Boundary Waters

Joel, Baby L, Bosco and I returned today from a 5 day adventure in the BWCA--and an adventure it was! Along with two other couples --the Sebo's and the Reeve's-- we drove up the shore early Wednesday morning awaiting our big quest. We arrived with anticipation and excitement only to find many, many mosquitoes and that should have been our first sign as to what was yet to come! Our excitement soon ended as in the first 20 minutes of our voyage; we tipped; yes tipped two canoes! Those damn BFR's (big F*&%ing rocks). In all of Joel's years to the BWCA he has never seen a canoe tip and our canoe was one that did! So needless to say, we had a lot of drying out to do so we canoed for less than a mile our first day in...we could have thrown a rock and hit the suburban from our camp site. Not only was I discouraged and unsure of what I signed up for, but the mosquitoes were horrendous.

The next morning we all awoke in good spirits, the sun was shinning and we knew that things couldn't get worse. We set out and canoed and portaged for 7 miles until we came across a beautiful camp site, where we all enjoyed a refreshing swim, a tasty meal and smores over the campfire and a wonderful nights sleep. At this site, the bugs seemed to have decreased...until the next day anyway.
Friday morning we all slept in and woke up refreshed! We had decided the previous evening that we'd stay at that camp site for the rest of the trip and just do day canoe excursions out and back. That morning after a great pancake breakfast, we set out for our first day voyage. The weather was overcast with rain on the way, and we canoed to our first portage of the day and all went well... then we canoed to our next portage; it was an 80 rod portage (1 rod=the length of 1 canoe). Prior to getting out of our canoes we all lathered up in bug spray and lotion, but being pregnant you can't use deet therefore I had deet-free bug lotion. We set in to the portage one after the other carrying canoes, paddles, water and our lunch...only to be feasted on by mosquitoes! Now, don't get me wrong--every portage was full of many mosquitoes--but nothing nearly as bad as this. I truly felt like I was going insane, they were going through 3 layers of clothing, they ignored our bug lotion/spray and you could barely open your eyes...but you had to as it was a rocky, marshy trail. Upon our arrival on the otherside of the portage, we all quickly got into our canoes and paddled to the middle of the lake to get away from them. Bosco was crying and whimpering...and I was nearly in tears myself! It was horrible. We ate lunch on Friday in our canoes in the middle of that lake as we figured out our plan. We could either a) go back through there again to head back to our site or we could b) go ahead and take the loop around the lakes, which would take us back to our site--but there were more long & unknown portages if we took that route. We all decided that we had to double back and go through it again, as the other portages could have been just as bad. Nobody was happy with the decision but we all knew that it had to be done! We all headed back through and once again it was just as bad...but we made it out alive! As we canoed back to our camp site it started to rain and we all agreed that a nap was in order! We all awoke that evening to a nice dinner and at that point we all agreed to head out of the beautiful BWCA on Saturday vs. the planned Sunday departure. Bosco, Joel and I headed into the tent early to play some cards...as it was yet another long day in the wild! You'd think I would have been out that night, but between the rain pounding on the tent, hearing some sort of creature walking outside of the tent and listening to a wolf howl all night long...my heart just pounded and I got no shut eye!

Needless to say, I was happy that it was Saturday...our departure day! We awoke early that morning to pack up our camp site and to enjoy one last camp breakfast. We set out with the thoughts that it would take us 6 hours to canoe back to the landing where the car was...but we were all on a mission to leave the BWCA and it only took us 4.5 hours to make it back to the car...this time there were no canoes that tipped! We all arrived back at the car to find yet more mosquitoes, but we got all the packs and canoes packed up and headed down the shore just a little south of Tofte for subs and pizza for lunch...we looked like we had just come out of the wild but wow did that food taste good! Since we shorted our trip by a day we decided to treat ourselves and stay at a hotel in Canal Park in Duluth. It was so heavenly to have a nice hot shower, a bed to sleep in with a pillow, and a great meal at Little Angies. Bosco enjoyed a sleep over with his Auntie Stephanie and she spoiled him with a run, treats, dinner and a great nights sleep...thanks Steph!

I know some of you may be reading this and thinking "this is not what I'd call vacation"...but a vacation it was! The BWCA is very, very beautiful but I wouldn't suggest going in June or July...maybe try August or September when the mosquitoes aren't camping there too. I would also suggest staying upright in your canoe and watching out for the BFR's...we were able to get through this by finding humor in the situation. I would also suggest camping with friends; we had great company (Team ChacoKeen) with a few "minor" challenges along the way...but we also have many memories that we can laugh about in the years to come!

At home at last, here is Bosco enjoying our "mosquito free" tent in the backyard as it airs out!