Time for a new POD comment thread!

The previous 25 threads begin here:
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Which lake is today's POD? Which park for that matter! ;D

Gammon Lake in WCPP.  I ended up there on my solo route from Irvine Lake.  I didn't mean to go there initially but it worked out well.  One of the most beautiful sites ever.  Gammon is a big lake and talk about wind!  Front after front blew through and had spectacular views of storms followed by huge fluffy white clouds against a bluer than blue sky.  Unfortunately most of that area burned last year.

Nice looking site Mike [smiley=thumbsup.gif]
I like those elevated sites as long as you have a spot where you can get some protection when the wind blows.

I like the elevated sites as well.  The tent/tarp was set back in the woods and offered nice protection from the storms.  I'm usually not one for sitting around much but on that particular site it was really nice to take my chair out on the rock and just watch the world go by. :)

mpeebles wrote on Jan 4^th, 2020 at 1:38pm:

I'm usually not one for sitting around much but on that particular site it was really nice to take my chair out on the rock and just watch the world go by. :)

I try to take at least one day to just chill and do next to nothing besides explore around camp and read.  Sitting and watching the sun set when solo is when I've had the best wildlife encounters.  Usually the beavers come out to play.

This is when you're glad to be sitting in camp, instead of being caught in the middle of the lake.  :-/ :o ;D

Where's that at in the UP?
Imagine being allowed to use a gillnet, as people did before the Conservation movement.  :o

It's KITCH-ITI-KIPI Springs in Palm Brooks State Park.  I stand corrected....the depth is 45'.   
We had really good lake trout fishing on Banana Lake in WCPP.  I think I just stumbled on this pic and it made me think of the lake trout fishing in WCPP.  Just thought I'd have some fun with different pics. ::)

Thanks, Mike!
I knew the name of the spring, just never been there.
I didn't know the name of the park.

It's a big tourist destination, so when I've been in the UP stream trout fishing, I always avoid places like that.

Should visit though, I would love to see fish in a school like that in crystal clear water.

Hmm....is that a hammer head pike, just to the left of the one with the 'Oh shit!' look on his face...about 10 o'clock, maybe 37 ft. down?  ;D

portage dog wrote on Jan 6^th, 2020 at 10:20pm:

Hmm....is that a hammer head pike, just to the left of the one with the 'Oh shit!' look on his face...about 10 o'clock, maybe 37 ft. down?  ;D

;). My wife refers to me as a hammer head once in a while. >:(

WARNING!!  Todays pic shows graphic images that may not be suitable for younger canoeists. Viewer discretion is advised.

Well, you asked for it so here's a "dirty" pic of the canoe.  Small norther was hooked bad and thus kept for din din.

Did you use that HAMMER HANDLE to club your Walleye ;) ;D ;D

 

Nope.  I use a walleye whacker for that. ::)   The northern was going to die so it was either eagle bait or Mikie food. I'd like to report that it tasted just fine.  It was a nice walleye though....more than enough for din din. :)

That's the EXACT right size NP to roast whole rather than try to fillet. The meat just pulls off the bones and those Y bones IF you get one are just about cooked away.

portage dog wrote on Jan 6^th, 2020 at 10:20pm:

Hmm....is that a hammer head pike, just to the left of the one with the 'Oh shit!' look on his face...about 10 o'clock, maybe 37 ft. down?  ;D

I still see an aluminum fishing boat at the bottom of that pic.

db wrote on Jan 7^th, 2020 at 9:52pm:

portage dog wrote on Jan 6th, 2020 at 10:20pm: Hmm....is that a hammer head pike, just to the left of the one with the 'Oh shit!' look on his face...about 10 o'clock, maybe 37 ft. down?  ;D I still see an aluminum fishing boat at the bottom of that pic.

At the very least, a most unusual canoe....

Jimbo   8-)

You're going to need a bigger canoe  ;) ;D ;D

  You're scaring me Mike  :o :-/ ;D ;D

  That's WHY I have a SOLO tent.  ;) ;D ;D

Do I detect a "Little Man in a Boat" likeness in your photo?

OK, OK...…...my standard apologies.

MB

db wrote on Jan 2^nd, 2020 at 6:34pm:

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st....that's OK.  I scare myself a lot. :-/   

Mike, you got some mad origami skills!  Tell us how you keep the roses so fresh looking?

pd

Quote:

Tell us how you keep the roses so fresh looking?

I'll go out on a limb here  ;) ;D ;D

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portage dog wrote on Jan 10^th, 2020 at 9:42pm:

Mike, you got some mad origami skills!  Tell us how you keep the roses so fresh looking? pd

Funny you should ask.  I go up early in the spring and plant the roses.  Then when I go up again in August they are ready to harvest.  The hard part was carrying the bed in on top the canoe.  Because it was so hard, the last time I went I captured and broke a bull moose and taught it to  carry the bed in for me.  Additionally his antlers came in handy to tie my cooler on.  A couple of cases of cold beer and a few gallons of ice cream taste mighty good when it's 115 degrees in the shade.   The other good thing about a tame moose is that he could pull the canoe around the lake for me while I was trolling for walleyes.  The best thing is when I didn't need him anymore..... he was delicious  :)   And you guys thought those pics I posted were "fish" fries......nay, nay!    ;)

Are we in the right forum here?  I sense a disturbance in the force :-/

That was a COLD day

Magicpaddler wrote on Jan 11^th, 2020 at 2:10pm:

That was a COLD day

We were probably the first group through into Veron last year, it being only May.  Yeah, it was pretty chilly!

Jimbo   8-)

Jimbo wrote on Jan 11^th, 2020 at 2:19pm:

Magicpaddler wrote on Jan 11th, 2020 at 2:10pm: That was a COLD day We were probably the first group through into Veron last year, it being only May.  Yeah, it was pretty chilly! Jimbo   8-)

I targeted that site in 2017 and never made it that far.  It looks to be exposed being high off the water.  Is there a protected area for the sitting area and tents?

TomT wrote on Jan 11^th, 2020 at 3:24pm:

Jimbo wrote on Jan 11th, 2020 at 2:19pm: Magicpaddler wrote on Jan 11th, 2020 at 2:10pm: That was a COLD day We were probably the first group through into Veron last year, it being only May.  Yeah, it was pretty chilly! Jimbo   8-) I targeted that site in 2017 and never made it that far.  It looks to be exposed being high off the water.  Is there a protected area for the sitting area and tents?

Tom,

You're right about it being "elevated" there.  That's a fairly steep drop-off behind MP and quite exposed to the east.  However, Mpeebles & I each found some nice protection in the woods high on the north side of that island while Magic did the same in thick brush on the south side down low near the water.  We mostly cooked right next to our shelters.  There was probably an established fire ring somewhere but, honestly, I don't remember it.  I felt we were fairly well-protected against the elements where we set up camp.

I liked Veron Lake though it was a fair amount of work to get in there.  We made a day-trip down to Delahey but encountered bad weather so it was a short stay. Magic & I visited the Olive Jar island camp just a short distance east of the Death March Portage.  The jar was crammed full but I DID manage to stuff one more note into it.  I wouldn't mind heading back and actually camping there some year.

Still, it didn't have the nice, airy elevation of that Veron island site.

Later,

Jimbo   8-)

The main setting area are is exposed but there are some alternates.  There are some areas protected by tree where we stayed.  There was a area big enough for Jim’s tarp and his hammock. I hung is a area on the south side of the island that was near water level with good wind block from higher ground with trees on it.  I could see Jim’s hammock from my hammock but had to go a long way around to get to Jim’s tarp.

I've always had a hard time fishing with a double blade.  IO'd most likely lose my paddle fighting a fish or getting the line wrapped around it.   ;D

TomT wrote on Jan 12^th, 2020 at 2:31pm:

I've always had a hard time fishing with a double blade.  IO'd most likely lose my paddle fighting a fish or getting the line wrapped around it.   ;D

  I did at first but soon realized that it was easier to put the double paddle over the yoke and slide it forward as far as it will go. I like to lay my packs so the straps are up. I slide the end of the paddle under a shoulder strap so it won't go anywhere.

  What I want to know is how Jimbo made his pics look like they were taken years ago on 35mm film :-? ;)
    Is that on purpose or?

I like it because I can just set it on my lap when fishing and it gives me pretty good control...even backwards.  Admittedly, it has slipped off my lap on occasion but I can't recall ever having it totally leaving the boat....it just kind of stops once an end hits the water. 

Great POD today. Your old IPhone Jimbo gives a old school feel to it. Lots of knowledge sitting there.

 

ST,

Well, there ARE one or two truly decent pics coming up in this series.  Of course, I have shamelessly BORROWED those other trip participants.

Please note my "aluminum" Kelly Kettle in the foreground.  I really like the KK's and touted them in a recent BWJ "Contributing Editors" piece.  HOWEVER, I strongly recommend going with the stainless steel version.  Their aluminum model was the source of endless frustration and amusement as the bottom welds failed due to abuse received in the rough handling of packs during tough portages.  You should have seen MagicPaddler and me try to "field repair" the thing so I could boil water faster than it could leak out... often putting out my fire as it did so!  We crimped it, duct-taped it & puttied it; hell, we tried every sort of fix you could think of.  It still leaked.  When I got it home, I contacted the Kelly Kettle representative who had persuaded me to buy it to "share my experience."  The upshot: not only did they replace the aluminum model with their stainless steel model, they ALSO sent me every accessory under the sun PLUS a brand new aluminum model, too! 

I took the stainless steel version on an equally rigorous trip - once again to the middle of the park - last fall,  (pics from that trip appearing as POD's soon) and it worked wonderfully.  Stainless steel IS the way to go.  You may be carrying a couple ounces more weight but, given how we treat our packs when loading & unloading on rugged portages, you need the durability.  I beat the crap out of that thing last September & it worked like a charm throughout.

Hey, if mostly what you're going to do most of the time is: heat water & put it into a bag, well, you can't beat the Kelly Kettle!  It's quick (5-6 minute boil) and reduces/eliminates the need to carry other types of fuel.  Of course, you'll need to keep a good supply of dry pine cones and sticks handy in the event of a 3 day soaker!

KK offers a fine product & some the best customer service I've ever seen.  I encouraged them to open a booth at CanoeCopia.  They said it was a "great idea", so we'll see if that happens.  I also recommended they leave their aluminum inventory in the warehouse....

Later,

Jimbo  8-)

Jimbo,

I did notice that Kelly Kettle and figured it was yours.
I also believe Mike has a blue IKEA plastic bag on the ground in front of him?

  I replaced my 5 cup aluminum billy pot with a stainless one ( I think I did gear report on it ?)

Yup, stainless is the way to go if you don't want to have to baby your gear.

   Jimbo is that aluminum kettle HARD ANODIZED? Makes a big difference vs plain aluminum!

Nice to hear about a company that stands behind their product and goes up and beyond to make things right.  [smiley=cool.gif]

If you want to ever repair aluminum, give these a try?

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In case anyone cares about the history...…

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They were also known as Bengazi Boilers, Irish Fisherman's pots, and some other less polite names.

A couple of years ago I nearly bought one made from copper, but could not locate the company today.

MB

solotripper wrote on Jan 13^th, 2020 at 3:16pm:

Jimbo,    Jimbo is that aluminum kettle HARD ANODIZED? Makes a big difference vs plain aluminum!

Amazon says they are:   (You need to Login or Register

When I look at the literature I have on them OR when I glance over the Kelly Kettle website, however, I can find nothing to substantiate that.

They probably ARE anodized.  Some of those canoe countries rocky landings, however, can be brutal when you toss a pack onto them.  The aluminum model is probably fine for someone who is more careful about that sort of thing.  When I am tired, hot/cold, & wet, hungry and eager for afternoon cocktail, I get a little careless....

Later,

Jimbo   8-)

I noticed the same thing when I checked the Kelly Kettle website then Amazon. You would think Kelly would make a point of letting that be known?

I've dented a few pots before dropping packs on rocks. Might not matter on a Stainless Kelly kettle but I had an old stainless 2 qt cook pot that I damaged but didn't dent. It got out of round and the lid wouldn't fit right. It took a little work to get it back in the round again.

Now I keep my cookware on the TOP of my Granite Gear food pack and wrap it in a few camp towels.
As long as I don't use the pack as a stool they're good to go.  ;) ;D

The blue thing at my feet is a Sea to Summit collapsable bucket. 

mpeebles wrote on Jan 13^th, 2020 at 5:58pm:

The blue thing at my feet is a Sea to Summit collapsable bucket.

Thanks, Mike.

For what it's worth, in today's POD from left to right, here is "Murderers' Row": MagicPaddler, TomT, PineKnot, PortageDog (standing), Jimbo (seated), Wally13, and Solus.

See TomT's QJ trip report, "Six Guys & a Dog," for background information.

Jimbo   8-)

Today's POD brought a smile to my face.   I think it tells a nice story.  Thanks.

Nice pic.
I'm prejudiced about facial hair having had either a mustache/beard/goatee since I was 21 fresh out of the Army, but I think MP looks good in his beard. Fits his rugged outdoor persona to a T.  8-)

solotripper wrote on Jan 16^th, 2020 at 3:25pm:

Nice pic. I'm prejudiced about facial hair having had either a mustache/beard/goatee since I was 21 fresh out of the Army, but I think MP looks good in his beard. Fits his rugged outdoor persona to a T.  8-)

Makes that underwear headpiece of his look pretty fashionable, doesn't it?!

Jimbo   8-)

Think MP will use the same hat this year or make a fresh one? As for me I got that black hat at copia last year and think I’ll use it and long as I don’t lose it. It’s waxed canvas by Frost River with a black decal on the front. Perfecto.

Hey MP, about your cap - it might be a nice touch to embroider something on the front of it.  That way it would be easier to put on correctly.  I remember Jimbo coming up with a name for the fictitious company that would produce these but I have forgotten what that is.  Maybe just an MP on it in your favorite color?  There's companies that will do this for you.

Now. having said all that I know you just scoffed at this suggestion.  Am I correct?  ;D

TomT wrote on Jan 17^th, 2020 at 3:26pm:

Hey MP, about your cap - it might be a nice touch to embroider something on the front of it.  That way it would be easier to put on correctly.  I remember Jimbo coming up with a name for the fictitious company that would produce these but I have forgotten what that is.  Maybe just an MP on it in your favorite color?  There's companies that will do this for you. Now. having said all that I know you just scoffed at this suggestion.  Am I correct?  ;D

  I have a cap just like that I wear at night when the weather is chilly. I like that look.  [smiley=thumbsup.gif]
 
There's a genius in a clothing item you can wear anyone way you choose.  ;) ;D ;D

Portage Dog was a Voyageur in a past life.  I'm convinced.  He's the right size and has endurance off the charts. 

Thanks TomT. My co-workers swear I'm part Canadian...you may be on to something. 

Jimbo does have a way with words...re: his caption....perhaps Host with Most?  or perhaps the 'Hostess' was referring to my cupcakes?  :o :D ::) ;)

I've been meaning to mention that yellow chair in the gear section, so this is a good opportunity.  That is the new last year Big Agnes Skyline UL, saw it first at 'copia last March and set me mind to get one.  MOST AWESOME!  They've managed to do away with the plastic knuckles with all metal frame construction.  This makes the chair sturdier, more stable, lighter, and pack smaller than a comparable REI or Helinox model.  The crossbar is split, so it helps compensate on uneven ground by flexing.  The chair also sits you more upright, making it easier to sit down in/get up out of, cook from, eat and generally perform any task you'd rather not have a lounge chair for.  HIGHLY recommended.  There are two larger chairs and two sizes of table with the same all metal frame construction.  I can't believe someone didn't do this sooner, but I can believe it was BA who pulled it off.  Have seat!

pd

portage dog wrote on Jan 17^th, 2020 at 10:12pm:

Jimbo does have a way with words...re: his caption....perhaps Host with Most?  or perhaps the 'Hostess' was referring to my cupcakes?  :o :D ::) ;) pd

Yeah, that phrase from a 1960's era commercial (television show?) just sort of popped out of my head.  Now I wish I could pop it back in there! No insult intended. I didn't really think it through....

I'll say this, Stu.  I've never ever eaten as well on a canoe trip as I did when you fixed meals!  Also, I'll second TomT's opinion that you are some sort or reincarnated Voyageur.  I simply could not have navigated some of those tricky spots on portages without your help.  Too many surgeries and too many years, I guess.

In any case, you are, indeed, the Host with the Most!

Jimbo   8-)

Re: today’s POD:

“THE MAGIC MAN,
THE MAGIC MAN,
IF HE CAN’T DO IT,
NO ONE CAN!”

(Traditional Voyageur “drinking song,” often heard during fur traders’ annual “Rendezvous;” concerns a mythical character of legendary paddling prowess.  Origin: UNKNOWN)


Jimbo   8-)

That's a canoe tripper right there.  Wonder how many days he'll be in the parks this year?

TomT wrote on Jan 18^th, 2020 at 2:59pm:

That's a canoe tripper right there.  Wonder how many days he'll be in the parks this year?

Might be quicker to count in the other direction, "days he's not in park."  You can seldom find him in the park because he's usually where no one else goes.  Would be easier to check to see if his house lights are on; use that number for your calculation.

Jimbo   8-)

I thought that was  picture of "liver-eating" Jeremiah Johnson.

HighnDry wrote on Jan 19^th, 2020 at 1:17am:

I thought that was  picture of "liver-eating" Jeremiah Johnson.

;D He was probably a native American in a previous life. 

Re the next POD - Luna is good ballast for when out fishing.  I've taken to filling 2 medium sized dry bags with water for the stern.  She's surprisingly calm when I catch a fish.  Indifferent would be the word. 

TomT wrote on Jan 20^th, 2020 at 1:55pm:

HighnDry wrote on Jan 19th, 2020 at 1:17am: I thought that was  picture of "liver-eating" Jeremiah Johnson. ;D He was probably a native American in a previous life.

More likely a bearded "paddling gnome," skillful in eluding Bigfoot and other predators of the boreal forest (in times of yore) and prone to taking paths less traveled... which is why they are seldom seen.  This specimen is larger & friendlier than most.  Someone most likely coaxed him out of the wild by leaving a cookie out by the campfire one night.  He simply wandered into camp to check it out and decided to stick around for more.  Notice the "signature" safety pin atop his orange hat. That's how you know it's a friendly gnome and not one of those trickster half-gnomes that some of us have run into out in the wild. Those guys are half-rabbit (Nanabozho) and can raise all sorts of havoc in a camp with their nocturnal pranks... but that's another story.

Later,

Jimbo   8-)

Nice POD today Jimbo [smiley=cool.gif]

You can tell it's a MANCAVE camp though because there was no-one to tell you to move it a little more right and up just a little on the left and HOLD it! OR maybe it would look better on THOSE trees over there?  ;) ;D ;D

That’s one nice rock. Did you get Portage dog to position it for you? He got it just right. 8-)

Ah ha!  Its FLAMINGO WARS!

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That’s pretty awesome! Gonna bring it to Copia? The room may not be big enough for the crowd that will draw! 8-)

Old Salt wrote on Jan 21^st, 2020 at 2:39am:

That’s pretty awesome! Gonna bring it to Copia? The room may not be big enough for the crowd that will draw! 8-)

I'm flying up, so toting this up in my luggage might exceed my weight limit.

But there is no "war" here, since this flew over a campsite that Jimbo and I occupied on Cirrus Lake a few years back.

‘War’ never occurred to me. I like both of you. 8-) 8-)

I want to hear the backstory on this one...good Copia fodder. 8-)

Re: today's POD caption... I probably should have referenced the POD from 10 days earlier or, at least, put them next to each other sequentially.

Oh, well, no worries.  MagicPaddler survived his ordeal.

Jimbo   8-)

From the looks of that sky, it would appear the Weather Gods were less than pleased about MP falling in the lake ::)

 

Just got home from a week of skiing and I see you guys have been having fun too. 

Ok, guys... the fact that my grainy photos taken on my antique less-than-Smart Phone have made it on as POD's goes to show how needy we are for your submissions.  The process is pretty easy, pretty painless, and, evidently, POD standards are not that high (ie. my pics made the grade).  Anyway, we must be close to the end of what I've sent in.  Um, I can send in more but, uh, that means you guys will have to look at them... and, trust me, quality goes down from here!  So, to alleviate this scenario (probably unwanted by everyone), please take a few minutes and send in a few that you think others might enjoy.

There you have it.  Later,

Jimbo   8-)

Jimbo wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2020 at 4:29pm:

Ok, guys... the fact that my grainy photos taken on my antique less-than-Smart Phone have made it on as POD's goes to show how needy we are for your submissions.  The process is pretty easy, pretty painless, and, evidently, POD standards are not that high (ie. my pics made the grade).  Anyway, we must be close to the end of what I've sent in.  Um, I can send in more but, uh, that means you guys will have to look at them... and, trust me, quality goes down from here!  So, to alleviate this scenario (probably unwanted by everyone), please take a few minutes and send in a few that you think others might enjoy. There you have it.  Later, Jimbo   8-)

What he said  ;)
  Look at it this way, ANY pic of the Q/BWCA is better than 99% of what you are looking at around home unless you are very lucky indeed.

Jim this is what a moose looks like
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Magic,

What I thought was truly amazing was how you managed to hold onto your camera and snap that shot even as you were falling off the cliff into Veron Lake.

Even so, your picture turned out 100X better than mine!

Jimbo   8-)

Jim 
You being a gear nut you need a better camera. Look for something that is small and light but can get good pictures.  This site has some people that could help with some suggestions.

solotripper wrote on Jan 21^st, 2020 at 2:37pm:

From the looks of that sky, it would appear the Weather Gods were less than pleased about MP falling in the lake ::)

Actually, I was noticing that big old white pine instead of the sky..my first thought after reading Jimbo's caption of MP falling into the lake was that the big pine was leaning over either to see if MP was ok, or more likely laughing at/with him.... :-/ ;D

Magicpaddler wrote on Jan 22^nd, 2020 at 11:25pm:

Jim  You being a gear nut you need a better camera. Look for something that is small and light but can get good pictures.  This site has some people that could help with some suggestions.

I have a Nikon Coolpix W300 that I am really liking.  It is small, not very heavy, and I wear it around my neck on a lanyard.  It is waterproof, so you can do underwater shots, or not worry about it with the weather.  Easy to use, and I find I am using it more than my bigger camera most of the time.

---

  That's a nice reflective pic SP2 [smiley=cool.gif]

  I have a older Samsung digital point and shoot. It has 5x zoom BUT it's not a all-weather camera which I worried about at first.

  I bought a neck lanyard and keep that camera right in my left shirt pocket in a ziplock bag. My next camera will be a all-weather one but this has done well considering what I put it thru. With that lanyard I never worry about dropping it and it's always there when I need it.

One thing about a nice little camera like that is the ability to catch a pic at a moment notice. Wildlife pics can happen anytime and you don't often have much time to take the pic.

With that small point and shoot on Auto setting, it's a fairly fast process.

  They keep getting better and better. I think the next big step will to get beyond the 5x zoom in an all weather camera point and shoot camera. It's a technical issue that some smart person will figure out.

I have had a waterproof/underwater camera for many years, and this is my third one.  The first one got dropped on a terazzo floor and the screen shattered.  My second Pentax W300 was a great little camera.   But there was a limit to the minutes that you are supposed to keep it under the water.  I loaned it to our grandchildren when we were in the Caribbean, so that they could take underwater sting ray photos.  I forgot to tell them that 30 minutes was the max--and when they gave it back to me it was toast.  Fortunately the card was still OK, so we didn't lose the photos that they were taking.  When I tried to get another Pentax, they were "between models", and I ended up just getting this little Nikon.  I like it better than the Pentax.  It wasn't cheap, but not prohibitive either.

---

  That Fish stringer in today's POD is the exact same one I've used for years.

Like those ORANGE grippers, it's an item that gives you a lot of service for a minimal price.  [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

 

ST,

I used them for years & years but recently gave up on them.  The clasps kept popping open.  I was losing fish!  I found I was having to double and even triple-up on them for security.  Anyway, in the past two years I've gone back to using your basic line with a metal ringlet on one end and a metal "threader" on the other.  Fish NEVER come off of that one!

BTW, I'm pretty sure today's POD was taken at my infamous "whippoorwill" island camp on Cirrus Lake in May a few years back. The frenzied song of those birds was EVERYWHERE and in feverish pitch ALL NIGHT LONG! Seemed like there were HUNDREDS of them but, more likely, there were perhaps only a dozen (maybe only a half-dozen) in the vicinity... and I'm guessing it was prime mating season.  Anyway, I have never heard anything like it before.  The funny thing was, the park ranger who handed us our permit at the beginning of the trip had suggested, "You might want to keep your ears open for the joyous sound of a whippoorwill.  We've heard rumors they may be trying to make a comeback in the park."  Frankly, I had never heard one there before.  As it turned out, that section of Cirrus Lake was absolutely infested with them!

A week or two later I sent the park a note confirming their "suspicions."

Jimbo   8-)

  I've never had that popping open issue with mine BUT being solo, I've never had more than a few fish on at a time, usually just a small one for a meal.

I have a back-up, of course, one just like yours. ;)

Jimbo, is this the sound you heard only magnified?

The Whippoorwill
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Oh yeah... except responses were coming from about 20 different places at the same time!  I'm telling you it was a frenetic whippoorwill bacchanal orgy on an epic scale!  They were EVERYWHERE and there was no sleep to be had for the weary during that long, incredible night. 

Those musical little peckerheads can sure enough throw a party!

Jimbo   8-)

Jimbo wrote on Jan 26^th, 2020 at 2:12pm:

Oh yeah... except responses were coming from about 20 different places at the same time!  I'm telling you it was a frenetic whippoorwill bacchanal orgy on an epic scale!  They were EVERYWHERE and there was no sleep to be had for the weary during that long, incredible night.  Those musical little peckerheads can sure enough throw a party! Jimbo   8-)

   I've got the cure for that  ;) ;D ;D

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Today's POD makes me happy as I look out the window to snow coated everything.  Actually the snow coated tree scene is pretty amazing as well.

I think there is room to add a few more packs to that pile.

Solus wrote on Jan 27^th, 2020 at 3:25pm:

I think there is room to add a few more packs to that pile.

You beat me to it Solus  ;) ;D ;D
Reminds me of the loaded canoe I saw leaving BH put-in at the end of my FUBAR trip.  :-? :o ;D ;D

Good thing Jimbo had a young STRONG portage monkey with him. 8-)

We were base-camping on upper Sturgeon Lake so I figured, what the heck, I’ll bring the kitchen sink!

My dang nephew even brought an inflatable sofa, for Pete’s sake!  In fact, I think it may be coming up in a POD pretty soon ....

Jimbo 8-)

What you guys don't realize (based on my limited travels with him....) - THAT is Jimbo traveling light.

pd

portage dog wrote on Jan 27^th, 2020 at 10:15pm:

What you guys don't realize (based on my limited travels with him....) - THAT is Jimbo traveling light. pd

That’s actually Jimbo in the bow, being dwarfed by the pile...  ;D

Hopefully, you’re cheered up. ;D ;D

  Jimbo,
  It looks like your Portage Monkey is going to need his OWN Portage Monkey in the very near future!  :o ;D ;D

Yeah, we didn't leave much behind on that base-camp trip!

I don't believe I got on that inflatable sofa much, if any.  Nevertheless, it proved durable enough to withstand PineKnot taking a nap on it with a "lit" cigar.... ;)

Later,

Jimbo   8-)

Ahhhh . . . it's a BGV.  We have one in my classroom.  The Big Green Vag . . . never-mind.

Hallelujah!  New POD's and we're starting with a good one!  Nice job, Magic!

Jimbo   8-)

Last summer was the summer of the swan.  I saw over 25 swans in the park last summer.

Magicpaddler wrote on Jan 30^th, 2020 at 1:04pm:

Last summer was the summer of the swan.  I saw over 25 swans in the park last summer.

  Nice POD today MP 8-)

I've only seen swans a few times in the park. I really enjoy seeing them. You just don't want to get to close to them paddling. A mad swan will go right after a paddler.  :o :'( :'(

  The local LMB fishing lake my brother and I favor has large resident population of Swans, Canadian Geese and a few duck species.

  The swans RULE the lake and the other birds know it. The DNR rents kayaks and warns people not to get to close to them. Of course there are always people who glide up close for a pic.

They only do that once. Last year some guy and his girlfriend riding a jet ski got to close and the male swan attacked them and knocked both of them off the jet ski.

  The moron didn't have that kill switch cord attached to his life vest. So they're in the water, with the jet ski circling them and the swan going after them. Good times.  ;) ;D ;D

Some guys in a bass boat came over and rescued them. Word got back to DNR and they were waiting at the boat launch to give them a big-ticket for harassing the swans.  ;D ;D

I like to get real close using a long lenses then slip closer by cropping and blowing up. 
I have seen swans chasing geese.  Neat to see a goose trying to make sharp turns with a swan 1 foot behind them. 

Nice pic of the swan.  I've never seen on on nest because I usually go later in the summer and by that time they're all done.  I ran into a brood of fledglings who couldn't fly west of Irvine and both parents did their level best to steer me away from the youngsters even though I was doing my level best by going out of the way so as not to disturb them.  They, like my better half, can be very vocal at times ;)

Nice swan pics Magic.  I see them every year in Quetico now since 2012.  Before that I doubt I ever saw one there. 

In 2012 I did the Little Indian Sioux entry solo in the BW. While camped on Little Pauness lake there were a pair of swans down the shore maybe 100 yards.  They put up such a loud racket I couldn't believe it!  It sounded like a huge brawl was going on.  This was at the very end of September and more likely it was just foreplay.  ;)

Today’s POD features Kelly Kettle cooking at it’s finest!  Hmmm... Magicpaddler’s hat is on ground next to his empty stool.  Must be right after he fell into Veron Lake that 2nd time.....

That was a pretty nice campsite.  One rainy day there, I chased a moose across the lake in my Wenonah Prism, just west of our island.  Nearly caught him, too.  When his feet found lake bottom I backed off in a hurry! 

I should have chased him over to where Magic was swimming.  Would have been fun to watch MP try to ride him.

Jimbo 8-)

That was kind of a cold day.  My hammock was down over the hill behind Jimbo’s hammock.

Magicpaddler wrote on Feb 1^st, 2020 at 1:56pm:

That was kind of a cold day.  My hammock was down over the hill behind Jimbo’s hammock.

Yup... right down NEXT to the water.  Too bad about getting out of the wrong side of bed that morning.  Must have been something of a rude awakening!

Jimbo   8-)

Jimbo wrote on Feb 1^st, 2020 at 2:08pm:

Magicpaddler wrote on Feb 1st, 2020 at 1:56pm: That was kind of a cold day.  My hammock was down over the hill behind Jimbo’s hammock. Yup... right down NEXT to the water.  Too bad about getting out of the wrong side of bed that morning.  Must have been something of a rude awakening! Jimbo   8-)

  Considering MY history with hammocks, I think I would take a WATER landing any day ;) ;D ;D

Looks like a clark hammock? Do you like it?

Jillpine,

My guess is if you did a "Search" on QJ you'd find my MANY posts on the virtues of a Clark Jungle Hammock.  Yes, I think they're great!  Get them while you can because, as I understand it, the old man has decided to go out of business.

Several features warrant special mention: 1) great visibility/head space under the net, 2) the six generous pockets underneath are excellent for storing/organizing your clothes & thereby creating "insulation", 3) the hammock is extremely well-made = great materials, excellent zippers, etc..  I'm not sure how I might be happier with the hammock except, I suppose, if it slept a little "flatter." It's a banana-style shelter, which has its pluses & minuses.

Anyway, yes, I'm a big fan of Clark Jungle Hammocks.  This is my second one.  I sold my first to another QJ'er years ago & I'm betting it is STILL in action.

Certainly feel free to PM me with questions about particulars.  They're a bit "pricey" but, IMHO, they're worth it!

Jimbo   8-)

Thanks - I bought a used one from Hoaf this summer. I agree with everything you said.

Today's POD.  Ahhh......the changing of the socks.  Getting into dry socks at the end of the day feels sooooo good!  :)

mpeebles wrote on Feb 2^nd, 2020 at 1:05pm:

Today's POD.  Ahhh......the changing of the socks.  Getting into dry socks at the end of the day feels sooooo good!  :)

Yup, dry socks do feel good at the end of the day.
I add that deodorant foot trick whenever I put on socks in conditions where I sweat a lot or my feet are going to get wet.

  If you've ever been in the military and had to train/march a lot you know how important it is to keep your feet in good shape.  ;) ;D

mpeebles wrote on Feb 2^nd, 2020 at 1:05pm:

Today's POD.  Ahhh......the changing of the socks.  Getting into dry socks at the end of the day feels sooooo good!  :)

As a wet footer myself I know this smile you have going here.  After a 5-7 hour day of travel you pull into a site and the first thing I do, unless there's threatening weather, is pull out the camp shoes and a pair of dry socks.  It makes setting up camp so much gooder.  :)

Today's POD is all about walleye fishing out in front of Split Rock Falls.  MPeebles was doing most of the "catching," however.  The bite was all on the tiniest of lures... and Mike had their ticket!  MagicPaddler might have caught a few but they wanted very of what I was offering.

I seem to recall we were fishing in 25 feet of water.  Seemed "deep" for late May fishing.

Jimbo   8-)

Mike did have his way with the walleyes

I recognized that spot right away.
Never really fished it except for a few casts as I was heading towards the portage into Russell lk.

  I did have the biggest NP I've ever seen on just long enough to get a good look and down it went and snapped my line.  ;D ;D

  It's always worth the effort to fish moving waters. I mark my map as I travel to show them. Some are only seasonal from snowmelt but they always seem to hold fish at the spill-out.

Yeah, it was kinda of a funny spot.  I caught a few along the near shore.  There was a 25"+ walleye in there and a few nice northerns.  There was a small herd of walleyes out in the current but closer to the other shore.  The current was really ripping along and made for some fast drifts and tough paddles back upstream which made it tough fishing....but good exercise!  If memory serves MP and I took a nice break along the shoreline in a really nice little spot.   Pretty place, great company and very enjoyable! 

Jimbo, might want to let just a little more line out so the lure runs below the surface.  There's more fish down there. ;D

More likely that is Wally13 proudly displaying his trophy haul that day.

Jimbo   8-)

Jimbo, I'm curious how you guys worked out the paddling.  Were you just the engine and paddling one side the whole time?  Or maybe you guys had a hut system with switches? I've never been a bow paddler. The lack of having control would unnerve me I'm afraid.  ;D

TomT,

EXCELLENT question!

For me, it was a major experiment outside of my comfort zone!   I pretty much stayed in the bow for the entire trip. My reasoning? I was looking to take advantage of Wally13’s expertise re: fishing for walleyes and let him steer us into position.  Also, we were having difficulty mounting his transducer in the bow of the canoe.

I will admit to experiencing the jitters & some very anxious moments when we hit some big waves en route to North Bay that very first morning.  Wally13  exercised a great deal of patience with me and I learned to trust him in the stern... but it took a while, especially when we started taking in water over the side!   

My comfort zone has ALWAYS been paddling from the stern.   Only once before did I ever paddle from the bow & that was also with a QJer (Tripper, way back-in 2003).  Ultimately, I gained faith in the experience of Wally13.  Also, it didn’t hurt that I was extremely confident in the seaworthiness of my Souris River 17 footer.

Finally, I eventually became a better bow paddler for basic self-preservation reasons. It is far easier for the stern paddler to swing his paddle at the guy in the front than it is for me, in the bow, to swing my weapon backward  at the guy in the stern who is screwing things up.

That’s my story and I’m sticking to it!

Jimbo  8-)

Quote:

The lack of having control would unnerve me I'm afraid.  Grin

  I would think you MARRIED guys would be USED to that feeling by now?  :-? :'( ;) ;D ;D

That's why I use a kayak paddle.  It has a much better reach to whack someone from either the bow or stern.

I had a girlfriend once that got into Q trips to the point she actually read a Bill mason book. We were paddling down the Pickerel river and were coming up to the sharpest bend. She said she wanted to try something she learned. I said ok. She turned that canoe on a dime!

To me, the bow is a very scary place. There's nothing to relate to and the troughs and crests look sooo much bigger up there.

Did Jimbo tell you to "say cheese!"?  ;D

I'm curious about that pole in front, not Lawrence, he's Irish, but that skinny pole attached to lift the tarp.  I've used an adjustable painters pole in the past but what is this?

TomT,

I’m not certain about the pole or the small piece of wood  that is seemingly fastened to the top of it. It’s most likely one of my Easton collapsible metal poles, though I do not recall bringing it along on this trip.  With so much dead timber lying around, what would have been the point?

I don’t know about the cheese. More likely, it was a rare moment, free of mosquitoes!

Jimbo  8-)

That little piece of wood looks like whoever rigged it used it as you would on a tourniquet to tighten a loop/line to the pole and keep it under tension.

TomT wrote on Feb 8^th, 2020 at 2:16pm:

Did Jimbo tell you to "say cheese!"?  ;D I'm curious about that pole in front, not Lawrence, he's Irish, but that skinny pole attached to lift the tarp.  I've used an adjustable painters pole in the past but what is this?

That is the spreader bar for my hammock tarp. The wood is part of the fastening system to attach it to the tarp. The other one is behind the mosquito proof man (DD).

Ah, now it makes sense!

I thought that pole was a LOT skinnier than my collapsibles. 

I don't see DD's magic handkerchief anywhere.  Maybe we have it hanging on my laundry line, just out of sight of the camera.  SOMETHING must be keep those buzzing buggers away... otherwise, NO smiles.  That danged handkerchief of his is impregnated with some industrial strength potency bad-ass stuff, let me tell you!  I think it may be radioactive.

Hey, guys, I've only loaded in a couple weeks of Opasquia pics, if that.  We need some new ammunition for POD's or I'm going to have to send DB some of my dawn-of-time stuff, where I had more hair on my head & might even have sported a beard!

Believe me, you DON'T want to see those.  SEND POD's SOON!!!

Jimbo   8-)

Jimbo wrote on Feb 8^th, 2020 at 4:09pm:

I don't see DD's magic handkerchief anywhere.  Maybe we have it hanging on my laundry line, just out of sight of the camera.  SOMETHING must be keep those buzzing buggers away... otherwise, NO smiles.  That danged handkerchief of his is impregnated with some industrial strength potency bad-ass stuff, let me tell you!  I think it may be radioactive.

Radioactive?  What gave me away.  Oh, wait!  Was it that I glowed in the dark?

But honestly, I must say that my mosquito treatment and regiment for this trip worked extremely well given the conditions.  Jimbo and Magic always seemed to be doing battle with the skeets, while I was barely noticing the (clouds of) mosquitos.  They were living in their headnets.
I might have had mine on for a hour or so for the entire trip.  In reality, I think I had one bite on the back of my neck during the entire trip.  However, I made the mistake of taking a shower and putting on clean clothes before we flew out to civilization.  Even being in a bunkhouse the night before departing, I was absolutely NAILED by the skeets.

Still have fond memories of that trip.

dd

Quote:

I must say that my mosquito treatment and regiment for this trip worked extremely well

  You use Permethrin on all your clothes don't you plus that Flaxseed oil right dd?  I added the Flaxseed oil to my diet because there are studies that suggest it helps with eye health. After my cataract surgery I decided it couldn't hurt plus it has other good benefits health wise.

  I don't wear Permethrin clothes around at home but I did notice the mosquitoes didn't bother me as much as normal before I started taking it.

  I've talked about this product:

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That's what I use around home and on my last Q-Trip. Give it a try.

  I think if you did the Permethrin on clothes/gear, the Flaxseed oil and used the Bug Soother on bare skin areas, you'd be pretty well protected against any and all bugs.

solotripper wrote on Feb 8^th, 2020 at 6:43pm:

I think if you did the Permethrin on clothes/gear, the Flaxseed oil and used the Bug Soother on bare skin areas, you'd be pretty well protected against any and all bugs.

On this particular trip, I used Ben's 100 mosquito repellant on bare skin (if I remember correctly).

dd

DentonDoc wrote on Feb 8^th, 2020 at 10:48pm:

solotripper wrote on Feb 8th, 2020 at 6:43pm: I think if you did the Permethrin on clothes/gear, the Flaxseed oil and used the Bug Soother on bare skin areas, you'd be pretty well protected against any and all bugs. On this particular trip, I used Ben's 100 mosquito repellant on bare skin (if I remember correctly). dd

   I don't use any DEET product even though it is rated one of the best bug repellants you can buy.

   I did in my early outdoor trips but the more I read about DEET the less I wanted to use it UNLESS there was no other alternative.

I think I've found it in that Bug Soother lotion. One thing I know for sure it SMELLS a helluva lot better.  ;) ;D ;D

DentonDoc wrote on Feb 8^th, 2020 at 10:48pm:

solotripper wrote on Feb 8th, 2020 at 6:43pm: I think if you did the Permethrin on clothes/gear, the Flaxseed oil and used the Bug Soother on bare skin areas, you'd be pretty well protected against any and all bugs. On this particular trip, I used Ben's 100 mosquito repellant on bare skin (if I remember correctly). dd

   I don't use any DEET product even though it is rated one of the best bug repellants you can buy.

   I did in my early outdoor trips but the more I read about DEET the less I wanted to use it UNLESS there was no other alternative.

I think I've found it in that Bug Soother lotion. One thing I know for sure it SMELLS a helluva lot better.  ;) ;D ;D

Today's POD, that of MP & DD finishing breakfast next to the lake, is one of my favorites from that trip.  When I look at the serenity of the water behind them, it brings to mind the severity of wind only a few hours earlier, around midnight.

I had strung up my Lean 3 shelter near the water's edge, facing due east, with rocks and logs anchoring its edges.  It had been stormy & breezy during the preceding afternoon but I was well protected by the trees behind.  Alas, the winds swung around in a BIG way right around midnight.  A major blast came in right at midnight from the East.  It blew up my Lean 3 like a balloon!

It happened so suddenly and without warning that when I woke, I looked around only to discover I was no longer inside of my shelter.  Rather, it was high up in the trees behind, headed towards Manitoba.  Fortunately, one of the small logs I had tied to it was still reachable.  Rocks & other pieces of wood I had used for anchors were scattered all over.

I don't know if it was the commotion I was making OR light from my headlamp that roused Magic & DD.  It would have hard to hear me or anything I was doing over the howl of the wind.  Whatever the cause, thankfully the cavalry showed up just in time.  Together, we managed to retrieve my shelter from the high branches.  It was dark, late and there was no prospect of trying to set it up again in that windstorm.  So, instead, I set up my mini-bivouac shelter, got into it, and then let the guys simply "drop" the Lean 3 over the top of me!

When I "dug out" the next morning, the world had calmed down, significantly (as evidenced by the lake in the background).  After breakfast, we cleared out a spot back up in the woods (we had "created" that "campsite" in the first place) and I set up shop back there.  I remember catching a great nap that afternoon, confident that  I had found a more secure location.

Since that day, I have done my level-best to avoid setting up a shelter (especially an open-sided one like a Lean 3) anywhere near the shoreline.  Anyway, the guys certainly earned their peaceful breakfast that next morning.

Jimbo   8-)

Amazing story Jimbo.  As good as Magic losing his pants in the wind on a different trip.  ;D

I remember reading your story and thinking THAT could happen to me with my Dry-Fly :'(

  I always set-up facing South figuring most of the time that's a safe bet. My Fubar trip proved that it isn't always the case.
  Looking back I learned a valuable lesson. When I see whitecaps on the opposite shore but it's dead calm in front of me, I'll DROP the ridgeline and put some weight on the tarp.

  I always say the reason I want EVERYONE to do a Trip Report is that you can LEARN from other's misfortunes if you're open to it.

  I remember your trip report where you and your brother I believe played hell trying to drag that swamped paddler on board because his boots had filled with water and he couldn't kick them off  :-?

  I changed my footwear after reading that from nylon hip-wader type set-up to my Brookie Knee Highs with a CINCHABLE top.
   

This pic looks like it could have a story go along with it.  I'm thinking the moss might have played a part.

Ah, you're remembering one of our campfire sessions in which I recounted pitching my Lean 3 on the thick bed of Canadian moss... a veritable mosquito factory!

Right story, wrong location.  However, there IS always a story since every pic is worthy of a thousand words.

Despite appearances, where the Lean 3 is pitched in this pic was largely devoid of moss and was mostly bare rock.  Also, you have no doubt noted that the "open" end of the lean-to shelter is pitched towards the woods versus the lake.  I may be dumb but it was getting very windy.  Trust me, I had learned my lesson at that earlier campsite!

Now this island has a very fine location for a campsite.  Sadly, this WASN'T it.  Unfortunately, the "good site" was supremely trashed-over.  As we were chased off the lake by wind, we needed someplace to pitch our shelters and, under the circumstances, this was the best we could manage.  It seems we were relatively close to the Ontario/Manitoba border and the First Nation settlement located just on the other side.  The once "good" site on this island had long since been transformed into "party city paradise" for those folks long ago.  Since the only "flat" spots on the island had TONS of garbage lying on them, we made do with an inferior location further down the island.  Any port in a storm, eh?

Other than one boarded-up fish house and one abandoned snowmobile (wrapped in plastic & left on a rock in the middle of East Lake), I don't recall seeing ANY other signs of humanity (& certainly NO humans) during our entire 2 week jaunt through the Opasquia wilderness.  The nastified campsite we discovered here was truly an anomaly but a particularly obnoxious one.  Of course, that observation might be a "comparative" sort of thing; all the rest was simply pristine wilderness at its finest.

I'm pretty sure there is a pic coming up which better illustrates the story you are thinking about, TomT.  I believe I entitled it, "Prisoner in Mosquito Hell" or something like that.  Bottom line: your premise is right... thou shalt not set-up a floor-less lean-to shelter on a bed of Canadian moss, a veritable incubator for the mosquito masses. That episode (still to come) became yet another lesson in the book of learnings, entitled: "What NOT to do in the Wilderness!"

Fortunately, this particular set-up was pitched over bare rock.  While those legions of buzzing beggars are resourceful and capable of many dastardly tricks & surprises, spontaneous generation ain't one of them.

Later,

Jimbo   8-) 

YUP,
   I never set up over moss either with the Dry-Fly.
You do one time and never again.  :-? :'( :'(

   I like those guy-lines about knee-high so if anyone tries to sneak up on you in the night they wind-up face first in Mosquito Hell.  ;) ;D ;D

On that site my hammock looked like it was nicely hung but the tree just bent over and let me down.  I put my pack under the hammock so I had something soft to settle to. 
It was from that site that DD and I found the portage to Mossberry.  I felt that we had made a contribution to future paddlers by documenting the location of the portage that allowed canoeist to make a large East Lake loop.

Magic,

You found A portage.  How can you be certain it was THE portage?   Didn’t you end up in a swamp somewhere and never make it to the other side?  ::)

Just because you found s few artifacts (roller logs, remains of boats,etc.), you can’t be absolutely certain without making a full crossing.  In fact, I suggest you put that on your task list for this summer.

If nothing else, it’s a worthy excuse to get out and play!

Jimbo  8-)

I really enjoyed todays POD.  (I enjoy them all but I just relate better to some than others).   :)

Nothing like the smell of bacon and coffee in the morning.

dd

You probably had some additional "protein" dropping into the pan, too, from all the mosquitoes who made the mistake of flying into your "radioactive zone."


Jimbo   8-)

Considering that you bring 2 of everything Jimbo ;) ;D ;D, I think you should just bring ONE of something and get the poor CHEF a nice little folding table to set his stove on.

  Watching him bent over like that hurt MY back.  ;D

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ST,

I've since picked up one of those Helinox roll-up tables.  It's lightweight, sturdy,assembles easily and does the trick.

One of the big pluses of tripping with other experienced QJers is that you can always pick up new ideas & practices.  I saw Mpeebles with his last Spring and simply HAD to pick one up.  I've not been disappointed.

On the other hand, DD has HIS systems and they work extremely well for HIM (and whoever might be the beneficiary of his superb cooking).  The last thing I'd ever do is try to mess with his success.  He is something of an alchemist.  He has small bottles of dehydrated stuff of just about everything and works magic with them.  Just as I would never presume to hand Michelangelo a paint brush, I would not offer a table to DD unless he specifically requested one.  "On-the-ground" cooking may be part of his secret sauce!

Jimbo   8-)

We’ve used our Rubbermaid food boxes as a table.  ;)

Quote:

"On-the-ground" cooking may be part of his secret sauce!

   ;D ;D ;D You have a valid point there Jimbo.
I guess if DD doesn't mind that's all that counts.

Old Salt wrote on Feb 13^th, 2020 at 3:27pm:

We’ve used our Rubbermaid food boxes as a table.  ;)

They make great tables and also great seats but not real smart surfaces for cooking on.

It never fails. Someone is going to want something out and then you end up having to move the hot stove AND the hot pan/pot to an always hard to find, level surface.

The attached photo is a good example of when a Rubbermaid food pack is truly is a thing of beauty in my world.

---

Great looking campsite DB.

R. E.  Cooking on top a table.  Just for shits and giggles I took a flat rock, put it on top my Helinox table and put my twig stove on top of the rock and fired it up.  Worked pretty slick and no bending over to feed the stove.  I have witnesses....right Jimbo.  Anyway we got to thinking about alternatives to the large flat rock.  After all they are a bit heavy and aren't exactly laying all over the place.  We (QJ'ers) came up with the idea of using a piece of fire blanket.   We'll see how that works sometime.  I think I'll try it out on something other than my table first. ;)   I normally just use my Coleman single burner propane so I don't have to bend over much to cook anyway.  Just wanted to see how the rock thing worked.
I'm glad you like your table Jimbo.

Nice shot today Jimbo!

I agree with you Jimbo.  Never, ever mess with the cook! Just offer to do dishes.   And I couldn't agree more that everyone has their own method of doing things which should be respected and learned from.

Off to the lake shortly  ...... -11 and going out on the 4 wheeler.  Ughhh!  I'm thinking that's why I enjoyed todays POD so much :)

Oopps.  In dd's case I meant Chef, not cook!  Cook is what I do unless there's a word below cook which is what I would do then.
Swill and gruel come to mind :-X

mpeebles wrote on Feb 14^th, 2020 at 10:53am:

Never, ever mess with the cook! Just offer to do dishes.   And I couldn't agree more that everyone has their own method of doing things which should be respected and learned from.

It’s not so much that my way is better.  It’s just that I started my back country travel backpacking, in the Rockies mostly, and there you don’t take a lot of extras, like a stool to sit on.  So, since I still have way more years backpacking than canoeing, I don’t actually miss the extras, and I will tend to go on the light-weight side where possible.

dd

Today's pic.

Yes, I can hear the roar of the falls to the right of this shot as the water flows in to Cocos Lake.  I remember having a very nice walleye dinner on this spot from fish caught in the waters flanking those falls.  I can almost smell them cooking as I sit here.  I also remember seeing rainbows in the distance as well.

My tent stands out very well in this shot.  However, the two hammocks seem to disappear. (Edit:  Sorry, make that one hammock and one Lean 3.)

dd

As I remember it the water near the top of the falls was the only place on the lake with fish.

DentonDoc wrote on Feb 15^th, 2020 at 4:31pm:

Today's pic. Yes, I can hear the roar of the falls to the right of this shot as the water flows in to Cocos Lake.  I remember having a very nice walleye dinner on this spot from fish caught in the waters flanking those falls.  I can almost smell them cooking as I sit here.  I also remember seeing rainbows in the distance as well. My tent stands out very well in this shot.  However, the two hammocks seem to disappear. (Edit:  Sorry, make that one hammock and one Lean 3.) dd

Walleyes, waterfalls and rainbows!  I am all smiles! 

Today's POD caption is a bit of a misnomer.

Those 2 canoes didn't "visit" Opasquia in 2014... THEY lived there.  WE were the visitors. There were actually 3 resident canoes in Opasquia, the third being a "solo" canoe.  Unfortunately, that solo proved defective, as MagicPaddler discovered about a mile into our journey.  It had a long, significant but nearly invisible crack down its middle.  Being so close to the outfitter base, however, he was able to return it for the remaining tandem.  Thank goodness that one proved seaworthy or else I'm not sure what our recourse might have been.  Winters up in northern Ontario can be rough on ABS plastic canoes left outside for storage!

I'll tell you this, those were some danged heavy brutes of canoes!  Hmmm... seems strangely coincidental with the advent of my back & hip issues, both of which required surgery within a few short years!

Where was Portage Dog when I really needed him!

By the way, Opasquia Park received only 4 paddling visitors in all of 2014, so our party constituted 75% of the traffic that year.  We did not see a soul during the entire 14 days we spent in the park (outside of the Big Hook outfitter's base).

Jimbo   8-)

Duct tape. ;)

Old Salt wrote on Feb 16^th, 2020 at 3:35pm:

Duct tape. ;)

This was a crack just in front of the front seat that by the time I got back to the outfitter had cracked all the way to the bottom of the canoe.  Shortly the hole front of the canoe was going to fall off

Jimbo wrote on Feb 16^th, 2020 at 2:36pm:

Today's POD : .. Those 2 canoes didn't "visit" Opasquia in 2014... THEY lived there.  WE were the visitors. There were actually 3 resident canoes in Opasquia, the third being a "solo" canoe.  Unfortunately, that solo proved defective, as MagicPaddler discovered about a mile into our journey.  It had a long, significant but nearly invisible crack down its middle.  Being so close to the outfitter base, however, he was able to return it for the remaining tandem.  Thank goodness that one proved seaworthy or else I'm not sure what our recourse might have been.  Winters up in northern Ontario can be rough on ABS plastic canoes left outside for storage!

If I'm not mistaken, the POD marks the spot where I finally got around to making a "field repair" of the front seat, along with the very able assistance of MP.  Since the seat set lower on one side, we modified the seat hangers on one side to that it would sit level.  Nothing like sitting on a sideways slant to give you a backache.

The other problem with our canoe was apparently the hull was not fair.  Regardless of how we loaded it, it never seemed to track straight.  There were even times when we both would paddle on one side and it canoe would still turn in that direction (without current or wind interference).  MP seemed to sprint away from us as easy as you please.  Of course there were times when MP did a 360 because the wind caught the front end of his canoe.

However, all-in-all, Opasquia was a very interesting trip.  We definitely had to brush out a campsite or three to make it livable for the three of us.  But, as you might expect, the walleye fishing was outstanding.  (Well, I wouldn't actually call it fishing ... that usually requires some skill.  This was more like going to the fridge and selecting the fish you wanted for dinner.)

dd

Today's POD reminds me of those meme's you see on social media where there's a series of 4 or 6 pics with the captions "What my friends think I do" with a pic of a stringer of big fish and "What society thinks we do" shows a bunch of guys getting drunk around a campfire and then finally, for the last pic - "What I really do on wilderness canoe trips" shows DD and Magic bundled up hunkered down under a tarp.   ;)

Not articulated well but I think you know what I'm talking about.  8-)

Today's POD is a perfect reminder of why a good TARP is a must for many of us. Block that wind/rain and helps reflect the campfire heat back on you.

  For me its the FIRST thing up and the LAST thing down. The only thing missing is some hot IRISH coffee ;)

TomT,

I'd say we covered 2 of those 3 bases at this particular camp.  If I'm not mistaken, this is the place where we actually camped twice, once on the way out & once on the way back.  You could pick up your limit of walleyes inside of 5 minutes fishing within eyesight of the place!  We ate well here.

While I'm sure we also enjoyed some libations (certainly at times when it got cold & wet such as on this day), I'd don't recall anything excessive, particularly on the return trip.  DentonDoc was likely near the end of his Scotch and my bourbon was almost gone as it was already 2 weeks in the bush.

Seems to me that the wind blew predominantly out of the east for 11 or 12 of our 14 days.  As already observed re: an earlier POD, I was foolhardy setting up my Lean 3 to face eastward during one of those 2 other days.  Dumb, dumb, dumb! 

The wind blew with a vengeance on several occasions.  On the way out, a full and stately 3 or 4 foot diameter tree (cedar?) crowned the rise of a short portage we passed through.  We almost doubled back there to set up our shelters for the night when we had difficulty finding a clear spot further along.  Fortunately, we ended up pitching camp at a burned out, mosquito-ridden old camp which turned all of our gear "charcoal-colored."  Why fortunate? Well, upon our return, we discovered that one blast of wind had toppled that massive tree directly upon that level spot we had eyeballed for camp during our first passage.

Sometimes soggy days are the price you pay to enjoy the good stuff.  I'm fortunate in being retired in that I can spend more consecutive days in the woods - often 2 weeks at a time, now - as it nearly guarantees you AT LEAST a few days that are real gems.  Those are the days that are easy on memories and that you most often carry forward with you.  Of those, we certainly had our share and I, at least, remember them fondly.  Sometimes it takes pictures to nudge our minds back to OTHER days, days which are part of the price paid... and now, in retrospect, paid proudly.  The older you get, the more joy you can derive from those days, too.  They remind you that you were "up to the challenges" presented by the wilderness (at least THAT time).  Sometimes you win, sometimes you don't win so much or maybe even you lose... but, in the end you kept coming back.  Why?  For me, at least in part, it was because I remember how ignorant and unprepared I was thirty years ago.  When I look at pictures like today's POD, it reminds me about how every year's mistakes and experiences have built my confidence and preparedness and, ultimately, my enjoyment of being outdoors in whatever the wilderness throws at me. 

My main regrets?  That I didn't start twenty years earlier.  I could have used a few more soggy days - like today's POD - to wisen me up a little sooner.  Maybe there's still time....

Later,

Jimbo   8-)

Quote:

it reminds me about how every year's mistakes and experiences have built my confidence and preparedness and, ultimately, my enjoyment of being outdoors in whatever the wilderness throws at me.

   I don't know about everyone else but when I think back on the trips I've done the BAD parts are the first thing that comes to mind.  :-? :'(

  They are quickly erased by the good ones and knowing that I made it thru them and that is a good feeling to have when you're in the bush.

  ANYONE can do a trip when everything goes your way and the weather is perfect. Toss in some adversity and see who keeps coming back for more.
THAT is a canoe tripper.  ;) ;D ;D

Our third canoe trip was a six-day one out of Moose Lake to Knife, Eddy, etc.  1974.  It started out on a drizzly day, and when we pushed off at the entry point landing I moved just wrong and pulled a muscle in my neck/shoulder.  Sharp pain!  In those days we didn't carry any pain killers except one of those little tins of 12 aspirin tablets.

It rained for the first five days non-stop.  Sometimes heavy, most of the time just gloomy skies and drizzle.  I was in severe pain from the shoulder the entire time.  We moved camp every day and eventually no matter how we tried, EVERYTHING was either damp or wet.  The family mantra "there is no such thing as a little bit damp" came from that trip.  By day five my sleeping bag was "damp" and both of our blowup air mattresses were flat.  Cool June weather, no tarp, no camp stools, and everything damp.  And solid pain for me.  The last night I slept on the tent floor wrapped in a space blanket because that was warmer than my damp bag.

Only two things saved that trip in my memory.  Meeting Dorothy Molter on the Isle of Pines and signing her book, enjoying a root beer.  And the last morning when the sun came out and a duck with a group of darling ducklings visited our campsite landing.

I have often said that if that had been our first trip, there would not have been a couple dozen more.  But I had seen the canoe country in the sunshine, and I was able to persevere through six days with hope for a sunny day always in my mind.   ;)

I tend to remember the good times and the bad ones fade into the background.  However, the "rainy trip" doesn't have too many fond memories.  That is also when we decided, if possible, to take longer trips so that there was a more reasonable hope for at least some nice weather.

---

Today's POD....  I have no words.  ;D

;D ;D ;D

   Isn't this the trip where DD was relatively spared the skeets compared to you and MP?

  This is why I do the Permethrin thing like DD does and now I'm adding in the Flax oil too.  I soak ALL my clothes, plus my tent and my Dry-Fly. I wear the soaked doo-rag/hat combo too.

  It makes a huge difference. I could see being somewhat concerned IF you were using it on a daily basis BUT most of us get one maybe 2 trips a year.

It seems to me that the risk of getting your trip severely impacted OR getting Lyme disease far outweighs the risk from limited exposure to Permethrin. Considering in our daily lives chemicals are everywhere whether we realize it or not.  :-? ;) ;D ;D

  I'll take that risk rather than being in Mosquito Hell :'( :'( ;D

ST, I used products containing 100% DEET and I think at the time I had one shirt that was impregnated with permethrin (since then I am in the habit of giving all of my garments a dose).  Nevertheless, none of it was apparently at DentonDoc "lethal" dosage-levels so I STILL had to keep my Bug Shirt on almost ALL the time at that particular site.  That gets a little frustrating when you got to take a bite of food and end up jabbing a wad of bug net right into your mouth... which ends up "goo-ing up" the net on your face and, in turn, drawing other bugs!

TomT, re: "Today's POD....  I have no words.   ;D "
Well, a certain phrase came to my mind almost IMMEDIATELY after I made a horrible discovery the night before: "HOW STUPID CAN I BE?" 

I had set up my Lean 3 shelter on a thick bed of Caribou Moss.  For some reason, I had either elected not to lay down my ground tarp OR (God help me if I was this dumb) I might not even have brought it along for that trip.  Anyway, it had not occurred to me that mosquitoes HAVE TO SLEEP SOMEPLACE during the daytime hours OR, if it did occur to me, I did not associate Caribou Moss with their place of slumber.  So, roundabout 11:00 pm, when I had already been sound asleep for an hour or so, I had a RUDE AWAKENING when I suddenly realized I was well into an all-out red alert mosquito infestation and being actively bit all over my face, head & shoulders.  They had emerged from the Caribou Moss and were now EVERYWHERE!

Fortunately, as some of you are aware, I have back-up systems for my back-up systems (ie. I carry a lot of crap with me).  In my pack was a small solo pop-up shelter... the one you see set up within my Lean 3 in today's POD.  I suppose it would have been rather amusing had there been an on-looker to watch me swat ferociously while frantically setting up that danged little (non-self-standing) shelter.  I can only imagine what those streams of head lamp light shooting in every which direction might have looked like.  Hey, I was in a panic.  Even when I was able to slide into my pop-up and zip it shut, it was another 20 minutes of swatting and wiggling around in my sleeping bag to encourage the little vampires down by my feet to flutter up within arm's length... where I could nail them.  It was painstaking and it was ugly.

Perhaps worse yet was the hour when dawn approached.  I think it was that sinister drone of the skeeter hordes that woke me to a rather dim sunrise.  Why dim, you say?... and here you will think me mad but the truth of it was this:  Literally, millions upon millions of skeeters occluded the entire height and breadth of the mosquito netting on the outside of my Lean 3.  You think I jest?  Bah!!  Never, ever, EVER have I seen (or heard) the likes of it.  I mean, it was bad enough INSIDE of my Lean 3 but on the outside?!  Holy ______!!  I wouldn't have thought one person could produce enough CO2 trails while snoring to attract so many... a thought which only served to remind me of how hungry they must be!

Accordingly, I didn't want to leave my little shelter.  Eventually, I did and it was bad enough just on the INSIDE of the Lean 3.  To go OUTSIDE was almost unimaginable... and it stayed unimaginable right up until Mother Nature called me in a way which I could not refuse.

Such a conundrum I had never faced in the wilderness.  What was I to do?!!  To drop my drawers outdoors anywhere around that particular campsite would have risked complete exsanguination. Thus, I was wholly confounded as to how to address the growing imperative. 

Bottom line: Mother Nature is not one to be refused.  However, by creating my necessity, She also became Mother of my invention as a few of my brain cells kicked in to save the day. A PERFECT solution to my dilemma dawned on me, as follows: I suddenly remembered, WE WERE BREAKING THIS HORRIBLE CAMP WITHIN THE HOUR.  My flash of brilliance...Why don't I turn my humble abode into an OUTHOUSE?

Well, as I am fond of saying, "Have orange trowel, will travel."  In that instance, however, I didn't travel far.  Rather, I hurriedly packed up my gear as I swatted the resident mosquitoes (as opposed to the legions that waited on the outside) then I dug me a little hole into & under my thick bed of caribou moss and, well... the rest was history.

In retrospect, I like to think of my last action there as an appropriate "salute", of sorts, signifying my feelings about that particular campsite.  After accommodating Mother Nature, I quickly tore down my outhouse, and hauled my gear over to the water, where DentonDoc patiently waited on me, seemingly unbothered whatsoever by the swarms buzzing around us.  Content with my success, I enthusiastically jumped into our tandem and vowed NEVER to return to that godforsaken hell-hole of a campsite at the edge of the swamp.

Anyhow, as Paul Harvey might have said, "That's the rest of the story" behind today's POD, "A Prison Cell In Mosquito Hell."

Jimbo   8-)

I despise being overrun by mosquitos.  It's only happened to me a few times in 20 - week or longer trips to the BW/Quetico.  My worst memory was in 1992 on Murdoch Lake.  Me and my youngest brother pulled into camp late and decided to just put up our rope hammocks and spend the night in our bags with head nets on.  That way we could leave quickly in the morning.

Well this was June and it was sticky.  I only owned 2 down sleeping bags rated at 10 degrees at the time so we crawled in just as the breeze died out at dusk.  Long story short, the buzzing at my face outside the net and the profuse sweating in the bags got us zero sleep that night.  I learned a big lesson then - if you sleep out in the open it's best to have a backup plan if things go south.  :-/  I could have used your little bivy that night Jimbo.

Necessity is the mother of all inventions.  Good job Jimbo!

BTW, your set up reminded me of some "homes" up by our land....trailers with about three additions tacked on.

Today's POD shows the REAL corp of Engineer for the park water levels.  ;) ;D ;D

New here, sorry for the dumb question but how do you decide who posts a picture? I just now found the link to the actual pictures

cyclones30,

I suspect there are other ways to do it but, if you wish to send in pics for consideration as POD's, you attach them to an e-mail and send them to our host, db.  The address I use is: (sorry for the edit Jimbo: Here is a better address.   (You need to Login or Register ~db).  I generally attach only 3 or 4 to an e-mail, otherwise it overloads my Outbox.  db is the ultimate judge as to what what actually appears on QJ.  I'll say this much, I've NEVER had ANY of mine "rejected"... and some of them, for sure, SHOULD have been!  I've never claimed to be anything of a photographer but, ultimately, I figured something on the POD page is better than nothing (in my case, it took some convincing but turned out to be true).

When you multiple the decades this site has been operating X 365 days/year, you can see we go through a LOT of pics so we need them to keep coming.  Even when some of them stink, there is sometimes a "back story" that may prompt an interesting discussion.  Or, it could be you've traveled with others on QJ and the pics represent "shared memories"... which, again, can prompt discussion.  Of course, they don't need to prompt discussion, especially when they can just be enjoyed for what they are.  Mainly, QJer's are just looking for their daily "fix", especially during the hard water season.

So, don't overthink it (like I did; it was many years before I started sending in pics).  Send in some of what you have and let's see what happens.

There are probably other ways to submit pics.  The address, above, is the way I do it.

Jimbo   8-)

Jimbo is dead on about POD submissions. We have some members that have PRO-level photography skills. If the majority of us who do not have those skills were "intimidated" by them we would have a FEW great PODS, and a whole lot of the same people's pics over and over.

  We have enough QJ members that if EVERYONE submitted say 20-25 trip pics over the course of a year db would NEVER run out of them.

  I feel the same-way about Trip Reports. Again we have members that COULD be professional writers.

  Jimbo is one of them among a few others. The point is for EVERYONE to share their experiences and how THEY do things.

   I've NEVER read a trip report no matter how basic
OR involved where I didn't LEARN something. Sometimes it was just a new way to do something BETTER than I did OR I learned something from someone else's "misfortune"

   That's why in my reports I tell the good and the bad. My FUBAR trip hammock incident MIGHT have gotten someone to make sure THAT doesn't happen to them by taking another look at their hanging system?

  It can't be repeated often enough, ANY POD is better than NO POD!  ;) ;D ;D

Got it, thanks!

As far as this POD, I'm always a fan of a dam here or there. Breaks up some of those long curvy river paddles....unless there are too many!  ;D

Today's POD looks like one of those beaver dams that prove to be a bear to get over. Tall and deep enough pulling up and over would be hard. The landing on the left looks like a mud bog?

  Good times!  ;) ;D ;D

Yep, that was quick to get one of mine in the list! I wonder how long it took the beavers to make this one. Pretty good drop and yes, quite muddy to get around! It did allow us to skip a portage farther up the river

I've been eyeballing today's POD closely. It seems so familiar that I've been putting my brain cells into overdrive trying to pinpoint it.  Ultimately, I decided it could be any of million places and could be in any of several different parks, an almost ubiquitous feature when paddling small waters in the north.  So many forces at work in one pic... beavers, fire, spring-like water-flow.

A fine start for your string of POD's, cyclones30!  You've captured a bunch with this one.  Thanks for sending in pics!

Jimbo   8-)

You checked all the boxes...early June, burn area. This one was between Square and Kawashachong. You could hear the water falling from a ways away that calm morning.

This looks like fine cliff jumping.  It's best to use a depth finder just to be on the safe side.  Or just don't do it at all.  To each his own.

*Please, let's not get in a debate about the right and wrong of adventuring.

We didn't think about jumping. Laker fishing was good though and the white stripes going down the cliff were very cool

Spartan2 wrote on Feb 17^th, 2020 at 4:20pm:

Our third canoe trip was a six-day one out of Moose Lake to Knife, Eddy, etc.  1974.  It started out on a drizzly day, and when we pushed off at the entry point landing I moved just wrong and pulled a muscle in my neck/shoulder.  Sharp pain!  In those days we didn't carry any pain killers except one of those little tins of 12 aspirin tablets. It rained for the first five days non-stop.  Sometimes heavy, most of the time just gloomy skies and drizzle.  I was in severe pain from the shoulder the entire time.  We moved camp every day and eventually no matter how we tried, EVERYTHING was either damp or wet.  The family mantra "there is no such thing as a little bit damp" came from that trip.  By day five my sleeping bag was "damp" and both of our blowup air mattresses were flat.  Cool June weather, no tarp, no camp stools, and everything damp.  And solid pain for me.  The last night I slept on the tent floor wrapped in a space blanket because that was warmer than my damp bag. Only two things saved that trip in my memory.  Meeting Dorothy Molter on the Isle of Pines and signing her book, enjoying a root beer.  And the last morning when the sun came out and a duck with a group of darling ducklings visited our campsite landing. I have often said that if that had been our first trip, there would not have been a couple dozen more.  But I had seen the canoe country in the sunshine, and I was able to persevere through six days with hope for a sunny day always in my mind.   ;) I tend to remember the good times and the bad ones fade into the background.  However, the "rainy trip" doesn't have too many fond memories.  That is also when we decided, if possible, to take longer trips so that there was a more reasonable hope for at least some nice weather.

I love that picture of Dorothy M. That group of islands is magical and misses her presence.

[/quote]
I love that picture of Dorothy M. That group of islands is magical and misses her presence.[/quote]

In 1974 I was so inexperienced!  We didn't know a lot about Dorothy Molter, and I was too shy to ask her to actually pose with us, or with one of us.  We didn't take the time to really talk with her, and I regret that, as we were the only visitors at the time.  We looked at her canoe-paddle fence, as we were looking for the one from Camp Easton, where my husband first started his interest in the canoe country as a camp counselor.  We signed the book and drank a root beer.  We didn't even see (and have never seen) the famous "ribbon rock."

But the one photo I have of Dorothy is precious to me.  Photography was so different back then--a finite amount of film and you didn't see your results until much later on.  If I had had a digital camera I probably would have taken 100 shots on the Isle of Pines.

Today's is one of my favorite entry morning paddles yet. LIS North very early in the morning and a bit of fog. The one portage around the rapids is very scenic too.

Then for the nit as fun part...Later that day we contended with boats on Loon, did Beatty portage and then watched a kid hurt himself cliff jumping on LLC by the portage and we found a great site in Snow Bay.

Spartan2 wrote on Feb 23^rd, 2020 at 11:21am:

But the one photo I have of Dorothy is precious to me.  Photography was so different back then--a finite amount of film and you didn't see your results until much later on.  If I had had a digital camera I probably would have taken 100 shots on the Isle of Pines.

So true!  Photos carried more weight and were "rare" back then.  Not everyone had a camera or even took pics at all in the days before digital.  Then there was that mystery of "I wonder how it will come out?" after you took the pic only to wait literally weeks before you would see the result that you couldn't crop or edit but only throw away or stick in an album.  I have many albums at home of all the vacations I took and I'm so glad I took the pics/memories.  It's a whole different thing in today's world.

Re: Dorothy.  I knew about her as I started tripping in '83 but never had the foresight to actually plan a trip to visit her.  I wish I did.  I've read the two books on her and visited the museum which is very cool. 

cyclones30 wrote on Feb 23^rd, 2020 at 1:17pm:

Today's is one of my favorite entry morning paddles yet. LIS North very early in the morning and a bit of fog. The one portage around the rapids is very scenic too.

I did the long loop north from LIS on a solo in 2012.  It was the last time in the BW for me as I ran into crowded portages and camps that were overused. I heard and saw boats on Loon too.  The area up around Gun and Finger Lakes is wonderful but I resolved to go north on future trips after that experience. 

Double post deleted. 

Photo is High Falls on the Namakan River, 1971.

---

TomT wrote on Feb 23^rd, 2020 at 2:35pm:

Spartan2 wrote on Feb 23rd, 2020 at 11:21am:   But the one photo I have of Dorothy is precious to me.  Photography was so different back then--a finite amount of film and you didn't see your results until much later on.  If I had had a digital camera I probably would have taken 100 shots on the Isle of Pines. So true!  Photos carried more weight and were "rare" back then.  Not everyone had a camera or even took pics at all in the days before digital.  Then there was that mystery of "I wonder how it will come out?" after you took the pic only to wait literally weeks before you would see the result that you couldn't crop or edit but only throw away or stick in an album.  I have many albums at home of all the vacations I took and I'm so glad I took the pics/memories.  It's a whole different thing in today's world.

Our first trip was six days from Crane Lake to LLC (no tow, no use of mechanical portage), and then the Namakan River Loop in Canada.  1971.  I took a little Kodak camera and ONE ROLL of 24 frames.  As you said, it was weeks before I saw them, as the days of "one-hour" processing were far in the future.  I made a little scrapbook with narrative and my few photos, a map, etc., and even fleshed it out with some post cards from the Namakan Narrows.

I think on my last trip in 2013 (which was only three days as we decided to bail due to poor health and really cold weather) I probably took 400-500 shots.  One loon encounter on Brule Lake took up at least 60-70 shots, most of which were later deleted.  Instead of a photo album or scrapbook format, I made a nice book on Snapfish.

Canoe-tripping was what piqued my interest in nature photography, and I have enjoyed some success in a variety of settings with my camera.  But still, those first shots on that 1971 trip are very precious.  Photography is keeping the memories alive.  It doesn't matter if it is skillful, artistic, crisp examples, or just a quick snap of something interesting or fun.

I love the POD's and it is one of the very first things I check each morning on my computer.  I love today's shot!!  It reminds me somewhat of the Kelso River.

---

Today's is my CCS tarp that's been a life saver since we got it. This was at an island camp in Snow Bay of LLC

Definitely setup in gear storage mode instead of get people out of the rain mode. We had really good weather almost that whole week.

I rate a good tarp as being in the Top 3 things gear-wise that I would never go without.

  For me its the first thing up, the last thing down.

    (You need to Login or Register   (You need to Login or Register

cyclones30 wrote on Feb 24^th, 2020 at 1:35pm:

Today's is my CCS tarp that's been a life saver since we got it. This was at an island camp in Snow Bay of LLC Definitely setup in gear storage mode instead of get people out of the rain mode. We had really good weather almost that whole week.

Just curious.  Did someone shinny up that tree (to the left) to secure the ridge line?  That's got some elevation on it!

dd

I don’t know how they did it, but it’s easy to tie the rope to a piece of wood and throw it up and over a limb, then pull the whole thing tight. ;)

Old Salt wrote on Feb 24^th, 2020 at 3:55pm:

I don’t know how they did it, but it’s easy to tie the rope to a piece of wood and throw it up and over a limb, then pull the whole thing tight. ;)

Yes.  I've done that a number of times before, but this picture doesn't give any hit of a limb at a relevant height and appears to be wrapped and tied off up top (no "pig tail" is evident).

dd

If you look real close it "appears" there is a NUB on the left side of that top red rope?

  That would give you a point to throw/use stick to get rope over.
  The bottom rope looks like a loop around trunk and they used something to push it up?

  I find it interesting how there is always something different to learn from how we all do similar things.  [smiley=cool.gif]

Good eyes, the orange rope is up over a nub and then tied lower on the next tree back. The bungies that are keeping tension are on that first tree up high but not as high as the rope. Not sure if that was teamwork or standing on the barrel to get that high.

Quote:

Good eyes

   Good thing I had my cataract surgery or else I wouldn't of had a clue.  :-? ;) ;D ;D

Another way to get elevation with the rope is to push it up with a long stick. But you probably know that.

My first ever trip to canoe country was a long loop planned by my dad when I was probably 15. I loved it...except for carrying the aluminum canoes. Ever since, it's always been Kevlar and my portaging has greatly improved.

Today's pic is a rented Seneca that did great on a 3 person trip. This was a lunch spot on a day trip on LLC and I'd call it a 1 star island site, but very photogenic

db,

Today’s POD... the far eastern end of the northern tier of Cirrus Lake?

Jimbo  8-)

  I thought the western end of Sturgeon Narrows?

One of those little island spots that look so nice when the weather is sunny/calm and when the weather turns bad you wonder why the hell you stayed there.  :-/ ;) ;D ;D

It's the island on the eastern end of Sturgeon Narrows near the outflow from Russell. This was the day I couldn't get past the first island going up to Russell and headed for the crazy stairway portage so it doesn't look like it normally would.

ST,

Consider my Alaskan Bush Pilot Hat tipped to you!

Jimbo  8-)

Jimbo wrote on Feb 29^th, 2020 at 5:43pm:

ST, Consider my Alaskan Bush Pilot Hat tipped to you! Jimbo  8-)

I was off a little, more mid-way in the Narrows.
I never stayed there but stopped for break/lunch a few times.
When the water is high like db's pic it looks like that.
Water low its a HIGH campsite perched on a big rock.  ;) ;D ;D

db wrote on Feb 29^th, 2020 at 4:17pm:

It's the island on the eastern end of Sturgeon Narrows near the outflow from Russell. This was the day I couldn't get past the first island going up to Russell and headed for the crazy stairway portage so it doesn't look like it normally would.

I've had that problem as well. Camped on the high perched peninsula site overlooking Sturgeon. The outflow from Russel was strong from spring melt and my solo canoe had no chance against that current. Sturgeon narrows is a scenic place though.

Is this ice?  It's strange because of all the greenery.

TomT,

This is clearly the calcified lower torso of an ancient hominid who got stuck in the mud.  Look closely and you can distinctly make out its hind quarters.

I guess that's what he/she gets for not digging his/her hole a couple hundred yards back in the woods.

Jimbo   8-) 

TomT wrote on Mar 2^nd, 2020 at 1:54pm:

Is this ice?  It's strange because of all the greenery.

My guess is that it is moving water photographed at a slow shutter speed.  But just my guess.   ;)

---

TomT wrote on Mar 2^nd, 2020 at 1:54pm:

Is this ice?  It's strange because of all the greenery.

Ah, you were talking about the water in the background!  I thought you were referring to what appears to be a rock in the foreground!  Couldn't understand how you would think moss would grow on ice....

Heck, maybe it does.

Anyway, I still say the rock shape is a calcified torso... and that's WATER behind it.

Jimbo   8-)

Lynda -

Yeah.  Probably is a time delay.  My first thought was ... wow, it was very foggy just off shore.

dd

It's probably a 90 second exposure on a time delay so I could walk away from the tripod and do my mosquito dance.

It's not ice but rather a slice of time - which, in a way, is kinda what ice is so you're all right!

Today's shot and the next couple are from the path along Chatterton Falls in spring 2001 when the water was unusually high in my experience.

Very nice db  [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

Love the March 3 photo db!  Always amazed what nature can produce when people aren't around to muck things up.

pd

portage dog wrote on Mar 4^th, 2020 at 10:10pm:

Love the March 3 photo db!  Always amazed what nature can produce when people aren't around to muck things up. pd

I think I fixed it. Again. I blame leap year.

Enjoying all the pics.  Thanks everyone!

This morning's POD is beautiful.  I have looked several times because it is calming and pleasant.  And because if makes me think of my Dad, who always called a view like this "sky-blue-pink."

I opened up today's POD and just whispered "wow"!   Wow!

Normally I don't poop on inulshuks being in the park but this seems gratuitous and out of place.  DB, did you do that?  ;D

  Great db "art" type POD today  [smiley=cool.gif]

Great stuff db.  That's crazy.....in a good way!   :o

Hey, if you think that's artsy, wait until tomorrow. It's one of my forever favorites.

TomT wrote on Mar 7^th, 2020 at 2:41pm:

Normally I don't poop on inulshuks being in the park but this seems gratuitous and out of place.  DB, did you do that?  ;D

I believe it's on the south shore of Chatterton Lake, maybe. My photos say I didn't get out of the canoe that day. It reminded me of a sculpture the roommate that talked me into my first Q trip had in our apartment. On a much smaller scale of course.

Kewl kewl! Kewl! WOW!

I love that kind of photo.  I did a whole series of them a few years ago on the Presque Isle River in upper Michigan.  Three favorites were printed on aluminum and grace our guest bathroom wall.

Water is just simply wonderful.   :) :) :)  Thanks for sharing these.

Makes me want to bring my DSLR and a tripod this year.  Sweet pic!

Great shot db, but to be perfectly honest, the FIRST thing I thought is that this is a pic of MRS db hair and the joke is on us!  ;) ;D ;D

Ditto to what ST said.

Jimbo  8-)

This is an exquisite shot.  So, how do you tell if it's morning or evening?  I think I know the answer but don't want to give it away.   ;)  I'm gonna say this is a dusk shot.

Yes, beautiful.  I would guess it is the evening calm.

Whenever--I would like to BE there!!   8-)

I'm guessing morning but either way I'd love to be there

cyclones30 wrote on Mar 11^th, 2020 at 12:53pm:

I'm guessing morning but either way I'd love to be there

Ditto.

Jimbo  8-)

  A very calm/serene setting.
A perfect start or ending to a canoe country day.

Beautiful picture
The water surface looks a bit broken on the far shoreline so if the wind is out of the west (most likely) then this is dusk with the sun setting in the west. Or not.  ;)

zski wrote on Mar 11^th, 2020 at 2:43pm:

Beautiful picture The water surface looks a bit broken on the far shoreline so if the wind is out of the west (most likely) then this is dusk with the sun setting in the west. Or not.  ;)

Good theory- however if the wind is very light out of the west it stirs the eastern water, not the west- the western shore being the lee shore.

Very beautiful indeed.  I know one thing....if I was there I'd sit for a while and soak it all in!

That's the moon in the upper right corner. What's that tell us?

db wrote on Mar 11^th, 2020 at 4:24pm:

That's the moon in the upper right corner. What's that tell us?

That this picture was taken sometime after the moon split away from the molten Earth?

Jimbo  8-)

It’s my experience that dusk shots are very clear while the early morning almost always has a bit of fog or mist around the water. I trip in September so this theory might not hold up in warmer months.

I once heard that the sun rises in the east and sets in the west and you can set your compass by it.

Today's looks like a cool spot. Not sure I've ever seen those in bloom while up there yet

Another great pic today!  Love the reflection shots. 

Today's POD brings out a warm feeling in my half IRISH side for some strange reason?  ;) ;D ;D

  Must have been the mention of Guinness Stout in Jimbo EPIC tale.

  Just need a Rainbow POD on the 17th to tie it all together.  ;D ;D

Yes, the Guinness Stout reference was a nice hook in that tale to pique my interest as well.

What happens in the ‘hood stays in the ‘hood.

Today's POD is very serene looking. Dead calm, just gliding along close to shore taking it all in!  [smiley=cool.gif]

All the pictures I sent were snapped by the two young ladies I take on my trips. My deal with them is, I carry the canoe, you take a crap load of pictures! They do an awesome job.

Nice deal and great results!

Thanks for sharing!

Jimbo   8-)

Pretty sure that's a fossilized shark we're looking at.

TomT wrote on Mar 17^th, 2020 at 12:03pm:

Pretty sure that's a fossilized shark we're looking at.

TomT,

Technically speaking, it would be a Megalodon (Carcharocles megalodon).

It probably died, on the spot, when it smashed into that BIG ROCK in the middle of the lake.  Those megalodons were none too smart.

Jimbo   8-)

I've always been fascinated by glacial erratics.  One of the types that is most intriguing is like the one on McDougall Lake.  Just off shore in the southeast corner of the lake is a narrow slab of rock that is just at the waterline (sometimes below in high water times).  Atop this formation is perched a roundish rock that rests in an ever-so-slight depression.  A nudge of just an inch or two would likely place this large boulder in the drink.  Sometimes nature is just remarkable!

dd

Now that's what I call social distancing!!

---

A pointy rock and a squarish rock.

Idealists see life as it should be. Realists see life as it is.

db,

Today's campsite POD looks a bit like site 3Y, on Quetico Lake.  I think 3Y is a somewhat more elevated, however.  Still, it's possible, depending upon the angle you took it from.

I'm sure I'm wrong but these-type shots make for good guessing games!

Jimbo   8-)

Jimbo wrote on Mar 20^th, 2020 at 1:05pm:

I'm sure I'm wrong but these-type shots make for good guessing games! Jimbo   8-)

Think Poet chain.

I don't care where it is, I just would rather be there right now.

Getting sick of my house after 6 weeks cardiac healing and now being stuck still.

Really cool shot/observation DB. Ya know those pointy things are an excellent energy source.

Solus wrote on Mar 21^st, 2020 at 5:46am:

Really cool shot/observation DB. Ya know those pointy things are an excellent energy source.

You mean those two gnomes who got squished in their hats when the tree rolled over?

Jimbo   8-)

What in tarnation is goin' on here!? 

TomT wrote on Mar 21^st, 2020 at 12:15pm:

What in tarnation is goin' on here!?

After my "gnome theory", my second best guess would be some sort of internal burl. 

Portage Dog showed me something that MIGHT be similar on a portage last year except that it was on the outside of the tree and, to be honest, it came in a very different shape.  He gave it a name which I can't recall just now.

I suppose that, sooner or later, either he or Solus will tell us what the heck this is.  Until then, I'm sticking with my gnome explanation.

Jimbo   8-)

I don't know....look like big knots to me, of course... ;) :D

Pineknot

Cone-builder termites. :)

They are pine knots- the resin soaked remains of where the limbs joined the trunk.

Never have seen them displayed like this.

Solus wrote on Mar 21^st, 2020 at 3:34pm:

They are pine knots- the resin soaked remains of where the limbs joined the trunk. Never have seen them displayed like this.

resin-soaked

Now I understand the excellent energy comment!  [smiley=cool.gif]

Thought I'd explain POD.  That's me setting up an ice shanty for sturgeon spearing on Lake Winnebago which is only about a mile from my home.  We have the highest sustainable lake sturgeon population in the world. 
I use a Husqvarna saw with a 42" bar to cut a 6' x 30" hole in the ice.  We then use the push poles, one of which I'm holding, to push the ice cake under the surrounding ice.  We then back the shanty over the hole and bank snow around it to keep the light out...not to mention the cold air.   Then you sit in a dark shanty and stare down the hole till you can't take it anymore!
Anyway, I just submitted the pics for fun to kind break things up a little.  Not sure but there might be a few more coming.  We had to travel via 4 wheelers this year because of ice conditions.  Normally, we would use the trucks.  One day when we left the landing on our 4 wheelers it was -21 with a stiff north wind.  I was so cold that I felt like I did on my canoe trip with Jimbo and Magic last year in Q when my exped went flat! ;)
Stay safe out there.......

Where I live the ice rarely gets good enough on the local lakes to even go on safely, never mind bringing all that gear.  [smiley=cool.gif]

  Is that a custom fish house? I've never seen one on a trailer frame like that. :-? 

  If you get a Sturgeon, do you smoke it? I've had smoked sturgeon it was excellent.

mpeebles wrote on Mar 23^rd, 2020 at 11:40am:

I was so cold that I felt like I did on my canoe trip with Jimbo and Magic last year in Q when my exped went flat! ;)

We DID have some chilly nights during that Spring trip, didn't we?!  Seems to me it was particularly chilly those rainy nights we spent at the Veron Lake island campsite.

Cold transmits so readily when lying directly on the ground.  Of course, I was in my hammock... but even in there I slept on an inflatable pad AND with heat-reflecting mylar fabric on top of that!  When that wind whistles in under you and there's nothing but hammock material between you and it AND your sleeping bag insulation is compressed underneath you, well... THAT's what they make those under quilts for!  Got to invest in one of those one of these days.

I guess my "personal padding" being more substantial than yours is one of the few blessings it yields.

Speaking of chilly, we woke up to a Winter Wonderland this morning, as we got an inch or two of snow here last night.  At least it didn't snow on us at Veron Lake.  I've only had that happen a time or two and, I gotta tell you, it ain't much fun rolling out of a hammock, practically buck naked, to get dressed in a snow squall!  I had that happen to me in May a few years back on Poohbah Lake.  Yikes!

Thanks for posting pics again so soon!  When do you start pedaling across America???

Jimbo   8-)

ST....I built the ice shanty.  A local guy came up with the frame idea..brilliant!  One person can pull the hitch portion down and the wheels then lift the shanty up.  Yes I smoke the sturgeon and I agree it's pretty good.  I previously posted a pic of one I got two years ago.  My brother in law got a decent one this year.  Btw....we had to hook up two 4 wheelers in tandem to pull the shacks off due to heavy snow.  Surprised we didn't break something or get killed in the process! 

Jimbo....IF memory serves it got down to near freezing a few nights.  Sleeping on the ground was a real character builder on that trip. I have since added a fleece bag liner to my gear.  Still a great trip!  Thanks again.  Bike trip was supposed to start June 3 from Portland, Or. but may be in jeopardy.  I need to resupply during the trip so it's imperative that stores, restaurants, campground and motels are open.

Stay safe.......... 

Jimbo.....I actually had thoughts of crawling into your hammock with you but figured I'd never get invited back if I did  ;).

mpeebles wrote on Mar 23^rd, 2020 at 2:47pm:

Jimbo.....I actually had thoughts of crawling into your hammock with you but figured I'd never get invited back if I did  ;).

Despite your being a relative "lightweight", I'm afraid THAT particular move would have put BOTH of us on the ground!

Jimbo   8-)

And now I am glad my hammock was smaller

I love that DIY fish shanty/frame!
It's amazing what people can build when they think outside the box. [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

  Jimbo,
  I'm not a hanger but I like to think of DIY ideas for all situations.
  You mentioned that mylar blanket on your pad to help reflect heat. You also mentioned getting an under quilt too. I get the underquilt if you're going in the shoulder seasons but how often would you really
need it in the months you normally trip?

  I have a DIY idea that might be more practical. Take one of these, fold lengthwise and stitch up the ends leaving an opening to pull your hammock hanging straps thru. Might take 2 stitched together depending on hammock size?

  Would BLOCK the wind, keep skeeters out and REFLECT lost body heat back to you. Just a thought.

  You could even do it with a couple of those mylar space blankets if they're big enough and you could find a way to attach them together that would hold?

  (You need to Login or Register

Jimbo
If you want something to go under your hammock for a little extra warmth try a under quilt protector.They are less than 6 Ozs and they do the job.

  (You need to Login or Register
  (You need to Login or Register

Magicpaddler wrote on Mar 23^rd, 2020 at 3:22pm:

Jimbo If you want something to go under your hammock for a little extra warmth try a under quilt protector.They are less than 6 Ozs and they do the job.   (You need to Login or Register   (You need to Login or Register

  They "stole" my idea :o   ;) ;D ;D
  Okay Jimbo get one of those and LINE it with that lightweight mylar.  ;) ;D ;D

I think the way to guarantee that Jimbo and MPeebles stay warm when they trip together is going this route. It is practical and will also lighten the gear load. They could even share a book together and make fun of Magicpaddler freezing his butt off while they stay toasty warm.  ;)

  (You need to Login or Register

TomT wrote on Mar 23^rd, 2020 at 5:22pm:

I think the way to guarantee that Jimbo and MPeebles stay warm when they trip together is going this route. It is practical and will also lighten the gear load. They could even share a book together and make fun of Magicpaddler freezing his butt off while they stay toasty warm.  ;)   (You need to Login or Register

Hey, I'm a "brand loyal" guy when it comes to hammocks.  My choice would be this:   (You need to Login or Register , albeit with Mike and some other person in it (versus ME)... preferably his spouse!

Jimbo   8-)

Jimbo wrote on Mar 23^rd, 2020 at 5:59pm:

TomT wrote on Mar 23rd, 2020 at 5:22pm: I think the way to guarantee that Jimbo and MPeebles stay warm when they trip together is going this route. It is practical and will also lighten the gear load. They could even share a book together and make fun of Magicpaddler freezing his butt off while they stay toasty warm.  ;)   (You need to Login or Register Hey, I'm a "brand loyal" guy when it comes to hammocks.  My choice would be this:   (You need to Login or Register , albeit with Mike and some other person in it (versus ME)... preferably his spouse! Jimbo   8-)

   I'd pay good money to see one of your solo flotilla paddlers sporting this!  :-? :o ;D ;D

  (You need to Login or Register

solotripper wrote on Mar 23^rd, 2020 at 6:47pm:

Jimbo wrote on Mar 23rd, 2020 at 5:59pm: TomT wrote on Mar 23rd, 2020 at 5:22pm: I think the way to guarantee that Jimbo and MPeebles stay warm when they trip together is going this route. It is practical and will also lighten the gear load. They could even share a book together and make fun of Magicpaddler freezing his butt off while they stay toasty warm.  ;)   (You need to Login or Register Hey, I'm a "brand loyal" guy when it comes to hammocks.  My choice would be this:   (You need to Login or Register , albeit with Mike and some other person in it (versus ME)... preferably his spouse! Jimbo   8-)    I'd pay good money to see one of your solo flotilla paddlers sporting this!  :-? :o ;D ;D   (You need to Login or Register

It's a great example of "crossover marketing."  They used to sell primarily to the Bagpipers Association of the USA.  They just had to tone down their color schemes a little.

Jimbo   8-)

Jimbo wrote on Mar 23^rd, 2020 at 7:20pm:

solotripper wrote on Mar 23rd, 2020 at 6:47pm: Jimbo wrote on Mar 23rd, 2020 at 5:59pm: TomT wrote on Mar 23rd, 2020 at 5:22pm: I think the way to guarantee that Jimbo and MPeebles stay warm when they trip together is going this route. It is practical and will also lighten the gear load. They could even share a book together and make fun of Magicpaddler freezing his butt off while they stay toasty warm.  ;)   (You need to Login or Register Hey, I'm a "brand loyal" guy when it comes to hammocks.  My choice would be this:   (You need to Login or Register , albeit with Mike and some other person in it (versus ME)... preferably his spouse! Jimbo   8-)    I'd pay good money to see one of your solo flotilla paddlers sporting this!  :-? :o ;D ;D   (You need to Login or Register It's a great example of "crossover marketing."  They used to sell primarily to the Bagpipers Association of the USA.  They just had to tone down their color schemes a little. Jimbo   8-)

   ;D ;D ;D I don't think even PJ could make that skirt look manly. :-[

Jimbo wrote on Mar 23^rd, 2020 at 5:59pm:

TomT wrote on Mar 23rd, 2020 at 5:22pm: I think the way to guarantee that Jimbo and MPeebles stay warm when they trip together is going this route. It is practical and will also lighten the gear load. They could even share a book together and make fun of Magicpaddler freezing his butt off while they stay toasty warm.  ;)   (You need to Login or Register Hey, I'm a "brand loyal" guy when it comes to hammocks.  My choice would be this:   (You need to Login or Register , albeit with Mike and some other person in it (versus ME)... preferably his spouse! Jimbo   8-)

Dang Jimbo, that hammock is serious gear.  My issue is snoring, and any movement would be felt by the other person.  But getting this for solo travel with limited portaging is very enticing.  And no, don't suggest to me that Luna would like it too!  Dogs stay as a ground dweller.  8-)

Magicpaddler wrote on Mar 23^rd, 2020 at 3:07pm:

And now I am glad my hammock was smaller

;D ;D

Finally made it back from WI on my 'caNOcopia' trip.....made it past Madtown after Rutabaga opened back up on Friday, but d/n have time to stop in on my way to a VERY empty MKE - not a single person in the TSA line when I went through.  Kinda eerie.  Just catching up on the threads here....in no particular order (except my questionable memory.) 

ST - MP HAS a rain skirt much like that one - you may have to pay up! Unfortunately I don't have a pic.

TomT - you're just sick.  (re: Mike and Jimbo spoonin').  Just sayin'....

Jimbo - That was chaga (not Chaga….no offence PAJeff…) on the outside of the birch tree.

RE - the pine stalactite and stalagmite photo - very cool! I can see PK now, trying bust 'em loose to toss on the fire!  (He's not nearly as picky with his pine knots as he is with the firewood.)

I did get to stop by mpeebles and visit as I was blowing past Fondulac.  What a gracious host Mike!  It was great to stop and visit and the venison jerky was awesome - finished eatin' on it Saturday.  I did get to see his new 'canoe' - aka 'the bike'.  Have a great peddle Mike! (note that's just one vowel off of  paddle!)

pd

PS - and Mossback, thx for thinking of me! (copia cancelled thread) I did get to spend a great week in WI with family.

My pleasure Stew!  Hoping all is well with you and the family.

Stay safe.......

Heard a good one tonight on Canada Public Radio.   They were talking about social distancing and someone said that they were going "shack wacky"  :D   That may become a common affliction in northern WI shortly!  Anyway, I thought it was cute :)

That's another place I'd take some time and sit a spell.  Better yet, shore lunch!

Today's looks like a nice spot. Anyone know where?

Top of Lower Basswood Falls.

Solus wrote on Mar 25^th, 2020 at 8:03pm:

Top of Lower Basswood Falls.

Good call, yes it is! Not sure why I missed that

Is today's Twin Falls near McAree?

Still Lower Basswood. This from below, the main flow hidden by the rock point, but you can see the current from it.

Oh, how I LOVE that moose photo!!   :)

Spartan2 wrote on Mar 29^th, 2020 at 6:58pm:

Oh, how I LOVE that moose photo!!   :)

Me too.  That calf looks to be only days old.

DB, you have a real nice touch with the long exposure.  Dreamy pic today.

Another WOW moment today!  That's crazy beautiful. Thanks.... :)

Nice moon shot! Gotta love it when the moon hangs low over the water. ;D

;D ;D ;D

   Looks like my next door neighbor when he's pulling weeds out of his garden.  :o :P ;D ;D

WCPP 1995.  Thanks, db.  Left to right is Pascanell, PJ, and MarkS.  Happy March 32nd!

I thought you were joking ;D ;D ;D ;D then I checked out the POD :D

Possibly the same moose as in yesterday's POD?  This time he is facing us, right?

Jimbo   8-)

I think these are two yearlings. Same trip a day or two later. Moose and calf was on Dore. The twins were on French near the Baptism river.

Um, thanks, but I was talking about the one that was "mooning us" yesterday.  Guess I got my mooning moose confused with these impostors....

Jimbo   8-)

Jimbo wrote on Apr 2^nd, 2020 at 8:26pm:

Um, thanks, but I was talking about the one that was "mooning us" yesterday.  Guess I got my mooning moose confused with these impostors.... Jimbo   8-)

I knew exactly what you meant, Jimbo.  The resemblance has only increased in recent years.

Hey, it was a vast improvement on the mer-man shot!

More cheeky, though.

Jimbo  8-)

Jimbo wrote on Apr 2^nd, 2020 at 10:54pm:

Hey, it was a vast improvement on the mer-man shot! More cheeky, though. Jimbo  8-)

  That Mer-Man shot is what inspired me to take a least ONE selfie in PJ's honor. I can honestly say outside of of a Q selfie, I've NEVER taken one at home. I've also NEVER sent a text message either.

  I'm oddly proud of both those things but I do have a cell phone, it's a basic FLIP PHONE and I'm proud of that too.  ;) ;D ;D ;D

Re: today's POD... somebody keeps moving my rock around!  That is definitely NOT where I left it!

Jimbo  8-)

Jimbo wrote on Apr 3^rd, 2020 at 12:09pm:

Re: today's POD... somebody keeps moving my rock around!  That is definitely NOT where I left it! Jimbo  8-)

Nah.  I ordered a new one and Amazon delivered it late yesterday.

dd

That's huge. I wouldn't want that one in my pack!

DentonDoc wrote on Apr 3^rd, 2020 at 2:52pm:

Jimbo wrote on Apr 3rd, 2020 at 12:09pm: Re: today's POD... somebody keeps moving my rock around!  That is definitely NOT where I left it! Jimbo  8-) Nah.  I ordered a new one and Amazon delivered it late yesterday. dd

DD,

I hope you wiped it off really good with antiseptic wipes after Amazon delivered it.

Jimbo  8-)

Re: today's POD... Great shot, ST!  A pic like that is tonic for the soul these days!  Thanks for sending it in!

Jimbo  8-)

Beautiful shot, ST!  Where is it?

Pleasant pic!

I checked the date on the POD with my trip report.
I was in the McAree area heading for Curtain Falls.
I can't recall the exact spot  :-/

  I sent a few more this morning db.
I don't have any current ones so re-runs it is.  ;) ;D ;D

I'd be stopping there and taking a hike!  I love that type of topography.

Stay safe........

It reminds me more of WCPP than Quetico.  The tree coverage up in WCPP would likely be even a bit thinner, I suppose.

These POD's are more valuable than ever.  I expect most of us are doing more daydreaming than usual these days.

db, I'll take another look at my stockpile of pics.  Maybe I can find a few more that are worth looking at.  I strongly encourage others to do the same thing.

Jimbo   8-)

Looks to me like Hurn lake.

According to my trip report, I was staying on the East side of Birch Island on Argo lake when that pic was taken?
 
I don't have a GPS function on my little point and shoot camera. My next camera might have it but that feature eats battery power so I might not want to use it depending on how much it drains the battery?

solotripper wrote on Apr 6^th, 2020 at 3:08pm:

According to my trip report, I was staying on the East side of Birch Island on Argo lake when that pic was taken?

Hmmm... suspiciously close to where Solus puts the pic.  Coincidence?

Jimbo   8-)

Jimbo wrote on Apr 6^th, 2020 at 4:36pm:

solotripper wrote on Apr 6th, 2020 at 3:08pm: According to my trip report, I was staying on the East side of Birch Island on Argo lake when that pic was taken?   Hmmm... suspiciously close to where Solus puts the pic.  Coincidence? Jimbo   8-)

  I came into Argo via the Roland Lk chain. I'm thinking that pic might be from the area where Roland/River empties into Argo?

  Solus is right though, that does look like HURN from what I remember. Another in the long list of lakes I would like to camp-on someday.

Today's picture is snapped at the "message jar" site on Ted.

Solus wrote on Apr 7^th, 2020 at 1:00pm:

Today's picture is snapped at the "message jar" site on Ted.

  I didn't know there was a "message jar" site on Ted?
  I'll have to remember that if I get back there again.

  POD is from my campsite on Birch Island, Argo Lk.
That was a really nice site but to big for a solo paddler normally. I only stayed there because it was early in the season a no groups were around.

solotripper wrote on Apr 7^th, 2020 at 1:08pm:

Solus wrote on Apr 7th, 2020 at 1:00pm: Today's picture is snapped at the "message jar" site on Ted.   I didn't know there was a "message jar" site on Ted?   I'll have to remember that if I get back there again.   POD is from my campsite on Birch Island, Argo Lk. That was a really nice site but to big for a solo paddler normally. I only stayed there because it was early in the season a no groups were around.

I think there might be a flaw in your camera dates or journal dates.

Located some shots from the Ted site (last time I stayed there was 06)

---

More of the Ted Tree

You can match the land form of the far shore with that in silhouette in the POD- though the angle is different, you're standing more towards the fire pit to take the POD photo.

---

To add evidence to my camera vs journal date disagreement here is a photo of Hurn

---

That's some pretty persuasive evidence, Solus.

I know that sometimes the "location tags" that my camera or phone has put on my pics has definitely been inaccurate... "ballpark" at best.

Could be that is what is going on.

Jimbo   8-)

I just slapped my camera upside it's body for lying to me!  :o ;D ;D
  My journal is a small digital recorder. I bring a page from a calendar to keep track of the day and where I stayed.

   The error is either in the camera OR when I change out batteries I might have reset it wrong?
Easy to lose track of day when your having fun.
   
You can't argue with the pictorial evidence. Makes me wonder if I got a new camera with the GPS option if that would be reliable either.  :-/

  Solus is the man, so kudos for having such a good memory.

You Guys all have unreasonable expectations set for yourself.

I feel fortunate if I just know where I am at the moment, let alone accurately recording or recalling it 6 months later.

MB

MossBack wrote on Apr 8^th, 2020 at 5:14pm:

You Guys all have unreasonable expectations set for yourself. I feel fortunate if I just know where I am at the moment, let alone accurately recording or recalling it 6 months later. MB

  You just qualified yourself to run for PRESIDENT  ;) ;D ;D ;D

Unfortunately the memory acuity is landscape restricted. Give me a name and I can't track it through the end of a handshake.

Solus wrote on Apr 8^th, 2020 at 9:02pm:

Unfortunately the memory acuity is landscape restricted. Give me a name and I can't track it through the end of a handshake.

   I can relate. I can't remember names for anything.
BUT, I never forget a face. That leads to the I KNOW you, help me out conversation.  :-? ;) ;D ;D

Today's POD reflects a cooking set-up (hockey puck stove, diffuser plate on top of stove, aluminum plate under stove, removable pot/pan handle, elevated cooking platform, etc.) pretty much identical to my own in most years.

In more recent times I have experimented with the Kelly Kettle cooking system, which requires a very different approach.  It's top-heavy, open fire system would be too unstable & dangerous to place upon a storage box like that.

When I first saw that pic this morning I thought I was looking at one of my own old POD's!

Jimbo  8-)

I never travel without a diffuser plate!  The Coleman (500 series?) white gas stove does not need the diffuser as badly as other others because it has what I consider the best burner design of any camping stove.  However, since I made a change to isobutane a half dozen years ago from my Coleman 400 series, the diffuser is pretty much mandatory when doing anything other than boiling water.  This is also true because my cook set is all titanium.  It’s lighter than aluminum but tends to have hot spots without a diffuser.

However, today’s pic is definitely recognizable as an old friend!

  That an old dual fuel Coleman which I never used in that capacity. It's at least 30 yrs old. I've had issues with it but nothing I couldn't fix on the trail.

  What I really like about it is how low it will go on simmer. Between that and the diffuser plate, you really have to work to burn something.

  It's heavy but sturdy and IF they still made the exact same stove, I'd buy one in a heartbeat.

  I have a source to buy one from the Chinese company that made the old Coleman stove. It looks virtually the same with a few small twists.

  I hate to buy anything made in China, especially now so I think I'll keep nursing the old girl along.

 

MSR Dragonfly has very good simmer control in a white gas stove. Plus its "pump in fuel bottle" design means no hassle with filling the stove.

I like my Dragonfly but some insist it's too loud and prefer the Wisperlite. I always thought it nice to know the stove was still running OK as I walked around camp cause I could hear it. It was trouble if things went quiet.  ;)

I have both the Dragonfly and Whisperlite. Whisper lite is a bear to simmer on but seems to heat faster, fairly diffuse flame. My Dragonfly seems quieter than most- not sure why.

Oh how I would love to be sitting at that spot right now!  .....with a cup of coffee of course.

Stay safe........

mpeebles wrote on Apr 11^th, 2020 at 11:15am:

Oh how I would love to be sitting at that spot right now!  .....with a cup of coffee of course. Stay safe........

I am sitting there, just out of camera range... 8-)

If I had to name my favorite spot in the park, this would be it.

Old Salt wrote on Apr 11^th, 2020 at 12:08pm:

mpeebles wrote on Apr 11th, 2020 at 11:15am: Oh how I would love to be sitting at that spot right now!  .....with a cup of coffee of course. Stay safe........ I am sitting there, just out of camera range... 8-)

Actually, I think I see the very tip of your orange plastic trowel popping out of the brush on the left side of the pic, sort of in the middle.

Jimbo   8-)

Not my orange plastic trowel. I use my wife’s aluminum garden trowel. It’s camo.

Hmmm... that makes me wonder who the other guy was?  Must have been a tad bit crowded back in there, no?

Anyone else hearing the call of Mother Nature during that morning rush hour would have been SOL.  First come, first served, I suppose.  It looks like a nice spot, though... regardless of what one's business might be.

Jimbo   8-)

I did say squatting?  I meant to say sitting ;).

Nice pic again.  Actually, all of them are nice.  They bring a smile to me in the morning. 
Thanks.......

mpeebles wrote on Apr 12^th, 2020 at 11:51am:

I did say squatting?  I meant to say sitting ;).

OH!!!  You said SIT- ing!!! My mistake.  Carry on.

I still wonder who that SECOND guy was SITTING back in the woods.

Vintage Quetico pic today... & no trowels in sight!

Jimbo  8-)

Finally got it  ;D.  Only took me two days this time.  Hope springs eternal!

Very nice.  All that's missing is hearing the loons calling back and forth to each other. 

Nice shot today AW.  The iconic rock at the south portage into Side Lake.

pd

That was my guess too. I usually take the pic near the Portage which is a whole different look at it.

That was quite the Inukshuk back in the day, before someone knocked it down. :o

Thank you PD! Seeing that rock always makes me happy. Surprisingly, I have never gotten out of the canoe and crawled around on it.

Also, am I supposed to tell where each picture was taken, or just let everyone try to guess?  :)

goblu79 wrote on Apr 15^th, 2020 at 5:27pm:

Also, am I supposed to tell where each picture was taken, or just let everyone try to guess?  :)

  That is far more entertaining than watching decades-old sports show's where you already know who wins.  ;) ;D ;D

Hell yeah let everyone guess!  It's fun to see who knows their Quetico topography and landmarks.  I'm with TomT on the shot angle...it's more impressive a view with its silhouette against the blue sky and water.  Never get tired of seeing that rock - especially in person.  I remember it from my very first Q trip.

pd

I'd like to be SITTING by that fire....with a cup of coffee of course!

SP2....you got me wondering what I was doing in 1992.  :) :)

Where the heck did the time go?? 

Stay safe.......

Nice POD SP2  [smiley=cool.gif]
Reminds me of a postcard you might see in a gift shop.

mpeebles wrote on Apr 16^th, 2020 at 10:08am:

I'd like to be SITTING by that fire....with a cup of coffee of course! SP2....you got me wondering what I was doing in 1992.  :) :) Where the heck did the time go??  Stay safe.......

I WAS sitting by that fire, and no doubt with a cup of coffee.

1992 was a good year for us, at least the first half.  After Spartan1 developed severe anemia and discovered that his kidneys were failing (probably in about September) our lives changed markedly.  Forever.

That trip was my favorite.  We were different people then.

It always amazes me to see where life can take hold, such as the tree on the rock. 

Stay safe.......

What a neat pic today!  Thanks.

Stay safe.........

This would make a great postcard [smiley=cool.gif]!

I literally have thousands of photos of the canoe country.

But this particular one has the most vivid memories of any of them, and it is probably my #1 favorite.  I had a poster made of it, and even now, when I look at that image, I am transported back to early July of 1992.

I didn't want the 22-day trip to end.  We had some nasty weather, and we didn't end up doing the route we had planned.  None of our challenges were that amazing, but the feeling of being in the BWCA for 21 days, and waking up on that last morning, all of it was just so fresh in my mind and so precious.

What you cannot see, is that there was a single loon just out of camera range, calling softly.  Spartan1 had built a little "junk fire" of pine branches for a bit of warmth, and we made instant coffee.  As he often did, he took his coffee to a "view" point, and was contemplating there under the big tree on Caribou Lake. 

It was a magic moment.  Even with a scan from a film photo, I can see every detail in my mind's eye.  But then, my mind's eye is much sharper than any camera.   ;)

Spartan 2,

Glad you are here to be a calming influence on the rest of us hooligans.....otherwise the name of the site might change from Quiet Journey to Noisy Argument, or some such thing.

MB

Certainly demonstrates the glory of film painting light. A beautiful shot.

Today's POD has been the "screensaver" on my PC since that last canoe trip, in September, 2019.  It's my daily dose of "good times" which I find especially helpful these days. It's just one of many memories encouraging me to hang tough through Corona lockdown.

Better days are coming!

Jimbo  8-)

Looks like a pair of lazy boys... :)

Which campsite was that? It looks like a state park site!

IIRC, that would be at the top of North Bay on Basswood, one point east of the lead into Isabella Creek, south facing, noting the later afternoon sun coming in from the west.

After having checked my photo archive, that is exactly where it is.  Not a bad site at all.  And RE: Jimbo's note above, I noted the extremely clean look too.  That is not my photo, but I do have some that place Jimbo in that chair in front of my tent.

pd

HighnDry,

That's a good question.  My response: I'm not sure.

I'm going to guess it was taken at our very first camp at the northern end of North Bay (in the vicinity of #563).  That's probably wrong but the main reason I'm saying that is that our clothes look reasonably "clean" yet.  Obviously I didn't actually take that pic.  I suspect that TomT is probably the guilty party, though I suppose it's possible it could belong to either PortageDog or Wally13.  If it was mine, I could simply place it from where it is sequenced in my file in relation to the camps that I recognize. OR, I could place it by a "pic date" that correlates to what I wrote in my log that day (which is what you see me recording to in the POD).

Maybe one of the other party participants can better place the location?

Jimbo   8-)

PD is right, that was our first set up on North Bay.  Perfect for a large group.  Steaks and brownies, boys!  ;D And a little wine too...  Maybe some drunk star gazing etc.  :)

Nice "view" from the Lean today Jimbo. 

Stay safe......

Jimbo wrote on Apr 24^th, 2020 at 4:06pm:

HighnDry, That's a good question.  My response: I'm not sure. I'm going to guess it was taken at our very first camp at the northern end of North Bay (in the vicinity of #563).  That's probably wrong but the main reason I'm saying that is that our clothes look reasonably "clean" yet.  Obviously I didn't actually take that pic.  I suspect that TomT is probably the guilty party, though I suppose it's possible it could belong to either PortageDog or Wally13.  If it was mine, I could simply place it from where it is sequenced in my file in relation to the camps that I recognize. OR, I could place it by a "pic date" that correlates to what I wrote in my log that day (which is what you see me recording to in the POD). Maybe one of the other party participants can better place the location? Jimbo   8-)

I think I stopped there for a lunch break on my way into Conmee one year. It looked familiar. I like the small table set up there! However, I certainly need to acquire LESS these days and not MORE to carry  ;D ;D

Jimbo trips with either really small people or really big tents.

Geez Solus, you're right! That tent, and I don't remember it at all, dwarfs me in that picture!

Jimbo  8-)

A word about today's POD.

Some of those big lakes and marshes up in Opasquia can be rather confusing, especially when you're trying to find your way back to camp at dusk.  DentonDoc and I insisted that MagicPaddler stand on the rocks in front of our site whenever he made it back to camp before we did.  We would then reward him with a cookie or something for his good deed done.

The arrangement worked well and, as you can see, he was well-"suited" for the job.

Jimbo   8-)

Beautiful lake to be camped on.

I'm guessing this was on East Lake.

(For those unfamiliar with the geography of Opasquia Provincial Park, this is a joke.)

dd

A remarkable guess, DD!

Didn't seem to matter how many portages or how many lakes we passed we passed through. We always seemed to be on East Lake. A kind of voyage in the Twilight Zone....

Jimbo  8-)

Jimbo wrote on May 1^st, 2020 at 4:59pm:

A remarkable guess, DD! Didn't seem to matter how many portages or how many lakes we passed we passed through. We always seemed to be on East Lake. A kind of voyage in the Twilight Zone.... Jimbo  8-)

No skin exposed

I remember this spot well.  Magicpaddler is in the background, while I'm in the foreground.  Between us lies the "chute" running down into Cocos Lake.  A decent amount of water was flowing down the chute; one could certainly not paddle it up stream and it would be a more than a bit dicey for this paddler to do it down stream. 

The short "portage" up to this point lies behind the photographer (Jimbo) through/over a boulder jumble that would flow down to Cocos only in periods of very high water.  It was dry for our passage.

Around to the left is our nice campsite.

Fairly decent walleye fishing along these shores. 

dd

No bugs that time of day it appears?

HighnDry wrote on May 2^nd, 2020 at 3:16pm:

No bugs that time of day it appears?

I'm not the one who should answer this question.  Yesterday's picture showed MP armored up in the fight against the pesky insects.  Me ... not so much.  I did have a head net along on the trip, but I seem to remember only needing it a couple of evenings near sunset.

My clothes were treated, along with the bandana and hat you see me wearing in today's shot.  T-shirt was not treated.  However, I believe this shot was taken late morning, so the early assault was probably over.

dd

HighnDry,

DD has it right as late morning & few bugs.  Since I was within a stone's throw of his radioactive handkerchief, I would have been within his "permethrin cone of protection", anyway.  Even small animals keep their distance from him when he has that thing on!

MagicPaddler, however, was taking some risk as he was likely near the edge of the safe zone.  FYI

Jimbo   8-)

Quite a blast from the past! 8-)

That is a great pic!
I think IC has to be close to the top of the list of time spent paddling/camping.

QP even has his trademark cigar in his mouth. In following years, I would follow his "smoke signals" as he led the way down the portage trail. 

QP, IC & several others appeared on my Cairn Lake island on a very nasty, cold, rainy, misty afternoon.  The quest: the very first Bushwackers Jamboree.

Some of my fondest Quetico memories were made there.

You were there in spirit, Old Salt.  You are the one who inspired those danged Pink Flamingo campsite markers which brought the flock in out of those mists!

It was quite a group.

Later,

Jimbo  8-)

I have gone back several times today to look at the POD.  So representative (if that is the right word) of the beauty of spring in the canoe country.  It just makes me smile to see it, and I think it relaxes me a bit, too. 

I have always said that the color of the green in the spring is just different from any other time.  This photo captures the "spring green" hue so perfectly.  Thanks Jimbo.   :)

  "Sacred Ritual", I'm afraid to ask?  :-? ;D ;D

Was there a goat involved?

MossBack wrote on May 8^th, 2020 at 2:19pm:

Was there a goat involved?

  I don't think so, Tom Brady is still playing.  ;) ;D ;D

That's QP on the right in the blue hat & YB on the left in shorts.  QP used to be a "search maniac" for all-things-Quetico.  Somehow he heard about this (alleged) Ojibwe ceremonial rock (the green-topped monster they are standing in front of).  Anyhow, without disclosing it's exact location, I can tell you it is located a good distance down a barely noticeable "side path" off of a fairly-well used portage near the heart of the park.  I have been told that ancient tribal rites included dancing around that boulder.  I am inclined to believe the story as there are significant pictographs not too distant and there are many tales of the Ojibwe trickster spirit, Nanabozho, that take place in this vicinity.

Our expedition took us in many different directions on a variety of unrelated quests.  For instance, we were less successful locating the remains of the (alleged) Nazi radio/spy tower in Quetico... but let that be a story for another POD.  Inquiring minds - especially QP's - wished to know about these things. He really insisted on seeing things for himself.

Oh, by the way, the way I heard the legend told, at least THREE goats need to be involved... and one of those MUST have green eyes.

Later,

Jimbo   8-)

Correction.  That was a Japanese radio tower we were looking for back then.

Sayonara!

Jimbo  8-)

I thought the POD from two days ago looked like a hobbit house! By the way, who is QP? I'm new to this forum. :) :)

HighnDry,

That's understandable.  QP hasn't been around QJ much in the past decade.  However, QP (standing for "Quetico Passage") was once by far the most prolific poster on QJ.  That was back in the "old days", of course.  Back in the day, he was a chronicler and recorder of park information of ALL sorts.  He had extraordinary encyclopedic ambitions.  For instance, he was well on his way to photographing the contents of every known Olive Jar in the park.  I was with him when he did a few of those.  I'd leave him for an afternoon, go fishing, and retrieve him a few hours later, after he finished taking pics.  I'm not sure if he ever finished that project.  He also had a goal of video-taping as many portages as he could for reference library purposes.  He was also doing something similar with a campsite database.  For a while, he even ran a digital magazine called "Wilderness Passages" (to which I contributed a piece or two).  Also, almost every Friday night, he would serve as a sort of "Master of Ceremonies" on QJ's old "campfire chats" (a "live" chat room no longer offered on this site).  QP was into a LOT of "stuff" that dealt with Quetico Park, CanoeCopia, etc.  He was everywhere.

And then, one day, he was not.

His passions shifted, dramatically, to salt water fishing and other pursuits.  He started manufacturing fishing lures, both salt & fresh water, I think. I only found out a couple years after he started that business that MY silhouette (casting from shore for small mouth bass at Rebecca Falls in Quetico) is the image he uses as his company logo, based off of the original pic he took of me there back in 2006.  I've had a few brief conversations with him over the past ten years, I suppose. He tells me that Quetico is probably not in his future again.

So, that's the short version.  Oh, I forgot to mention that he is a good one to have in the bow of your canoe OR to follow down the portage path.  Smoke from his ever-present stogie is almost as good a form of mosquito-control as DentonDoc's permethrin-soaked, radioactive handkerchief.

Later,

Jimbo   8-)   

Hey Mossback,

Is that a CCS spray skirt on the canoe in today's POD?

Jimbo  8-)

How did that spray skirt work-out for you Mb?
Did you get it all figured out?

I think today's pic tells a nice story that wants me to be in the moment.  Thanks for sharing.

Stay safe.........

Yes, a CCS spray skirt.  I have always been very pleased with all of their gear.  I did make a small modification to fit my lack of skill and nerve.

I was traveling with two other tandems and this was my first time out on a real trip with this canoe.  So they headed to Argo for the day and I stayed behind to sort out how to fish from a solo without taking an unplanned bath.

MB

It took me some time getting used to using my CCS spray skirt.  It works well enough but can be a bit of a PIA on a multi-portage trip, popping it off the rivets, snapping it back on again, etc.  Mostly, now - during the warm months - I stow it away until truly rainy days and, then, mostly just days where we have camp set-up and I will be out fishing in the rain. In May or after mid-September, however, another set of rules apply and the spray skirt will stay "on" more than "off", no matter how much the inconvenience.  I DO value the protection it offers from being COLD and WET!

Also, it took me a trip or two before I discovered the necessity of wetting it down some before putting it on my Prism.  It helps it stretch enough to reach rivets and will dry quickly enough.

Jimbo  8-)

Yes, there is a learning curve that comes with the skirts.  I also have one for my old Independence and I noticed the longer it had been since it had been on the canoe, the longer it had to soak to get it back on the next time.

You mentioned enjoying the skirt in colder weather, so are you using the Velcro release torso section as well?  Or just using bow and stern ends?

I also bought a snap removal tool that seems to put less stress on the hull and rivets.   A Q-tip applied film of zipper lube inside the snaps makes them a lot quicker to pop off.  I also shortened the handle on the tool to save a couple of ounces.

Yes, I am fully expecting “zipper lube” comments.

MB

MB,

Yeah, I use the velcro release.

I hadn't thought about using zipper lube.  Good idea, though popping the skirt on & off has been less of a problem since I've gotten better with "pre-stretching" the material by wetting it.

Jimbo   8-)

You know those wind tunnel tests for cars with the smoke and the math involved? I'd truly love to see something like that for canoes with and without a spray skirt.

Hey Jimbo,

Thanks for the history on QP! I didn't want to quote your lengthy post here because it would be easier just to post my reply, but I wanted to say 'thanks" for that background info. I find the history of who has been on QJ before I arrived as interesting as those who are on here now (carrying the torch so to speak). QP is/was a legend. on the same level as MP's paddling stamina! ;D

db wrote on May 12^th, 2020 at 4:08pm:

You know those wind tunnel tests for cars with the smoke and the math involved? I'd truly love to see something like that for canoes with and without a spray skirt.

  That should be easy if the guys that use them have GPS capability?

  Jimbo could get MP to do a set distance run in the same conditions in his or another solo canoe with/without the spray skirt.
  Just make sure he gets some rest/water between runs.  ;) ;D ;D

MB - awesome POD's....where is that 'sluiceway' in your photos?

pd

Looks a bit like the spillway on one side of island at Rebecca Falls to me.  Probably not, though....

Jimbo  8-)

We immediately said "Rebecca Falls" when we saw it.

Very  [smiley=cool.gif]

Yes,  Yesterday and today shows both sides of Rebecca Falls.  Years ago when I first  saw these split runs,  I promised myself I would stay there overnight sometime.   Took me another 20 years or so.  That was our last camp of low challenge 2019 Fall trip.

MB

Way cool! Thanks MB.  I was wondering how you got to the 'other side' to take the second shot...figured you just jumped across!  :D

Glad you got to realize your dream to camp there.

pd

I remember when we finally got to Rebecca Falls (Spartan1 had been talking about it as a cool destination), I was a little bit disappointed.  It is unique, and beautiful, but wasn't really my idea of a waterfall somehow.  I guess spillway is the term that comes to mind actually.

I love waterfalls, and I loved Rebecca, too.  But not really what I was expecting.

---

Looks like somewhere in Indiana.  Beautiful.

Not a typical Quetico campsite.  In fact, this must be in the BWCA somewhere. The subtle clues include: bright yellow flora and the well-used, somewhat improved portage path. Probably closer to the southern border of the park than the North side.

That's my best guess, anyhow.  I have never professed to be an authority on the BWCA.

Jimbo  8-)

So, MossBack, where IS that??

So pretty!

I submitted a few pics to db  some weeks ago and explained to him that one was not typical and feel free to not post it.  The only reason I included it was because we were all wallowing in some dark times here at QJ and I thought this might break the Mood of the Month.

We plant about 8000 every year along our rural county road. The neighbors and birds both seem to appreciate it.  The POD only shows about half of the row. 

MB

MB,
  I love me some Sunflowers  [smiley=cool.gif]
It's a gloomy overcast rainy day but your pic helped brighten it.  :)

MossBack wrote on May 15^th, 2020 at 12:29pm:

I submitted a few pics to db  some weeks ago and explained to him that one was not typical and feel free to not post it.  The only reason I included it was because we were all wallowing in some dark times here at QJ and I thought this might break the Mood of the Month. We plant about 8000 every year along our rural county road. The neighbors and birds both seem to appreciate it.  The POD only shows about half of the row.  MB

OK.  Where in Indiana is this rural road, and what is the best time to be there?  We are not that far from Indiana, and that is just so uplifting and gorgeous!

Spartan2,

I am afraid you will have to wait a bit.   The POD photo was from late last summer.   We will be planting again in late June /early July, depending on the weather.

You are 282 miles from where we are in Central Indiana.   You would be welcome
anytime.

And now we return to our regular Canoe and Camping programming.

MB

Well, our granddaughter is thinking of going to college at IUPUI, so if you are in the Indianapolis area, I might just make the trip!
:)

Knowing where Solus likes to go I'm guessing this is upper Kahshahpiwi in Quetico.

My guess was Knife Lake.

Tom is correct and probably able to identify the camp photo is taken from.

MB.  Loved the pic of the sunflowers!  Gave me some ideas.

Stay safe.......

Today's pic.....I'm thinking that's a time where you take a paddle stroke and let 'er coast for a bit and have a sip of coffee and just soak it all in!   The clouds on the horizon look like a cold front coming or just came through??

Stay safe........

When I first looked at today's POD I just breathed for awhile and thought, "Oh, I wish I were there right now!"

Thanks, Solus.   :)

mpeebles wrote on May 17^th, 2020 at 11:41am:

Today's pic.....I'm thinking that's a time where you take a paddle stroke and let 'er coast for a bit and have a sip of coffee and just soak it all in!   The clouds on the horizon look like a cold front coming or just came through?? Stay safe........

That's the first thing I thought too. 8-)
Just glide along and take it all in. Hot coffee would be a bonus perk.

Have never had coffee while in the canoe.  I usually start my day with hot chocolate, and then have a cup or two of coffee with breakfast.  Only water on the water.   ;D

But when I see a scene like this one, I just want to put my paddle across my lap, let the canoe slow down, take a photo or two, and listen, listen, listen.   I may be somewhat of a silence junkie.

This and the previous day's picture were taken from the same spot at virtually the same time one day apart. What a difference a day makes.....

A long long time ago I did a trip with some guy I meet on these here internets. Turned out, he smuggled in a thermos that I don't even remember seeing and certainly do not remember discussing before the trip.

I've brought a thermos on every trip I've done since. That little dribble dribble sound of coffee hitting the cup at sun rise or decaf at set, just adds to the moment for me.

db wrote on May 17^th, 2020 at 7:55pm:

A long long time ago I did a trip with some guy I meet on these here internets. Turned out, he smuggled in a thermos that I don't even remember seeing and certainly do not remember discussing before the trip. I've brought a thermos on every trip I've done since. That little dribble dribble sound of coffee hitting the cup at sun rise or decaf at set, just adds to the moment for me.

I don't bring a Thermos per se. I have an insulated open mouth food jar that I use as my coffee thermos.
It holds about 20 oz of coffee. On travel days I break camp while the coffee/oatmeal water is heating. I eat my oatmeal and then pour the hot water in my travel thermos using my nylon sock/coffee brewing method.

Wait a bit and then I sip as I paddle along. On camp days I brew a full pot of coffee.

When the day comes I'm just a base camper I'll bring my full-size stainless thermos.
On a cool morning or rainy travel day in cool weather, a nice hot cup of coffee OR hot chocolate and a handful of trail mix to keep your energy levels up makes a big difference IMHO.

Just remember that coffee is a DIURETIC and remember to re-hydrate with water on a regular basis.

solotripper wrote on May 17^th, 2020 at 8:29pm:

Just remember that coffee is a DIURETIC and remember to re-hydrate with water on a regular basis.

In my case, I'm pretty sure I'd have dried up and blown away some 40 years ago when my parents sold my childhood home (with that wonderful wonderful garden hose.) :)

I respect the coffee 'moments' but Yukon Jack isn't terrible before 6am either.

Solus,

  Your POD is great. That's what I call a canoe with some "character".  [smiley=thumbup.gif]

I got the MNII from Piragis after a group swamped on a lake on the edge of the Boundary Waters. They were picked up by a motorboat, but the canoe was left in the rough water, semi-submerged overnight. It was nearly in two pieces- about a 4" strip of material just in front of the bow seat holding the two pieces together. Piragis sold it to me for $200. While the repairs were successful in keeping the integrity and shape of the hull it was so ugly I did it one better by painting it with tinted epoxy. Really ugly but functional and easily identifiable from a distance.


While caffeine is a mild diuretic, coffee or tea don't cause dehydration.. This is because the amount of water contained in the beverage is greater than the diuretic effect.   (You need to Login or Register.

Solus - Sat./Sun. POD's, very nice.....Kahshapiwi from the mid lake, high ledge site, east side, across from the Joyce portage?  The view is even grander when you climb all the way to the top of the hill and look down the lake. 

pd

You mean this?
Definitely worth the climb.

---

Quote:

While caffeine is a mild diuretic, coffee or tea don't cause dehydration.. This is because the amount of water contained in the beverage is greater than the diuretic effect.   (You need to Login or Register.

I'm not sure I believe that is true for everyone?
This link shows some disagreement on that issue.

  (You need to Login or Register

I'll speak to JUST how my body reacts when I drink too much coffee/tea. I pee often and alot. I seriously doubt in MY case the volume of liquid expelled is being adequately replaced by the coffee/tea.

I know when I just drink coffee/tea and do anything strenuous I have the same negative effects attributed to being de-hydrated?

Might just be me.