And so it comes to an end once again.
Every year about this time I clean my garage. In the process I end up sorting through all of my canoeing gear. Each and every year I experience this garage cleaning ritual I am filled with melancholy. Just like that, it marks the end of another year of 4-5 trips to the BW or Q.
The mournful and sad feelings never last long. But when I pick up the paddles to place them neatly in their winter storage spot or toss my tents in their spot on the shelf I always feel a little downcast.
If only I could squeeze just one more trip in before the ice comes...................

I hear ya....hauled 3 canoes out to my friends barn to rack them up for the winter. On the other hand, I put the duck blind on the boat and picked a nice bunch of black eyed Susie's for ice fishing bait. It wouldn't have felt so bad storing the canoes if it would have been 50 degrees instead of 75.

Funny, I haven't been able to paddle because of health issues. But I get it all out. This year I was able to help a few people get out there. I get as much enjoyment seeing others get out and do a quality trip. Sounds crazy, but I love it. So I'm having a rewarding time putting my stuff away. I am really enjoying getting to know people. The more you get to know the more you realize there is a lot of very cool unique people out there.

Not me. I love the wilderness and always will, but I believe I was created to live in community and civilization most of the time. There's always something very satisfying about returning from a trip to a shower and my own bed. Lord willing, I'll be back.

I used to get this feeling each autumn as well. But, I've really come to appreciate the beauty and simplicity of winter camping in the BWCA. In winter, you really don't need to venture far to find seclusion. I like to look at this season as preparation for the hard water trips to come. :)

I know exactly what you mean. I'm done in the BWCA for another year, too, and putting the stuff into storage puts me in a melancholy mood for sure.

I fix it by re-cleaning the rifle and shotgun and re-arranging, respooling, and otherwise just playing with the ice fishing gear. I'll get melancholy, too, when hunting and ice fishing seasons are over as well, but then I start re-arranging and re-cleaning the gear I just put away. :)

Now it's time to sit in a tree stand!!!

quote dicecupmaker: "Now it's time to sit in a tree stand!!!"

I'm hoping to be able to do even that. The healing process is not happening for me. I am not supposed to climb or ride the four-wheelers yet. So my cousin has been working on options for me. He set up a couple ground stands, so we'll see how that does.
Yesterday I had a weisel hanging around my garage area. Boy, they can be good mousers... Just trying to fill my time with fun things to do. I don't even know if I can shoot my gun yet. Big day at the doc... Not cow doc... But my doc and see just where I'm at with everything.
Like I said though, being unable to canoe I've enjoyed having people come camping here and also helping a few people get set up and do trips. I'm fixing up my big trailer to one day be able to do short canoe runs like to Montana and such. Winter can be just as busy getting ready for the next canoe season as it is for the fun activities it has.

Ben I hate to hear you say words like "the healing process is not happening for me". Faith filled words "calling those things which are not as though they are" is the most powerful force in the universe when spoken in agreement with Gods Word the Bible. Likewise words spoken which agree with the curse help bring that into your life. It is for nought that the Bible says "Blessing and cursing, and life and death is in the power of the tongue........" and that literally. I do not go by what I see, rather I agree with Gods Word and speak what I desire into existence and then refuse to walk away empty handed. God is faithful and jealous to perform His Word. He is no Liar.

I spoke with my Dad in Michigan yesterday and he said he was not much looking forward to coming to Florida for the winter this year. He is in his 80's with reasonably good health but he said he was "depressed". I told him to "do something!"

Somehow I cannot picture myself getting melancholy over putting the canoe stuff away. There is always something else on the radar to look forward to.

quote dicecupmaker: "Now it's time to sit in a tree stand!!!"

Amen

I can't even muster the energy to put away the gear. I think of doing it and sigh.

There is some melancholy in the passing of another season. I had really wanted to get one more trip in up north. Oh well... Then I start thinking more about what winter paddling has to offer and get excited about that just like getting excited about when the trees bud and color returns in the spring. Those trees sure are giving a show today, perhaps a paddle later?
Gear gets cleaned and put into storage after each trip. I pull out for any given trip and have already pulled the gaiters to keep my legs dry as it starts to cool down. Paddling goes on all year, tripping can always move south to warmer climes. Melancholy comes, but doesn't stick around too long.

Today I am doing laundry for my sleeping bag. This is the last digit in the line of number of things related to getting this year put to bed. Pun intended.

Just got back from seven day with a friend, and have same end of the year up north blues.

Ya I know how you feel I was washing the portage packs off the other day and getting some other odds and ends taken care of for the end of the season. However I am getting ready for the next season, Winter and getting the snowshoes, pole and other gear out and ready for snowfall.

Life is too much fun to feel melancholy, and short. Just find something else you enjoy doing. I like the seasons and keep busy all year, fall and winter camps are great and get me nearer to the small game hunting I like to do.

butthead

I agree with you butthead, but it's different for us southern folks! Surrounded by miles of vacant farm ground, very little snow, hit and miss ice thick enough to ice fish, and very limited forested areas it is very hard for us not to be melancholy even when we are doing the things we love which for me is fishing, camping, canoeing, and hunting. We have been spoiled rotten by the beautiful Northland , and although our mind and body are "home",our souls are somewhere between Ely and Hudson Bay!!!

quote missmolly: "I can't even muster the energy to put away the gear. I think of doing it and sigh. "

+1 if I put it away - the season is really over.

My only melancholy is that I didn't get a trip this year. I think I might go downstairs to my store room and clean my gear just because it may have gotten dusty.

Keep the paddling gear out. Even in Northern IL you can paddle on the local rivers through out the winter except in the most extreme cold winters

I'm feeling melancholy knowing you got. 4-5 trips in this year to my one!!!

Luckily, we have soft water here year 'round and although it isn't canoe country, we can still do some day tripping and get the paddles wet.

Ice out will be coming around before ya know it!

I dont get those feelings these days for canoeing since i am lucky if i get to go once a year these days. I spend more time fly fishing in various rivers out here in NV/CA. BWCA is a long ways away . I tend to miss my good friends that i go canoeing with more than the canoeing itself. Winter is coming fast and we are hoping for another good year of snow in the sierras to have fun with and water for next summer to go fishing.
Those of you who get to do 3+trips a year are very very lucky souls and I hope you do trip reports so the rest of us can live in your experiences and dream about next year.

quote MrBreeze: "I dont get those feelings these days for canoeing since i am lucky if i get to go once a year these days. I spend more time fly fishing in various rivers out here in NV/CA. BWCA is a long ways away . I tend to miss my good friends that i go canoeing with more than the canoeing itself. Winter is coming fast and we are hoping for another good year of snow in the sierras to have fun with and water for next summer to go fishing.
Those of you who get to do 3+trips a year are very very lucky souls and I hope you do trip reports so the rest of us can live in your experiences and dream about next year.


"

You drive home a good point. Since joining Bwca.com I've made some great friends. I enjoy doing things with them as much as anything. So even though I have not been able to paddle due to health, just getting together or even helping some get equipt to go themselves. I'm kinda stuck at home right now. But I have friends texting (I hope not while driving), calling.... And some poke in. Friendships are at least as rewarding as a good trip. That said... I'm ready to paddle the day my body says OK, let's go.

Mr. Cliffs, I once had a friend from India and one day, she asked me how I was doing.

"I don't know what's wrong with me," I said. "I'm sad."

"Ah, you Westerners," she replied. "You think you're supposed to be happy every day. Well, you're human. Sadness is part of the human experience. There's nothing wrong with you."



It's the same with melancholy. Plus, if you have any creative endeavors, melancholy is the perfect state for creation.

quote nctry: "Funny, I haven't been able to paddle because of health issues. But I get it all out. This year I was able to help a few people get out there. I get as much enjoyment seeing others get out and do a quality trip. Sounds crazy, but I love it."

I understand, I get a kick out of helping other people plan and get ready for their trips too. Every once in awhile I have to work, but I'll shuttle friends and see them off. I think I'd enjoy working for one of the outfitters driving folks to the EP's and picking them up after their trips?

I'm fortunate that my paddling season doesn't end, it just slows down a bit. I don't get out every week, but we usually get an off-season overnight or two in and I do get out most weeks.

Oz, your winter paddling pics make me smile.

Nice thing about the off-season paddling... may be chilly and rainy, but you also might have the river to yourselves... Couple pics from the Kickapoo in sw Wisconsin, which I hear can get pretty crowded in summer. We saw nobody on this October paddle.
Getting out can be good medicine for the blues.

quote missmolly: "Mr. Cliffs, I once had a friend from India and one day, she asked me how I was doing.


"I don't know what's wrong with me," I said. "I'm sad."


"Ah, you Westerners," she replied. "You think you're supposed to be happy every day. Well, you're human. Sadness is part of the human experience. There's nothing wrong with you."



It's the same with melancholy. Plus, if you have any creative endeavors, melancholy is the perfect state for creation. "

Wow! What deference and respect! MISTER Cliffs!!!
I was in India kicking around 40 some years ago. I came out of a building to see a poor and dirty woman sitting next to the dusty and hot road. She had a very young child with her. I think she may have been begging.
Her face had the most radiant smile I have ever seen in my life. She spoke some english. I asked her why she looked so happy.
She responded simply "Why not be happy?" Those words and her face stick with me to this day as words to live by.

That's a great story, Mr. Cliffs.

If anyone ever calls you anything other than Mr. Cliffs, say, "They call me Mr. Cliffs!" and deliver the line like this.

i love the change of seasons in minnesota , time to get the ice fishing gear ready ;)