After reading Quiet Journey for many months, it occurs to me that I read about canoeing solo, canoeing with friends, canoeing solo with friends, and sometimes even a post about getting together with strangers to canoe together!  (Well, maybe not strangers--web friends?)  But I don't see many posts about canoeing with spouses.

Are there other canoeing couples out there?  Spartan 1 and I have been married for almost 38 years and have been canoeing partners for all of that time.  We took our first wilderness trip in 1971 (Crane Lake, Namakan River) and have 24 trips in the books now, 21 in BW/Q.  Our usual trip is 8-12 days, although one time we did a 22-day trip, which will always be remembered as the best one!

When I say "in the books", I am not just using a phrase.  I make up a journal with photos from each trip, so that on those cold winter days in Michigan we can relive our time in the wilderness by reading the narrative and enjoying the pictures.  It is a great contribution to our sanity, although I suppose some people would raise eyebrows when I mention "sanity" in the same sentence with the word "our"!

Seriously, though, I believe canoeing together has strengthened our bond as a couple.  I would be interested in hearing about this from others who regularly go canoe tripping with a spouse.

Spartan2,
I admire your post and your marriage... congratulations on having found that perfect spouse that you can do the things both of you do together.  That is a special bond...  I re-married last December, and now I have found a spouse such as you have... she has been with me twice so far, even once before we were married.  But, we share every activity we can do together...  Hunting, fishing, camping, canoeing, everything outdoors... and yes I even go shopping with her too.  We are best friends and look forward to years of doing those things together.

Bruce

Two of my three trips to the BW have been with my wife.  The first one before we were married and then last May for our honeymoon.  ;D  
I hope we will still be going on trips together in 38 years.  :o

I did one trip with my wife. She had been car camping all of her life. She said the trip was "okay", but she has not been bugging me to go on another.

I applaud couples that trip together. I wish my wife was more interested in it. But that's the way it goes. I wouldn't trade my wife (of 24 years) for anyone. She has found a hobby that she is passionate about (quilting) and I have mine.

My wife and I have made about a fifth of my trips as a team.  Generally when "mon" of monjon comes along we paddle in no more than 5-6 hours and we base camp for 2-3 days exploring and fishing.  One of our favorite trips was to Cirrus where at one time we both a northern on our line at the same time.  She was with me this last May in 50 degree weather.  We always have a good time.

I try and do at least one of my trips each year with my wife.  She loves it there too.  It is a different trip with her than it is with my brother or buddies, but it is probably my favorite trip of the summer.  Sitting out a bad storm in the tent with a spouse can be much more fun than with a member of the same sex!  We have had about 10 trips together now to the BW/Q and hope to surpass the 38 year mark of the Spartans some day.

All of my canoe trips in the BW have been with my girlfriend(some day wife).  I think it's great that she goes along with me and she impresses me every day we're out there.  I push myself on our trips and she's right there with me.  I have heard people say, "If you can spend a week in the woods with someone, you can spend you're whole life with them" and I believe that has some merit.  This summer I'll be taking my dad on his first BW trip.  I'm excited to show him the place I love but the trip won't be the same without her.  We're still young but I hope to be tripping together for many years to come!

I count myself among the lucky ones... my wife is the one that motivated me to get into canoe camping in the bdub after many years of being too busy with other things. I had done some canoe camping in Quebec as a teenager with my Boy Scout troop, and had spent several summers in northern Minnesota doing field geology (including one summer during which I lived in a tent at a campground for 11 weeks) before we were married, but had not been in the bdub before beyond a day trip or two.

She suggested that we take a trip for our 15th anniversary in 2004. We took a short "proof of concept" trip just after ice out in 2004 for our very first trip together. It was awesome. Saw only one other person on a solo trip the entire time. Our friends who had been to the bdub thought we were nuts for taking that trip which covered 8 lakes and 9 portages in 2 and a half days literally right after ice out as our first effort. We had a blast. We then took a slightly longer trip over our anniversary in September that year.

This year, she took a trip with some of her female friends in mid May. I was thrilled that she wanted to go up there with her friends, but definitely had to fight pangs of jealousy and envy. We took a family trip with our two daughters in August, and the two of us took a short trip in October.

Suffice to say the bug has bitten both of us hard and we are now addicted. While I hope to do a solo trip down the road, I really enjoy our trips together and would be hard pressed to opt for a solo trip if she wants to come along. I expect our future trips will get longer and more adventuresome (into the Q instead of just the bdub?) now that we know we do well together in the wilderness. I couldn't feel luckier...    ;D

wrote on Nov 2^nd, 2005 at 6:32pm:

Sitting out a bad storm in the tent with a spouse can be much more fun than with a member of the same sex!

Yes it is.... :-X :-X :-X ;D

My wife and I have been married for 28 years and have been paddling together for over 30 years. She introduced me to canoe camping. Each of us has other hobbies that we are passionate about (fishing for me, horseback riding for her) but we always make time for canoeing together. In fact, canoeing is the only hobby we participate in together with any regularity.

My wife and I have been married 14 years.  We took our first trip to the Q only three years ago.  I had been up there with "the guys" a few times, but always wanted her to go with me.  Finally, our children were old enough to leave with the grandparents and we took our first trip.  She is now addicted, and swears she will never go a year without at least one trip to the Q or Boundary Waters.  

We also paddle around here now all the time.  We took our children (three girls ages 10,7,4) to the B-dub this past summer for their first trip.  Has it changed our family?  You betcha!  One of the best things that ever "happened" to us.

I am enjoying the stories you have told in response to my post.  It is good to find out that it isn't just "the guys" out there!

We made canoeing an activity mainly just for the two of us.  We were fortunate to have dear friends who kept our two children in Minneapolis while we were in the canoe country.  Our small-town kids loved doing the big city things with them, and we had our time alone.  We did one family trip when they were teenagers and it was great fun, but very different from our usual style.

As the years have gone by we have carried more creature comforts and pared down the schedule somewhat, but we still enjoy our yearly trip.  At age 60, with major health problems to cope with, we are thankful for each new adventure in the BW.  And even if you don't break camp every day or paddle 20+ miles--it is still an adventure!

Thanks for the replies.  Keep them coming.

Spartan 2

my wife and I have always enjoyed our time together in the bwcaw. we have gone on three 2-3 day trips a year together for the past ten years. she loves the solitude and the beauty, but wants to be back to her hot shower after a few days. I prefer the 9-10 day trips but wouldn't give up my time with her for anything. When longer trips are needed my reliable paddle partners come to the rescue.

this past April we had a baby girl and missed our annual trips together. it's amazing how priorities change. I still managed to squeak in some trips but missed them both dearly.

We will be back in the canoe together come May.

I used to go with an old girlfriend a lot. The first few trips were easy summer trips consisting of 2-3 couples. (Couples trips are really very nice.) I'd always scout any new routes in spring and I was always amazed how much easier the same routes in summer were.

One trip that was just the two of us I'll never forget. It was a long rainy, windy day and we couldn't find someone's favorite campsite and were forced to stop looking due to worse weather. After finding a site and putting up the tarp, I found her weeping, essentially blithering while sitting in the middle of the tent with everything in one big heap around her because there was some water in a corner. (I sopped it up with a handkerchief...) After a candy bar and a hot cup a soup all was fine. We did a few more trips together after that. Paddling together is much easier than living together.

My wife used to do one trip with me every year but she's only good for about 8 days before she misses her family. I can accept that, she makes 'em worth it. She's not gone since our daughter was born though so I really miss my trips with her.

This topic reminds me of Bob Carey's book "The Adventures of Jackpine Bob."  The book is worth every penny for the final chapter.  But do yourself a favor and DON'T skip to the last chapter.  Read it all.

In the book he talks a lot about paddling with his wife.  That's all I'll say so I won't ruin it for you.  It is a MUST for those who enjoy paddling with their spouse.

I have taken two trips with my wife(then girlfriend), one that was "Great" and One that was "Character building". She can't wait to go back again next year.

I think someone on this board said it best. I don't remember who, but please take credit.

"everyone should have to spend a week in the Q with their fiance before marriage. The divorce rate will plummet, but the murder rate in the woods will skyrocket."

I've done several trips with my wife.  Our 1st together was just the two of us and trips since have been with other couples.  I firmly echo what db said about couples trips being lots of fun.  My wife and I have very different paces.  Mrs. Snow Dog goes on vacation to relax  :o :o :o while when I head into the woods I tend to be a little more "driven".  Oddly enough, this is the opposite of our personalities at home where she's the Type A and I'm more relaxed.  Also, while she likes to fish, she's not quite as hardcore about it as I am.  Going with another couple allows us to each to enjoy the vacation a bit more.  When she wants to relax or lounge around camp, generally the other wife is of the same mind so us guys will go out and do a little more fishing/exploring.  Also, she's ready to head home after 4 days or so and I'm just getting warmed up good by that point!  We have agreed that any future trips will be a bit shorter than our usual 8-9 days.

Unfortunately it's been several years since Mrs. Snow Dog and I have tripped together.  She went yearly with me until we started our family, but hasn't been back since.  Someday I will get her and the kids out there again, but it will certainly be a very different style of trip than my usual.

It was a girlfriend from Bemidji that turned me on to the North.  Our first trip was hell as we had no experience between us other than a youth trip she took as a youth.  She swore we'd never do it again. Looking back, I can't blame her.   We made every mistake that first year.  Left to late in the morning on our put in, got lost over and over,  I freaked at my first sighting of a bear bag hung, wind bound, tent with holes in it, Aluminum pots and pans with no butter or grease, staid up too late.  I really should get out those old notes and write the story properly.

We took four trips together after that. Our last was a 12 day Boulder Lake circle trip starting at Snowbank, returning through Insula to Lake one.  We had split earlier that year but both of our love for the Northwoods was strong enough to overlook the fact as niether of us was yet involved with another.

I went into a slight depression the next spring  after our breaking, partly due to thinking I'd never be tripping again as the thought of a solo seemed ridiculous.  I was reading the BWJ one day and came across atricles on solo trips.  I commited to the idea, and looking back, it was the best therapy I could have found.

With a few solos now under my belt, I'm not looking back, but do hold in anticipation the belief of finding my gal that will commit to the trip.  

k

It is interesting to hear of others' experiences, and to contrast those with ours.  My husband had gone on one trip with a group of guys (camp counselors at the end of camp session) the summer before we were married.  He kept urging me to go with him and I was very reluctant.

On our first trip (6 days) I was green as grass.  When we headed out onto Lac La Croix in what was moderate chop, it looked like high surf to me.  I was scared to death!  I refused to wear a hat, had had my hair cut short for the trip, and totally cooked the tops of my ears on day 2!  That was a long, hard day and by the time we camped I was tired, sunburned (this being in 1971, the days before sunscreen) and very angry when we camped on a sandy beach and I had sand in my food.  I still remember sitting on the beach crying and saying "Why did I ever let you talk me into this?"

34 years and 24 trips later, I am often the one who first starts making plans for a trip, and I love it as much as he does.  We also have different energy levels and styles, although I will say as we have aged we have both slowed down considerably.  We used to break camp every day and paddle most of the day, now we often make camp at noon or 1 PM and do occasional layover days, perhaps 2-3 on a 10-12 day trip.  He has type 1 diabetes and diabetic kidney disease with resulting anemia, and I have tender knees.  At 60, we are just glad to still be going to the BW and each year that we can still go is a precious gift.

Instead of traveling with another couple, we just give each other a lot of extra space and alone time.  We don't fish, but I go off into the woods for hours with a camera, or we will sit alone and read our paperback books.  I am "type A" myself, and would agree that the wilderness experience needs to be relaxing for me, but that doesn't mean I won't do a long day or a long portage when needed.  It is really the peace and quiet that keeps me needing to return.

At the end of the 22-day trip in 1992 we made our last portage and I still didn't want the trip to end, so we paddled half the length of Poplar lake just as "extra", pulled in at Trail Center and had lunch, and just paddled around some more before heading back to Rockwood for our car.

My husband takes great pride in sharing my trip journals with narrative and photographs to the people at work.  They think we are quite daring and probably more than a little bit crazy.

The time will come (dialysis) when we can no longer do this.  We don't like to think about it.

I am glad to know that some of you are paddling with your spouses.  Thanks for all the responses.

I think I've posted something like this before, but it seems apropos - this is from a toast I gave at my brother's wedding:

A wise old canoeman once told me, "When paddling with your wife, son, always be sure she's in the bow."  I pondered this for years, because I knew there had to be a deeper meaning.  Was he trying to say that your wife is smarter than you, and should always be in front because she will know the way through life, or what?  So I thought about it and thought about it, and then, after three years of marriage, it finally hit me.  And it was so simple:  if your wife's in the bow, that means she can't smack you in the head with her paddle when you get lost.

With that in mind, I'd like to offer the canoe as a metaphor for marriage:  When you paddle a canoe alone, you get along fine by yourself.  You acheive a degree of self-reliance that makes you stronger as an individual.  Then, usually when you least expect it, you meet someone – and you have to start paddling the same canoe together.  It's awkward at first – you zigzag down the lake, both of you swearing it's the other one steering you off course.  But then after a while something clicks, and suddenly you're amazed at how far and how fast you can travel paddling in unison.  Your life takes on new meaning, and a deep and lasting satisfaction descends as you experience everything together.  And whether the days are calm and the paddling is easy, or you're pulling into a strong headwind and it takes everything you've got to keep the canoe . . . and your marriage . . . on course, always remember that it's the journey of life that will bring you closer together as husband and wife.

In July 2004 my wife and I took our honeymoon in the BW, her suggestion.  I had never been and she had been several times while she was a student at the U of M Duluth.  We returned this summer for our anniversary and plan to make a BW trip our yearly anniversery tradition.
She is an excellent navigator and has had to calm me down on several occasions, now I have learned to just trust her skills.  She has an excellent sence of humor, last summer an overehanging brach on a portage "turtled" her with her heavy pack.  As a husband you do not want to laugh, but as a friend and travel companion that is funny as hell ;D.  Luckly she was the first one to laugh.  She was also the first one to laugh on the next portage when I face planted into a bog after slipping off a "walking" log :-/.  I taught her to fly fish and she her first fish on a fly this summer, a nice 15" smallie.  I look foreward to mny more trips with her!

Amy and I have been together for three years. We are not yet married but one day will be.

Last year was her first BWCAW trip. We went with another couple. It was the first trip for them as well. We will not be returning with them, but Amy and I leave on the evening of May 31st for a June 1st entry.

We are going alone this time, her decision. I foresee many more trips. She is just as excited as I am.

The best part of our trip last year was when we left the base camp on North Wilder and made our way, alone, to South Wilder for three days.

I remember the Wilder Lakes area very fondly. We were there on a sunny day and the water lilies were stupendous!

My wife and I canoe and kayak together all the time, usually taking our Pointer along. Our trips are generally day trips to local lakes and reservoirs. She paddles under the name "Minnkota, the Canoe Godess", a handle I gave her due to her excellent trolling motor imitation! Penny, my Pointer, rides as "Ballast, the Canoe Dog".  ;D

Despite enjoying our day trips, she isn't generally interested in "roughing it". We do weekend canoe camping trips, along with more frequent canoe & car camping trips. We got engaged in Killarney PP, on a canoe & cabin trip. Also last year she DID accompany me on a five day Upper Missouri trip in Montana, her longest ever, but she hasn't been bugging me to go again. She likes her modern comforts, which is fine. We generally do a trip in her interests each year, like Jamaica, Mexico, etc. And she doesn't pester me about taking trips on my own - like Wabakimi this spring.

It works out for us, although I will admit I wish she was more interested in the Q. I'd love to share that with her. But before we met she had zero camping experience, so I'm holding out hope that one day she might get to the point that she becomes more interested. Until then, we enjoy our shorter, local trips.

Ranger

I also had zero camping experience (also almost-zero canoeing) before my first trip.  But it only took one trip to make a believer out of me!  Thirty-four years later. . . . .

I wrote up our story for the short-story feature in the next BWJ.  When it is rejected, I will post it on QJ.

My wife and I were just dating when we first started paddling together. It was something we generally did in nice weather as day trips, on lakes and rivers around our home and sometimes when traveling.

So far we have taken 3 canoe camping trips together, the only ones either has gone on. One in wabakimi, quetico, and bwca each. We have dabbled in running whitewater a little bit tandem and solo also. I would say we enjoy paddling now as much as ever. It seems the more we learn the greater our enjoyment.  ;D ;D

Is it possible not to love someone able to   (You need to Login or Register and can literally   (You need to Login or Register just because you told 'em it's fun?

two pictures.....2000 words.  that sums it up!   :)

It's really cool to see that they are couples willing to endure the adventure togethor. My wife personally thinks I'm crazy even though she is curious to see the area. (The lack of a toilet scares the hell out of her) In fact most of my friends male or female think that our small group the goes are not quite right in the head.

Perhaps you could take her to the BWCA first, and if she had the pit toilet there it would be an introduction.  Then if you wanted to try the Q she would already be hooked!

I am female, 60 years old, and have been hooked for 35 years!  I am richly blessed to have a husband who does more than 50% of the work, but I do work hard contribute a great deal.  I can't imagine, this many years later, our marriage or our lives without our canoe trips.  We don't "endure the adventure" we "embrace the adventure".

Tell her I said to give it a try just once!  

[quote author=Spartan2 link=board=paddle;num=1130934306;start=20#29 date=02/22/06 at 11:09:33]Perhaps you could take her to the BWCA first, and if she had the pit toilet there it would be an introduction.  Then if you wanted to try the Q she would already be hooked!

We went camping last year were the only toilets available were latrines. She hardly drank water so to avoid having to use it. I don't doubt she could handle to the work, just the combo of several other things would prevent her from every trying it.

I'm sorry.  It is just very hard for me to appreciate those feelings, but of course you need to be sensitive to her needs.

I am glad you have someone to canoe with.

Chicken092

You do not have to camp to enjoy the bwca. There are many cabins for rent all over the area. Perhaps your wife might like that first. Our first 3 trips in the Ely area were boat and cabin rental trips. Although, on our first trip we ditched the cabin and took the boat out to basswood and camped for a few nights..hehe. Also, there are many nice day trips you can take in and out of the bwca with a canoe if you prefer that over a loud, stinky motor boat. I believe day permits are free, if you are not camping overnight.

If you have your heart set on camping, try a shorter trip to start with. We use a wash cloth, soap, and 3 gal. water jug to clean up back away from the shoreline. Helps keep up morale.

one word chicken.....SOLARSHOWER!  (smile)

Kanoes,

Does the sunshower work good for you? I tried once in the spring on our first trip, and it didn't seem to make that big of difference for me in temperature. Maybe I need to try it again. Although, it is nice to have your hands free for the rinse cycle; we have had to help each other rinse off lately.  

Generally, I have just waited a couple hours after scooping water from the lake to let it warm a bit. If it is real cold we might heat some water on the stove for rinsing your head.

Curt

By the way, I mean solarshower. We placed it on a rock in the sun for preheat mode. ;D

big thumb up for solarshower ;D ;D ;D
i trip in may and have alway's just jumped in the lake when i got so i couldn't stand myself any longer :P :P!
if you've never been in the BW or Q in spring then think of pouring a bucket  of ice water over your head and trying to lather up and pouring another bucket to rinse off :o :o!
it maybe "macho" but it's damn sure not enjoyable!!
last year i brought a solar shower for the first time.
it's the model that holds about 21/2 gallons, weighs about 11 oz.
i found that every couple of day's the weather usually co-operated and gave me a nice sunny travel day.
i would fill it up before leaving camp for the day, or after the last portage.
i would lay it in over a pack so the sun could hit it as i paddled.
you know how much sun you get off water and kevlar or aluminium as we've all had  paddler's sunburn, one time or the other :-[ :-[.
when i get to camp, i lay it on a rock with the most sun exposure and set up tarp and tent, cut firewood and when that's all done, i will treat myself to a nice hot shower and change of clothes ;D ;D!
after a couple of day's or more of sweat,bug dope and campfire smoke, it's nice to feel half-way clean!!
the size i have is plenty for one person to take a long shower but might be to small for couple??
i think rather than go to 5 gal size, you might be better off with two smaller one's as i think they would heat faster??
plus, 5 gals is over 35 lbs, so it's not the easiest to hang??
of course if you use the pulley system for your food pack, you can use it for hanging your shower to what ever height you need :D.
could i get along without it?, sure i could but i could say the same about drinks around the camp fire,good food or extra fishing tackle!!!
my motto is, i don't might working my butt off paddling  and portaging, but i'm going to eat well and at the  end of the day and enjoy a cocktail and sleep without smelling like a old sweat sock :P :P :P.
IMO, it's worth the extra weight involved ;) ;).

If you want warm/hot water, it can be achieved by heating the water on the stove/fire. We do this each year. A. loves showers so we heat up some water. We do not put boiling water in the bag and what we have used has not shown any ill effects on the shower.

M and A

skunk.....ditto M & A.  you need sun obviously. howver, it doesnt take alot of hot stove water added to the lukewarm to make it comfortable.

like american express says....dont leave home without it  :)  Jan

Might have to leave 1 plano box of fishing tackle at home, (probably a good thing... the shower is lighter), but the solar shower is back on the gear list.  ;D ;D ;D

Hey, maybe all this solar shower stuff needs to be on the "Gear" thread.  Do you think? ???

Maybe I am just jealous--I don't think I could get Spartan1 to bother with all of this.   :-/

We do manage to get clean occasionally.

Hmm, we do not see it as much of bother, It rolls up pretty small and the weight is pretty negligible. The creature comfort far out weighs the small space it takes and the tiny amount of weight.

M and A

Well, I'm willing to give it a try.  Perhaps I will go shopping. . .

The other idea, although you do have to use gas guzzling boats. But is still a compromise is the Houseboat in that Voyageur National Park just West of the area we all love. Showers, waterslides, Beds, Heat, Stove, Oven, Hot Tub, plus I am sure you could bring a canoe to get off the beaten path on day trips. Not bad for a compromise.

Having done 3 trips into Q, in the last 5 years,2 with just my wife and myself, 1 with another couple, I am in the last stages of packing for another trip. This one is with my cousin on a fishing trip, as my wife does not have as much time off as me, and needs it for a family commitment in the fall. This trip feels different, the shopping for and planning meals is different, the planning it's self is more low key, the packing is more subdued. I am looking forward to the trip, but in a different way than the other trips with "US".
As for the solar shower chat, we take one with us all the time. We us the lake, but nothing says refreshing more than a warm shower.

Congrats to all of those couples that paddle together!  My husband took me for the first time six years ago.  We had been married for less than a year.  I knew when I met him that Quetico was one of his most treasured areas.  Although I had never camped before, I was eager to see what this place was all about.  I fell in love!  Not only with Quetico, but deeper in love with my husband if that were truly possible.  I admired his determination and his ability to take me under his wing.  He showed me country that I had never seen before, wildlife that I had never experienced, and even taught me the correct way to use the bathroom in the woods.  If that isn't true love, I don't know what is!  We have been back to Quetico every year since 2000.  Sometimes with groups, but usually one for just the two of us and then another with friends or family.  I value that alone time with him!  I couldn't ask for a better partner in a canoe or in life for that matter.  If anyone is headed up to Quetico June 11-16, look for us.  We'll be the couple that not only loves Quetico, but each other tremendously.

So glad to hear from you, firstmate5!  You and I have a lot in common.  You can read my story in the spring issue of Boundary Waters Journal, or perhaps at a later date on this site.

Like you, I owe a great deal to my paddling partner.

I have written just like you an account of every trip taken.  I have not only a written account, but the photos that go along with it.  I would love to get one of my stories published in the Boundary Waters magazine.  (My husband and I fight over the issues when they arrive.  I love that magazine!)  Is it difficult to get them published???  I am sick that I set my article on my favorite canoe partner in too late.  Thanks for an information that you can provide.

My husband introduced me to the boundary waters.  Since then I have been the one to research, plan our trips, and do the navigating.  I've gotten so good at planning out the food that he even wants me to help him with the food when he goes with his buddies.  We have done 4 day trips up to 8 day trips.  One trip we covered 60miles.  Once we get the rhythm down we work together really well.  In fact we get along better in the bwca than we do on a project at home.  Both of us have gone up with friends and I did a solo last year, but we both agree our favorite trips are when we are together.

firstmate5:  I have found it very difficult to get anything into Boundary Waters Journal!  Stu and I don't see eye to eye on what people want to read, and he rarely publishes photos that actually go with a particular story, so having photos taken on your trip is not all that helpful.

It is hard for me to make photos that would appeal to him, since he really wants only photos with people doing things together (there are only two of us and one is the photographer), photos of canoes (again, there are only two of us, so if I am on shore taking the photo, I am not in the canoe. . .) and photos of people holding up big fish (we don't fish).

Of course, I cannot comment on the quality of either your writing or your photography, but I will tell you I have tried several times and gotten nothing but rejection.  The piece in the spring issue wasn't a "paid" submission--he may have printed everything that people sent in.  I was pleased and surprised that it appeared in the magazine.

I would certainly encourage you to submit something and give it a try.  Just have a very thick skin when you read his comments regarding your work!   ;)

Several regulars on QJ have had articles published, so perhaps some of them will respond to your inquiry and give you good advice.  

My trip journals have a narrative and several hundred photos.  Some of our friends read them every year, but mainly they are just for us--for the memories.  We are 61 now and we probably can't continue to do this for too many more decades.  (But we hope to keep it up a good time longer.)

aje:  it is interesting to hear your comments.  I have never canoed with anyone other than my husband, and cannot imagine (at my advanced age) ever wanting to do a solo!  Good for you!

Our longest trip was 22 days.  At the end, I was in tears because I didn't want it to end.  I have people tell me that they couldn't spend 22 days in "solitary" with their spouse doing ANYTHING, but I guess if you are doing something you love, and your spouse is your best friend. . . . . .

We love "newbies" on this board.  You should consider, if you find the board interesting, becoming an Inukshuk.  It supports the QJ site, and it gives us the opportunity to communicate through the IM, in case the topic is something that might not be of general interest to everyone.

Spartan2,

PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE keep making photos that Stu doesn't like . . . I consider a rejection notice from that rag a badge of honor!  :)

;D

A dream of mine and of my fiancee is to be married in the Boundary Waters, but we don't know how to make it happen...

We have found a priest who long ago spent many years in the BW and who is well along in age but very willing to make one more trip to officiate over our ceremony (bless his heart!).

But, it looks as if there are at least 25 other people who also would like to see us tie the knot. This would bend the one party/nine person rule for BW campsites a bit. Hmmm...

We feel that entering on a lake that allows motor boats (such as Fall, Seagull, or Snowbank) would allow us to get the many expected non-paddlers to the site and back for the day. One good friend doesn't want to get into a boat of any kind...

If anyone has any experience or thoughts on this, it would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

-aj

Why not get married on a lake that abuts the BWCA, allowing guests to stay in lodges, or whatever, then after the outdoor ceremony, and when the party is over, you and your dearly-beloved jump in a canoe and paddle off into the wilderness...way better than a car with a bunch of cans tied to the back.  You could even have a tent set up on the other side of the lake waiting for you.

My wife and I were married in a conventional church, but then spent the next 2 weeks backpacking in Zion National Park...great memories.

Good luck.

prouboy

Puckster wrote on Mar 15^th, 2009 at 9:02pm:

Why not get married on a lake that abuts the BWCA, allowing guests to stay in lodges, or whatever, then after the outdoor ceremony, and when the party is over, you and your dearly-beloved jump in a canoe and paddle off into the wilderness...way better than a car with a bunch of cans tied to the back.  You could even have a tent set up on the other side of the lake waiting for you.

Thanks for that! That is pretty much what we did - got married on the shore of Brule Lake, then entered on Sea Gull for a week. We ended up with about 40 guests - most traveling hundreds of miles to see for themselves that grandpa and grandma were really getting married. Many of the guests thought it was the best wedding in the best place they had ever attended!

-aj

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Dang gotta love that story! And the color of that boat...WOW :o

Nice topic.  My paddle partner, adventurer is my wife. Been married not near as long as others here - 3 years and been partners for 8 eight years. We spent our honeymoon in Q and continue to enjoy it every summer. Although most of our paddling is Nopiming Provincial Park and other areas in the shield country up in Manitoba we always manage and prefer to paddle together.
CM  

My wife and I have been married for 28 years, we are in our mid-fifties.  I wanted to go to the BWCA for many years but she was reluctant to go.  We eased into it very slowly.  First, we started staying at cabins in the Ely area, and then we stayed at a cabin on Farm Lake that had a canoe which we could paddle into the BWCA during the day and go back to the cabin for the night.  Then, we stayed at another cabin but this one required portaging the canoe into the BWCA.  Finally we made a short camping trip into the same lakes we had visited from the cabin.  Then, we were both hooked and since then we usually make two trips each summer, for one week each trip.  One trip is just the two of us and the other trip includes our daughter or our daughter and a friend of hers.  I have always wanted to go to the Quetico and after many years of going to the BWCA, this year she suggested that we go to the Q and we are planning a great trip.  We both want to take a much longer trip one of these times.  She is very strong with paddling and portaging.  We get along great.  It's nice to have the time together without distractions.

We tried a solar shower but we prefer a collapsible bucket that we fill with water and set in the sun when we first get to the campsite, or first thing in the morning and we have a small plastic dipping cup to pour the warm water over our heads to clean up.  We tried many different buckets but some tip over and spill the water, etc., and we finally found the perfect bucket, it is dark grey with a black bottom to absorb the sun, it's wider than it is tall so it won't tip.  We usually go during the hottest part of the summer and we work very hard and get dirty, sweaty and sticky, so not cleaning up is not an option.  We also swim several times throughout the day depending on the temperature.