we were arriving in camp later than usual.  We were getting a little desperate in finding a site, and after finding one that we didn’t want to stay at, we settled for this hilltop site.  I usually sleep well in my tent, probably because it is cool and I am so tired, but this site was different.  When we arrived, we saw a pile of old bones.  The bones looked like they had been there for a very long time, so I wan’t concerned that some animal had recently had a tasty meal, but for some reason, it was still unsettling.  I also made the poor decision to bring my toiletries bag into the tent.  This is not a good practice when wilderness camping, and it was in the back of my mind all night.  The dogs also seemed to be restless which increased the thought in my mind that something was lurking outside the tent.

The last night found us on a beach.  Although sleeping on the beach seemed like a great idea, I wouldn’t reccommend it.  I suspect that Blair knew better as he chose a tent site back in the woods.  The sand becomes very hard, and we seemed to be heading down hill.  This was also the only night that the dog did not sleep in the tent as it had rolled in the stinkiest dead fish ever the moment we got to our site.  Although I was worried, she stayed inside the vestibule and did not move the entire night.  The weather that night was quite unusual as we’d look up at the stars and a few minutes later, the sky would be cloudy.  It would then rain, and clear again.  We sat through several of these mini rains, reluctant to head to our tents, knowing that when the sun rose, we’d be  heading out.

I’d highly reccommend this route for any who are interested in the BWCAW.  There is some history as well as many different campsites and routes one can take.  It offers both river, small lake and big lake paddling.   It was also a great trip to get re-acquainted as well as reminisce.  We also found out that we could fit gear for four, four friends, two dogs and two canoes in our trusty station wagon!