I will be heading in next week.  I am planning on doing some base camping in the Lake Two area.  I realize that this is a busier area, so I have a question.  Most of the time I see people hurrying to get somewhere, and it seems people do not stop to say hi or talk.  I think that people do not want to intrude on others experience.  But, this trip I am going to try and be a little more open, slow down and talk to others.  I do not want to intrude, so is there a way to let others know, 'hey come on over and talk'?  I have read about pink flimengos, or flags and was wondering is there any established sign for 'stop by'.

I tried the flag approach this year, but I have to say my success was ZERO! Perhaps it was the time of year, perhaps it was a consequence of the location of my campsites, perhaps I needed a bath ... in any case, I didn't attract any visitors.

On the flip side, I did paddle up to one camp site at about the lunch hour.  I was interested in getting recent, first hand information on a nearby remote portage I knew the group had taken (from observation).  I got the distinct feeling this particular group had NO interesting in visiting.  I had to hail them 3 times before I even got an acknowledgement and then the answers were as brief as possible.  I quickly bid this group a good day and paddled on.  

On the other hand, I found most groups I encountered on portages willing to stop and chat for a few minutes.  Most encounters on the water were limited to a quick hello while passing.  

So, if there is a secret to having folks stop in for a "cup of joe," I obviously haven't found it (although I'll keep trying).

dd

I know what I'd do if I saw some stranger, needy and "clingy looking", a desparate stare in his eye, appealing to me from his camp to just come over and become freinds......

Good question---I never thought about this before.

We ususally travel light and try to get away from people---not anti-social just feels good to get to a remote lake and have it to yourself, also getting away from the crowds gives us a sense of accomplishment.

So I contemplated what I'd do if someone wanted to visit. At portages I actually enjoy visiting with others when the opportunity presents itself---sometimes you get to exchange some really good info to fellow travelers. I have never went up to anothers camp---so what would I do if someone approached mine---I guess it would be just like being at home---somedays you enjoy having company it's a pleasant surprise when someone shows up on the doorstep and other days you just need to be alone and don't feel like having company.

I guess just be friendly to passerbys you could invite them in, but don't be upset if they don't take ya up on the offer----some people just come up there to be by themselves.

Tim

Well I think I will buy a 'Welcome' flag and when we are open to visitors we will put it out.  
I am taking extra coffee and tea and will be testing a new reflector oven.  So we will have food to serve any guests.
I will be in the Lake Two-Four vicinity starting this Wednesday so if you see the welcome flag stop by and introduce yourself.

This is a very interesting question, and one I had never anticipated.  I guess somehow I thought everyone who went on a wilderness trip wanted to get away from people!  Especially people they don't know.

If someone approached our campsite (we are a traveling couple, just two of us always) asking for directions or about a portage, we would be polite and answer questions, but it wouldn't really occur to us to invite that person into our camp.  Perhaps it is the mentality of traveling as a twosome; it is hard for me to imagine traveling with a group of three canoes and several tents, too!

I like to speak with people on the portages and occasionally ask what they thought of a portage if they have just come from the other direction.  I do that more now that I have old-lady knees!  And I do find that some people seem glad to talk and others are reticent.

We are of course cordial to the US Forest Service personnel who occasionally stop by.   :)

Good luck with your welcome flag.  I will be interested to see if you get any response.

Spartan, I have always thought the same thing.  But, this trip is with my 11 year old daughter so I thought I need to slow down and let her enjoy the trip.  I have usually been go and see as much as I could.  I wonder what others will think?

Well I just got back.  I forgot to get a welcome flag.  We did see many people since we were on Lake Three.  I found many people seemed to be in a hurry and either they did not want to impose on our space or did not want us to impose on theirs.  People were friendly on the portages and we talked to some.  The best day we had to invite osmeone over for coffee and apple crisp was so windy hardly anyone was out.
Maybe next time.

We always wanted to hang the jolly roger out in front of our camp to warn people that we will repel any borders ;D

If you see phink phlamingos, well...  :o :o :o

do what you gotta do  ;D ;D ;D

As to the effect of traveling solo for the last few years with a 14 pound silent dog along, most folks I see are curious as to what motivates me to do such.  At times I've felt like a tv show in the woods near the intial put in... folks asking "You're out here with your vicious watch dog we see..." usualy followed by a good laugh.

Once a couple days or more travel time back in the woods, I've noted the conversation becomes much better and more meaningful, with others having more quirks in common with those that have been there before.

I'm all for a small amount of conversation after several days with none.  I've had more than a few invite me to their site for conversation, to find shelter from a coming storm, etc.  However this normaly happens after a few days back..rather than near the initial put in or final put out, though it did happen once on a day trip on lake one.  Perhaps that was probably due to the tv syndrome and my small silent dog again.

As Old Salt perhaps refered to...I know some are now taking their pink flamingos along for a welcome mat these days to inform other QJ'rs...here I am.

k

I have become quite attached to my phlamingo "Pink" as a travelling buddy and always hope if anyone knowing about pink flamingoes sees her that they will at least say "hello"!   ;)

I am thinking that I should adopt pinkus as part of my design, but still working on redoing my design.  
My current issues is size and visabillity.  The Pink would probably stand out, but I need to come up with a background color.

Anyone seeing Pinkus Flamingus Jamboreeus perched on sites (or canoes) along Crooked, Brent, Suzanette, Conmee, or McAree lakes between June 29 and July 8 should feel free to drop by.  Our party already has plans to hook up with a number of QJer parties, en route, to share evening campfires.

We would thoroughly enjoy making the acquaintance of other QJer friends who happen to be in the vicinity.  

Oh, btw, even though we'll have multiple QJ Moderators in our party, we promise not to ZAP, engage Search Police, or otherwise modify your contributions to our collective wilderness experience....

Jimbo   8)

Multiple moderators, huh? :o :o

Is this a coat and tie affair? :-/ ;D ;D ;D

How humbled I will be to be in the presence of such moderators... ;)  ;)  I can hardly wait...  (and that is the truth) I won't however have a coat and tie, and somewhere, somehow I am going to have to come up with a pink flamingo shirt or something so they will Identify me...  I know now a Tuxedo T-shirt with a blow up flamingo hat... Think they would recognize me Old_Salt??

Bruce

Pinkus at the gate but we're doing "penguins" this year.

Black & white tux, only, please.

Jimbo   8)

Bruce,
Take your shirt off, and you'll be recognized by your pinkus epidermis, same as me. ;D ;D ;D

Did I read you correctly - June 29th?  Aww shucks, I thought the dates were from May 29th.  :-[  And I'm already booked in.  No Pinkus Flamingus Jamboreeus for me-us.  Oh well, maybe next year.

-YB

YB -

Be mindful, mon ami... my mandate to our many modest Moderators will be to manage & maintain moderately moderate use of Pinkus Flamingus in a minimally moderate mode to maximize our magic moments on McIntyre & McAree.

Jimbo   8)

My OH my - What a magnificently, marvelous, mountain of mumbo-Jimbo.  :o ;D

Hah!

Now you've gone and done it, fishinbuddy.  You finally coined the phrase which captures the essence of Jimbo's weirder, wilder side.

Mumbo-Jimbo...perfect!!!

8)He could start over with a new handle. "Mumbo-Jimbo"! 8)

Hmmm... well, then, HERE is a Mumbo-Jimboism to keep in mind:

             El Pinkus Flamingus = El Voodoo Dollus


When I give somebody the bird, I really stick it to them....


Jimbo   8)

I finally convinced my wife, who has all of the crafty genes, to help me with a flag.  You can see a pictue in my gallery, I am kinda please with how it is coming along.  She made a mock up, I should have a working model to take along in 2 weeks.  Provided I keep the love and attention flowing.   ;)

Jimbo, I hope I have not violated any copyrights on your signature bird. 8)

Fishinbuddy,

You've actually pictured the "Jamboreeus" sub-species... NOT the "Jimboreeus".  Therefore, technically, I think you're still on safe ground with your flag from a copyright infringement standpoint.

So, does your flag go in the bow or the stern???

Maybe you should rig it up as a makeshift "sail" that affixes to your paddles?

Jimbo   8)

I think the flag will fly from the stern except on windy days.  Mostly I plan on deploying it at the campsite to see if it will draw unsupecting visitors in.

I think I will take a QJ Bandana and attach it to a small dowell rod to stand in the stern of my canoe this summer... or else take an old sheet reduce the size to a more manageable size and copy the Picto to it and then put my online name at the bottom...  and maybe even a Flamingo logo to adorn it... then fly it in the stern and at camp to see what happens... :o ;D

Bruce

FB, just bring a sign that reads "FREE BEER". You'll have a traffic jam at your site's landing. Even better, most of the visitors would likely be those on their way out of the Park, and therefore able to give the best recent recon. Of course, when you inform them that you "just ran out" of the free beer, they'll want to leave. But that's when you make your apple crisp offer as a consolation prize.

I have actually come up with a illegal and complicated scheme to sell beer.  I will go up in mid winter, and cut ice from the lake and stash it in a cave.  Then come back during July and bootleg ice cold beer.  If I can avoid getting arrested it might work. ;)

Until then the flag continues to progress, my wife is so creative.  4 panels are done and pictures posted.

Here's the example of the flag I am going to create.... With the wife's help of course!!

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It is picture #24

Bruce

Awesome flag!!  8) 8) 8)

Cool, I am not the only one!
How big is your flag going to be?

  (You need to Login or Registeris the welcome mat I put out on last year's trip.  It is flying proudly in front of my campsite at the north end of Silence Lake (August, 2005).  It will be along on this  year's trip also.  (Its standard handkerchief size, re-enforced along one edge with grommets added.)

dd

Demensions will be 16 x 24, or 18 x 30.  Material will be a lightweight canvas type, reinforced with gromets like DD's or with a sleeve at the end where a dowel rod can be inserted to hold it..  I bought  my wife a sewing machine and a serger and she can do about anything with it...  
Art work will be provided by my kids, who will get a blast out of doing it...   The name will either be iron on letters where it can be done on both sides correctly, or put on another piece of material and sewn on where it can be seen correctly from both sides.
Just an interesting project to invite people to say hello to me on my solo if they want to...

Bruce

Hey, Bruce -

Sounds like you won't be too tough to spot in June!

I kind of like dd's "flag" & may try to duplicate it.  So, you might keep an eye out for such (in addition to our "flashing you the bird") on Iron Lake....

Jimbo   8)

wrote on May 9^th, 2006 at 2:34pm:

I kind of like dd's "flag" & may try to duplicate it.

That's about as good as I could do with a printer that only runs 8 1/2 X 11 sheets (ink jet with iron-on transfer material).  I did get a minor amount of "bleed."  I suppose that's why they recommend colored fabric.

BTW:  This small sized photo doesn't clearly indicate that "QuietJourney.com" is on the left edge and "DentonDoc" is across the top.

dd

On the subject of the pink flamingos.

I'm going to the Q again on May 30, for a couple weeks of solo walleye chasing.  I'll probably go straight up Agnes and be fishing Kawnipi, the Poet Chain, Sturgeon, and the top of the Kashipiwi chain.  I like all the moving water in that area.

Would it be worth my trouble to bring a flamingo?  Are there that many potential paddlers out there who would know what it means?

I'd be interested in meeting other folks and sharing fishing info, coffee, and just seeing the perspectives of others.  I've done a bunch of these solo trips and I rarely meet anyone for anything other then a quick "hello, how are they biting?"

I could easily stow one in my Bell Wildfire while afloat, and then at the waters edge.  But I don't really want to if no one recognizes it, and it's just another thing to portage.

lotalota -

Well, the "upside" would be that you wouldn't be portaging the WHOLE flock, like I did.

The "downside", as I see it, is that you MAY start talking to it... like I did.

When it starts talking back to you, THAT's when you really got to beware.  [I'll give you a hint re: the danger... guess where my pre-cog trip report is coming from???]

Hey, Stu's mag & this board have decent circulation.  What few folks ARE in the park will definitely SEE you coming from a mile away.  Could be you'll get lucky.

Be sure to give them our secret handshake if you run across a friend of the flock....

Jimbo     8)

wrote on May 19^th, 2006 at 9:54pm:

Hey, Stu's mag & this board have decent circulation.  What few folks ARE in the park will definitely SEE you coming from a mile away.  Could be you'll get lucky. Be sure to give them our secret handshake if you run across a friend of the flock.... Jimbo

Sounds like you think the odds are a bit slim then, eh?  I suppose if I could find a small one then maybe--but I don't want something to catch the wind in my small canoe.

Plus I don't know the secret handshake.  I suppose that's why it's a secret.

I hauled my "Pink" all over last summer after being bequeathed it at the Jimboree'05.  Ran into Clouserminnow, but we sort of had that pre-arranged by e-mail.  Had someone ask me if I was from Florida, and the rail-portage guy into LaCroix asked why I was carrying Pink, so I explained.  So far that is all who have noticed (or dared to ask).  This year should be different as the Pinkus Flamincus story gets more wide-spread.  Pink finally lost her legs, actually her sockets got wore out, maybe from all the portage walking.  I put a collar and D-ring on her and now hang her from a branch near the shore at my camps.  Hope others WILL stop and say Hi when they see her this summer.  On portages I clip her D-ring onto my pack and she piggy backs, then put her cute little head in the front of the canoe where she can point the way to go.   ;D

I find it interesting that your flamingo is a hen.  Should I procure a flamingo for my pickerel hunt I want to be sure that it is a proud drake.

Plus I don't know the secret handshake.  I suppose that's why it's a secret.
[/quote]


lotalota -

OK, then.  Here it is!  Shhhhhhhh.....!!!

You approach the OTHER member of the flock as if you are going to shake hands.  At the very last second, you give each other "the bird", then twist the appropriate "bird indicator finger" around the corresponding finger of your bird brother or bird sister.

Of course, if you've "guessed wrong" about your potential bird brother or bird sister, you may have some explaining to do....

Jimbo   8)

I am going into Quetico on 8/8 and exiting 8/17. Prairie Portage to Agnes to Kawnipi and back south via kahshapiwi to North Bay. Going solo, but I wouldn't mind meeting someone for a cocktail or to swap lies for a bit. Is anybody going to be in Quetico in that time frame, and is it worth my while to hunt a pink flamingo and haul it along?  
After all, what would YOU think if you saw a 50+ year old guy paddling solo with a pink flamingo in the bow?! 8)
Regards,
Kenhk

I am going into Quetico on 8/8 and exiting 8/17. Prairie Portage to Agnes to Kawnipi and back south via kahshapiwi to North Bay. Going solo, but I wouldn't mind meeting someone for a cocktail or to swap lies for a bit. Is anybody going to be in Quetico in that time frame, and is it worth my while to hunt a pink flamingo and haul it along?  
After all, what would YOU think if you saw a 50+ year old guy paddling solo with a pink flamingo in the bow?! 8)
Regards,
Kenhk

wrote on May 20^th, 2006 at 8:22pm:

After all, what would YOU think if you saw a 50+ year old guy paddling solo with a pink flamingo in the bow?! 8) Regards, Kenhk

Well, if you were talking to the bird, I might think I was looking in the mirror....

Jimbo   8)

I will be flying a banner similar to dd's between 8-9 and 8-20 from Sarah to Conmee and out Kash.

Thanks Jimbo. That's very much like the old Beat Farmers (90's cow punk band) handshake.  Now that I know it, maybe I'll get a chance to use it.

kenhk,

Keep your eye peeled for a red canoe sporting QJ decals on the bow.  I'm the shorter guy in the stern catching all the fish!  ;D ;D

We'll be in that general area at that time (just 2 of us in the one canoe).  Our trip is Aug 10-18 and we'll be going thru PP to Sarah, crossing over to Kash, up to Sark, then back down to Kash, out Yum-Yum to North Bay, and return.  Layover days and wild goose chases may alter the itenerary, of course.

SnowDog,
I'm planning on coming south on Kash from Kawnipi, probably around the 12th or 13th. Doing the loop from Agnes to Kawnipi and down Kash back to North Bay. I'll be the guy in the solo Bell Magic, natural kevlar yellowish, probably using a kayak paddle. I'll keep an eye peeled; maybe we can swap fishing stories and a few laughs.
I'll try to drop you a line as the date gets closer.

Anybody else?

I just got back today (slept on an island on North Bay on Basswood last night) but thought I'd add a quick note to this.  I decided not to bring a flamingo--mostly because I couldn't find one at Target.  But it was a good thing I didn't.  I was out for 13 nights on my solo trip and I saw almost nobody!  The Q was empty it seemed.  The route was up Agnes, Kawnipi, the poets chain, and back down the Kashipiwi chain.   My flamingo would have been just another thing to portage, and no one would have seen it.  Maybe it would work better in July?

IF you would have taken a pink (available at party stores), they would have flocked to see you. ;)

Quote:

After all, what would YOU think if you saw a 50+ year old guy paddling solo with a pink flamingo in the bow?!

i might THINK i'm in San Francisco Bay  ;) ;) ;)

I've always found whisky the best welcome mat - no MNR ranger has ever turned it down.

If you want to really get the MNR rangers excited about whisky, get the Wisers De Luxe at the Canadian liquor store.  It is fantastic stuff, and I'm sure they like it.  You might also try Lambs dark rum, available at the Canadian duty free stores and the government liquor stores as well.  None of that American stuff, eh?  And be sure to call it "rye" instead of whisky.  Unless you have an obvious American accent, they might mistake you as a Canadian.

Rye = Burbon
Whisky = Scotch
Whiskey = American Bildge

I meant to say Whisky.

They don't turn down the Rye either.   ;)

The Canadians I know call the blended Canadian whiskey "rye", whether it has rye in it or not.  I don't think Wisers or Crown Royal are distilled from any rye grain, but they sure call it that.  Maybe it is a regional thing, as I'm talking about Manitoba.  I'm talking about the smooth blended Canadian whiskeys.  They also seem to like scotch from Scotland, which I think is horrible stuff, but I guess that's a fault of my own.

It's also good to know that an American case of 24 beers is often called a "two-four" in Canada, and a 12 pack is called a "case" (cans).

And a walleye is called a pickeral?

I spend evey other Thursday night in FF playing with the bagpipe band.  Learning the language has been a real hoot over the past few years.  Periodially I have to ask, "What the . . . . .?"  Still trying to figure out what a "Shooter" is.  Something to do with driving or car repair from what I can gather.  "Looks like you need a shooter eh?"

I don't know what a shooter is.  I'll ask next fall and I'm sure I can find out.  Walleyes are definitely called pickerel, northerns are "jacks", and I've even heard crappies called "strawberry bass".

If you go to Canada that frequently you should definitely check out two of their TV shows:  Corner Gas and Trailer Park Boys.  Trailer Park Boys is just about the funniest thing I've ever seen, anywhere. Corner Gas is more family oriented, but funny nonetheless.

Trailer Park Boys - HA HA HA HA

Should we meet sometime the Rum and Coke's are on me.

PhantomJug wrote on Jun 14^th, 2006 at 1:51pm:

Still trying to figure out what a "Shooter" is.  Something to do with driving or car repair from what I can gather.  "Looks like you need a shooter eh?"

i don't know what "shooter" means in Canuck, but around here"shooter's" are shots with a beer backer??
of course that doesn't jibe with car repair or driving :question :question.
but if your doing"shooter's" and DRIVING, you might need car repair????

how's that for twisted logic ;) ;) ;).

Re:  Shooters - here's the context I heard it in.  

I was travelling from Thunder Bay to Geraldton and stopped at a gas station (Esso, Can-Op, cant remember)  and while at the counter, the guy says; "That your car over there?"  Yes, I say.  "Looks like you could use a shooter" he says.  I just gave him a "huh huh, yeah" and walked out.  I didn' have a car problem and I checked my tires as I walked out to the car.  Everything was good far as I could tell.  So, still not sure - I'll ask someone this week.

We did fly the jolly roger this year and everyone stayed away - I can't understand why?!  We always walk out and say hello if a group is going by and if they look like they could be fun to hang out with  (and we have beer left - better show up before Saturday night is gone) we'll invite them in for a cuople bevies.  Or if weather is bad or looming we'll invite people in to stay under our tarps as long as they like.  If you see the jolly Roger - stop in - I do have some pink flamingos at home - I'll try to remember to bring one of them as well! --- Pax

I suggest shooters are either as shots with beer (other choices, video games, womens clothing, guns or hockey).

Canadian English <-> English Dictionary

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i.e. Shooter girls - hotties that serve shots in bars

I remember a few years back their was a couple who spent the entire summer canoeing the Quetico and BWCA.  I remember reading an account, (In the Ely Echo or Duluth News) that said they saw very few people in the heart of the canoe country.  On one occasion late one afternoon, twilight, a solo canoeist came up to their campsite and asked if he could camp with them.  They declined the offer, for privacy reasons, but later they felt remorseful.  I probably would of felt the same way, unless I had built some repore with the person.  

We always strike up a conversation with anyone we see on a portage or who happens to canoe by our campsite.  If we were eating lunch, we have even offered to share available food if we had extra.  If we had anything in common, we also would welcome them to stop by our campsite.  But I'd probably decline camping with an unknown person unless they needed assistance.

Shooters = windshield wiper fluid.  Seems so obvious now.

PhantomJug wrote on Feb 25^th, 2007 at 9:34pm:

Shooters = windshield wiper fluid.  Seems so obvious now.

Drink up!!  [smiley=thumbup.gif]  [smiley=thumbup.gif]  (those crazy canucks will drink anything...)

I kinda like the Hotties with shots exclamation ;D ;D