Our annual vacation this year is closer to home. We are vacationing in Ely, MN which is about 5.5 hours north. Darin has been there before on a BWCA canoe/camping trip with some buddies a couple of years ago and has always wanted to go back. I can’t say I enjoy the camping experience so we came up with Darin and Emma canoeing/camping while Kate and I stay at a cabin on the lake. We found a small resort about 7 miles from Ely on Farm Lake called Moose Track Adventures. They also provided outfitting resources so Darin and Emma were able to rent the canoe and packs from them. Farm lake is a perfect location for entering the BWCA they just had to paddle to the other side of the lake and then enter through the Kiwawishi river.
We drove to Grandma Hawley’s house last night so we could knock a couple of hours off the drive. It always seems to take longer to get out of the house on time then you think. We were a bit behind schedule because the girls wanted some updates on their ipods for the drive. Darin forgot a few things too so thankfully he was able to raid Grandma Hawley’s cupboard for salt, pepper, jelly, syrup and some forks. Grandma Hawley also made some yummy beef jerky for the trip, I think she’s worried Darin and Emma will starve and if nothing else jerky will sustain them! The night before we left we made a trip to the grocery store to buy lightweight/non-refergerated food items for them to eat while camping. Darin was able to find instant coffee, torteas (which are a bread subsitute because they won’t get smooshed), individually wrapped peanut butter, rice, cooked chicken breast in a pouch, pancake mix, precooked bacon... It helps that he has done this before. Emma was uncertain what the weather was going to be like and packed mainly shorts until I insisted she get some more pants and sweatshirts. Good thing because the weather is suppose to be chilly the next few days.
We determined on the drive that this is the first family vacation with Bronson! There is no way Bronson will get in the canoe but he’s more then happy to stay with Kate and I at the cabin. I kind of like having him too because he looks like a gaurd dog. When I left my camera in the car with the windows down about a quarter of the way it was reassuring that there was a big dog in the car protecting it! Thankfully the resort is willing to let Bronson run around without a leash which he absolutely loves! The owner, Joan, said he can catch as many squirrels as he would like. When we got to Grandma’s house last night we all went to bed and Bronson laid on the floor sleeping. In the middle of the night he started single barking kind of quiet like, but enough to annoy Darin. Darin would tell him to stop it and go back to sleep but then 5-10 minutes later he would do it again.. this went on for some time. Darin got so mad at him that he jumped out of bed and grabbed him by the fur and told him to stop barking.. well then he realized that the dog was sleeping and those barks were just dreams.. lol Poor dog!
The minute we arrived at the resort Kate made a friend with the owner’s son Gavin who is 8 years and going into 3rd grade. He was daming up a creek that flowed into the lake which is right up kate’s ally. Mud, water and even some lego’s that Gavin convinced Kate to play! They ended up swimming, playing on the swingset and watching a movie with popcorn to boot on the flat screen at the main lodge. Finally we had to say goodnight and get some supper. But she made plans to play tomorrow at 10am. She tells me her plan is to go to bed early so she can get up early and do some more playing.
Darin and Emma packed all their gear into packs they rented from the outfitters. I also equiped him with my backup Nikon D200 camera and a lens. I had a waterproof Pelican case from their last trip so I felt safe enough sending it with him. Seems like they packed light enought. They each had a pack and the canoe. They only have to portage once for a half mile. They are hoping to get a site on an island Darin has picked out. They left about 2pm this afternoon and they left from the resorts main dock. Both were excited and nervous! Darin is hoping to be able to text me updates.. a guide at the resort said he can get coverage usually. Unfortunately I cannot get coverage for my cell phone at the resort! My only worry is if there is a thunderstorm.
Well that is our first day. I’ll try to post each day and add some pictures
1 comment:
Thanks for posting this. Fun to read and the pictures were beautiful!
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