I suppose a lot of descriptive adjectives could be used to describe my actions on my first solo......They could run the gamut from stupid to confident and a good case could be made for either position.

On my third canoe trip, 1st one in the Quetico and 1st one in a solo boat I bit off the Hunters Island loop. The trip sort of evolved. At first I had planned something much more modest. But I kept going through the Quetico book and kept trying to decide on a trip. Suddenly I had a chunk of unexpected time and seized on the idea. I might not ever get another chance I reasoned.......

The boat of choice, as per suggestions in a book I read, was a Bell Merlin. I bought it without ever having tried it out. I figured if it was good enough for these folk I would adapt to it. Trouble was, I never got a chance that summer to even give it a paddle.......time just sort of slipped away. The next thing I knew it was time to go.

I loaded up but before I drove away I was lucky to remember a set of seat drops the outfitter who sold me the boat gave me. As it was the seat was practically hiked to the rails.

In a few days I stood at the shore of Moose lake watching whitecaps roll by. I figured if I couldn't paddle this I had no business going and loaded up for the very first time and shoved off. I hadn't gone 10 feet when I thought for sure I was going over. My center of gravity was way to high. Back on shore I installed the seat drops and some 13 days later I was back. Fantastic trip.......probably my favorite. The Merlin was a good choice and is still my ride.