I'm kicking around a shake out trip into Ted from the BWCA side via Agnes, Iron, and LLC tentatively scheduling late May. Looking at a late summer solo if the group solo thing comes together again.

Now that I have officially closed my small LLC, I guess I can truly call myself "fully-retired" versus "mostly-retired."  The upshot: I hope to do 3 canoe trips this year... assuming the border is not closed due to a virus or a war with Canada (remember the movie "Canadian Bacon"?).

In late June, we'll head out of Pickerel Lake for 15 days through the first week of July.  Whether we actually make it off of Pickerel will depend upon the "rehab" status of team members recovering from surgeries.  The most aggressive travel scenario would have us traveling down the B Chain to Sturgeon, then back north via Lonely, Walter, etc., to exit at Nym.  After a couple of relatively challenging routes last year, I could well be enticed to allow breezes blow me around big Pickerel Lake the entire time!  We'll see.  "Fishing" will figure prominently.

Two weeks after our return in July, I head to Pickerel, again, for the last 8 days of the month.  This time it's with my eldest son - now a Floridian - and a buddy of his, also from The Sunshine State.  My brother may also come along, which ensures "leisure", not "labor" will be our mantra.  This trip will be laid-back, portage-free and probably feature sandy beaches.

At the tail-end of August and into September there will likely be a multi-solo canoeing venture into the northwest sector of the park.  I've made some promises about walleye fishing to another QJer that I hope to fulfill.  I don't have the permit for this trip, yet, but I'm betting a flotilla of solos will come together for that purpose.  Chances are it will involve TWICE as many dogs as last year's armada.   At that time of year, it may become a test of our dogs' composure to deal with the cacophony of the resident fauna.  Seems like whenever I head into that part of the Q in September, I wake up to the sonorous serenade of rutting moose.  I'm hoping our dogs do not confuse these unique noises from similar, snoring sounds emanating from camp. 

Like BillConner, I'd love to do a Wabakimi OR an Atikaki trip (or even go back to Opasquia)... but NOT this year.  Even fully-retired, I still have a boss to report to at home.  She grants me but 3 get-aways before I am considered "AWOL."

Any QJer traveling around Pickerel Lake during the mid-June through end-of-July time period is welcome in my camp.  A pink flamingo flag will likely mark the location and there's always a QJ sticker on my canoe.

Happy trip planning!

Later,

Jimbo   

It isn't news that we don't do real "trips into the wild" anymore.  But we do return to the canoe country each summer, and usually to a cabin on the Gunflint Trail. 

This little girl who first traveled up there with us (photo is at age 4, June of 2007, in the lupine field behind Trail Center) for so many years is turning 17 in May, graduating from high school in June, and heading off somewhere (?) to college.

At the end of our cabin week last summer she announced that she cannot imagine leaving for college without her time with us in the canoe country.  I hope the week I have now reserved ends up working with no conflicts with college orientation, and that we can make it happen.  I am praying that nothing interferes with our plans, even a pandemic.   

Anna is a young woman now, an accomplished photographer and a good paddler.  This time we have had each summer with her is so very precious, and while we never want it to come to an end, who knows what the future will bring?  We are not getting any younger, and she is spreading her wings.

Must've been 'hard' paddling OS! 

Anyone else? Now is the time to throw a few trips even if they all don't happen! We're all going to be sitting behind our computers for the next couple of weeks anyway