We had been been traveling hard for 2 days, on mile 37 while passing through the narrows on Brent I hear my name called out from two guys trolling. Nice to meet PortageDog and his buddy. We knew we were going to be in the same area but what are the chances of passing within 100 yards. Wish we had the time to hang for a while but they were headed out and we were bushed. My buddy Sam was stunned to hear someone call my name 1100 miles from home in the middle of nowhere. My lucky QJ decal gave me away. 

Back in 2002, I was leaving the Willow Flowage in northern Wis. after a few days' camping.  As I'm paddling toward the landing I see a tandem canoe with what looked like a big guy and his blond 12-year-old kid in the bow.  The 12-year-old turned out to be a close female friend, a singer I'd played backup for.

Four years later, I was camped on the Turtle-Flambeau Flowage (west of the Willow) and a guy pulled up to the campsite in his canoe and asked if I was there, calling me by my full name.  He said (the name of my supervisor) had an urgent message for me and I should high-tail it out of there.  Turns out I had worked with him for a couple of years and then followed him into two separate jobs as he moved on in his career.

I'm just waiting to run into someone I know in the BW.

jimmar wrote on Mar 31^st, 2014 at 11:09am:


I remember that you were portaging a really beautiful cedar-stripped canoe. Thanks for not chuckling over my disorganized portaging skills (or lack thereof!) . It was great as well crossing paths with you and your son on Pickerel Narrows on my way back out to Batch/Nym...that was a gorgeous sunny day with little to no wind and it was strangely comforting to see someone "I knew" in the backcountry!....hope you both caught a lot of fish that day! Hope to see you both again this May up there.

Met DentonDoc and his friend Bill on Kawnipi one year while I was on a trip with Yellowbird. We recognized him by the combination of QJ decal and Texas reg. sticker. We spent some time fishing together.

I met Kawishiway years ago when he stopped by my camp on Birch Lake and that is how I found out about this web site.  Met DB on a portage into Sturgeon several years ago.  Met Tripper as he was leaving Beaverhouse and I was heading in at the parking lot portage some years back.  I need to get some decals...great way to get the message out that you're part of the QJ following. 
Also met a couple guys on a portage (again, several years back) who took a look at me and seemed to figure out I was "intrepid camper"....but I never got their names.

I met M_M on Fred one spring. That's when I learned about QJ. Met him again the next year, almost to the day, at the same spot. Neither meeting was planned.

I met D_D on Olifaunt cause I recognized his QJ boat decal.

Met Nandagikendan on the portage from Nym to Batch last year. Spent a stormy night in adjoining campsites on Batch. Didn't know he was a QJ member until we got back and I some him on here. Maybe there should be a secret handshake or something.

I met IC on a portage a few years back. We figured it out on the second pass.

Everyone else gave me a heads up beforehand.

I was paddling through Donald Lake in WCPP. The visibility was cut to a few hundred yards from the big Larus Creek fire. I saw a solo canoe and turned towards it and soon my name came booming across the water. It turned out to be Suncatcher who frequents numerous forums but someone I may have never met in person. We chatted and he headed for a plane pick-up that he hoped the smoke would lift and allow. I heard later that as he waited Kingfisher and others came by. I headed for Glenn Lake where there was a planned  rendezvous of Farmer, Bob B., Jazzman, Hogan, Solotrip and myself. Our surprise was when Asst. Sup. Claire dropped in by plane to give us an update on the Larus fire.

MT recently wrote in another discussion thread:

"Doing some work in Naples and stopped in at the Toyota dealership in Ft Myers to get a timing belt (it might be time after 275K-original belt>>thats called "borrowed time"). Who waltzes in? None other than Prouboy accompanied by his faithful canine. Of course I seized upon the opportunity and started giving him some jazz.  .........I was having some fun until he recognized me. To funny......"

It was an amazingly unlikely event, and much enjoyable.  MT -- let's plan something for next March, outside of Ft. Myer's Toyota.  Of course Puck will be with me!  (Or The Puckster, if you're not into the brevity thing.)

I've only stumbled upon one other QJ'r -- Jackfish -- and it was on the the Beaverhouse/Badwater portage.  Another fun conversation occurred. 

A looooong set-up for the question: care to share about unplanned meetings with other QJ'rs?  Hopefully while canoeing somewhere, but anything goes!

prouboy