I tend to like to cover ground, and generally go solo planning great big loops that cover ground and territory. However, since acquiring a Spot I know longer feel required to stick to any route or itinerary. I might plan a big loop, but if weather and whim says other wise (or fishing for that matter) I stay planted. On the last accompanied trip my brother and I planned an ambitious loop but instead landed on McIntyre and just stayed and played with the smallmouth. On my fall solo I paddled to Ted on the first day and just sat and explored a beautiful lake that I had to myself for four days. Weather and campsite were great, why move? Find a partner or two that is flexible and just let the whim and wind take you where you will. Remember you don't need to get anywhere, you're already there.

For all you Harry Chapin fans.  I refer you to his song, Greyhound.  At the end of the song, "Getting off this dirty bus first time I understood, it's got to be the going there not the getting there that's good.

10 years ago, on the first day, my son and I would drive up to Beaverhouse and paddle into Jean Lake and base camp.  Jean is a beautiful lake and certainly held our attention for a week.  But as he pointed out, we were burning two days just to get to Jean Lake.  We now fish closer to the put in point.  I think once you get in 5 miles, the fishing is good.  Obviously, some spots are better than others.  On a large lake like Cirrus, you could spend a week fishing from your base camp.  If you want you could move from one campsite to another, but still stay on Cirrus.
Contact me next year, I may be on reduced work status.
Westwood

When I retired my desire to do as much as I could faded a bit. Just not the same drive. Maybe no need to get away and forget work life??

I've been enjoying letting my tripping partners determine the type of trip I do.

If you haven't tried it, Oct trips can be different.  But don't expect too much as far as fishing. Days are shorter so distances traveled are too. More campfire time and star gazing. Bring some wine, better food, and be lazy. The park is pretty quiet so it's nice for solitude.

I still don't think I understand. What I read is you would like to do base camp trips like you did before you talked partners into travel type trips. I started doing solo trips because I wanted to do longer trips than the group. Nice thing about that is I found could justify two trips a year that way. I get the camaraderie aspect. I get the mosey thing and the tripping, bushwhack thing yet don't need the camaraderie since I can get that at home. I like to take pictures. Sometimes I'll hang around and fish waiting for better light. There's no guilt for indulging yourself on a solo. Also no one to blame but yourself.

We'd always plan our trips together and they varied in scope each year. No one ever complained on the trip, they just mentioned their ideas for next year at the after party or the planning session. After my here's what could happen (be prepared) speech. I'd put it together with their desires in mind. That's what I got tired of doing for everyone. If someone else planned it with my needs and wants accounted for, I'd trip with them again anytime - knowing what I was in for as much as possible upfront.

It would take me three days to find the rhythm for each trip. My second of the year, my solo, took about three paddle strokes. Make the case for the kind of trip you want to do when you plan the next one. Give yourselves layover day trip options. Be flexible and the rhythm will find you.

Towards the end of my group trip period, we had three canoes with three wildly different preferred styles. We'd discuss our tentative plans for the next day around the campfire and make the final decision in the morning for a planned travel day. The only agreement was dinner was at 4 on whatever lake or whatever was decided. If we didn't know the lake, we'd assign sections to be checked for campsites and let's meet in this area - if that helps.

On my worst trip ever we were beat down most of the trip by mother nature and inexperience. I swore I'd never do that again with every paddle stroke on the way out thinking I'd never see that place again and have not missed a year since.

What a wheelbarrow load of horse manure. What! No pouring over maps for months on end? No getting in shape for what lies ahead? No goals? Can you say BORING.......

I trip on occasion with exactly the sort. We would dawdle all day at everything if I didn't crack the whip (let's go!).

In all seriousness there is some real wisdom in what PJ is saying. Plan all you want but when things don't go the way you think they should the key is to be content with what is given you and staying flexible in your thinking (expectation level). My philosophy when tripping with others is let people do what they want. I have a fishing rod, a boat and some water.......I'm easily amused.

And......of course it's a mid life crisis. Everybody with a smidgen of grey has them.....sometimes 2 or 3 times a day.