I am planning a trip first, the whole family (wife and two adult children).  We will be hanging around Pickerel Narrows, mostly, and fishing intensely. Due to conflicting schedules this trip will be later and shorter than normal for me. We are putting in at Nym Lake on the morning of June 19 and returning home the morning of June 24 if all goes well. We cannot afford any layover delay , because both sons have flights to catch in Detroit on the 25th.  One son arrives home from Korea on the 16th and the other from Dallas on the 15th and my wife, who is a teacher, has to work until the 16th.  We will start the drive up to Attikokan (Canoe Canada Outfitters) from my home in SE Michigan on Saturday evening the 17th.  I will rent one canoe from the outfitter and bring one of my cedar strip canoes. It’s looking like I will do all the planning and likely most of the packing. I have not started any preparation yet which is not typical for me, I usually start to prepare months in advance.

Perhaps the shorter trip duration will be a blessing since I anticipate more mosquitoes, black flies and ticks than I normally encounter. I expect I’ll forget to pack something, or my menu planning may not be fully appreciated.  I also anticipate a little family friction (pressed from the wifely/motherly direction) because my sons will want to maximize fishing time at the expense of family time, and will resist sacrificing fishing time to “inordinate” caution.

I’m remaining positive, hoping for adequate gear and supplies, fair weather, biting fish and lots of family fun time. I look forward to capturing some great photographic memories and creating some memorable, positive, family experiences.
Prepping and packing start this weekend.  :)
;) :P 8-)