Quote:

"I paddled out, saying: Never again. ... Never again. ... Never again. ..." And I meant it.!

Ha -- and I thought that was just me. I've chanted that vow several times over the years, especially the year I was in the bow of a rookie paddler's canoe and a storm dumped us in the middle of Agnes, and the year a conflict of personalities (too many "bosses," too many "whiners") made a long, tiring trip even more wearisome. Thank goodness I was paddling solo that year and was able to stay out of it, or I might have whacked someone upside their stubborn head with a paddle, in-laid wood and all.

This year, however, was one of the most relaxing trips we've ever taken. Every "challenge" was followed by a gift. We moved from Glacier to Louisa one day in a cold rain, with the wind pelting our cheeks with stinging pellets. As you know, that's one portage after another, with lots of difficult landings and tippy-toe trails, and several of us weren't up to the fancy footwork and went down. The whole time we were moving through those nine or so smaller lakes, we were dreading having to paddle out a chopped-up Louisa -- but we were stunned when we emerged from the canopy of trees on the portage and found a dead-calm lake and lighter skies.

Standing on that beach and looking southwest, nary a ripple in sight, we knew we'd been blessed.

-- kypaddler