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Same problems I had, same solution. I don't care what people do for fun ONCE camp is set-up, chores done and dinner's over and cleaned up.
If you want too drink and play cards until well past mid-night, AND you can get up and be on the water by 7 AM on a travel day, then MORE power too you!
Problem is, they couldn't and I was left herding "cats" and being the bad guy.
 I'm still going, they have been since, so I guess my complaints had merit

Actually I had a bow paddler that would constantly stop paddling to get into his dry bag, camera, gorp, clothing, etc.. expected me to keep us moving while he fiddled around. So you can guess by the picture what my response was. I guess he took the picture to document the fact I wasn't paddling. He was too busy taking pictures though to be paddling too.
Kind of a high maintance guy. Constant need for attention. 1st one up but always the last one ready to go each day. Didn't care much that I choose to ignore his antics.
Same group of guys with drinking problems. Different ideas about open container laws. Don't trip with them any more. I'm having more fun and never looked back.

Too funny Jim

You look about to capsize that tiny craft.

  THAT brings back bad memories for me
My stern paddler actually fell off one trip he was sleeping so sound!
Funny at the time, not so funny after a few days

Sometimes I get caught napping in the stern.

Let's face it Wally, the truth is we both like to paddle in the stern.  I like to cook.  AND remember you ARE the better navigator.

8-10 years ago my son-in-law and I paddled the Crow Wing from Nimrod to Motley (43 miles). We camped at Old Wadena Campground and hit Motley about 1PM the next day.  Generally the water was 2-3 feet deep, little current, clear.  There are several county campgrounds along the way.  Need to check as to which have potable water tho if you don't bring along the filter.

 For your patients sake, I hope your slacker way's only pertain when paddling
 When I paddled tandem, I always took the stern because my slacker partners would stop paddling all together and take naps if they thought there was enough tailwind, I wouldn't notice

Thanks Jim....Nimrod...quite a place.  Headweaters are about 20 road miles N.  Some of my co-workers "float the Crow WIng" during summer....based out of Nimrod.  Ihear it's a blast.  I'll take a look at the seasonal flow there.


Akula..."seasoned tripper"....too funny .  I'm the antithesis of "seasoned".  Jst ask monjon.  Lazy, loud, opinionated, slack when I can...(thats why monjon paddles bow seat...he can't watch me....come to think of it....maybe that's why he quit going with me), forgetful....often leave gear back at the truck.  Chores...I like to wash the dishes...avoid gathering wood...avoid cooking....avoid carrying anything heavy.  I like to sleep, give orders and read the map.

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Liked your story Wally. I've had a few things happen on some resent trips I thought I should have known better too.  Thanks for sharing.

I did a look up to find some river gauges for the Crow Wing headwaters but only got upstream to Nimrod, MN. Don't know if it would help for future reference???

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solotripper wrote on Oct 28^th, 2008 at 10:49pm:


Thanks!

We should have scouted all of the accessible bridges along the route... that would have shown us the "hell on earth" rock section and we would have altered plans accordingly. Nothing like an avoidable surprise to brighten up the day...


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It was right about then that I first started thinking about those hammocks with any level of seriousness. But you know what they say, back injuries build character.


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Sometimes I think a sense of humor is the only thing that *really* gets anybody through anything. The guy I was with on that trip and myself have been on some really miserable outings, and I can't help but wonder how my other friends would have handled the same situations. Probably by completely losing their minds (which I hate to admit, would be pretty funny in itself).

If the humor fails though, which it does sometimes (but only briefly), then there are the four golden rules:

1. Stay calm
2. Watch your step
3. Swear a lot
4. Keep moving forward

Works for me anyways. I don't know how Wally does it, but he's more of a seasoned veteran than myself.