It's January 31st. I only have one canoe trip in my 2018 future. And it's almost completely planned! Permit pulled... bunkhouse, etc reserved... prelim menu already entered... target lake(s) and campsites ID'ed. SIGH.

I think I might love the planning part as much as the trip itself. And this is the earliest I have ever had my trip in place. It's also the first year in a long time that I only have one canoe trip in my plans.

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF NOW. I usually spend a lot of my late winter and early spring in the planning stages of multiple trips. But so far 2018 is not shaping up that way and I am going through withdrawal already.

It sounds like its time to plan another trip.

I'm pretty much in the same situation and my trip isn't until Sept., but I'll get busy with other things soon. In the meantime I just plan other possible trips.

Do what I do, switch it all up a dozen times.

You are not alone!

T

I may have to plan some other trips with the date TBD. It's fun to look at maps and plan, even if there isn't an entry date attached. Of course that's how I got in this situation in the first place... this one has been in the works for nearly a year.

I'll find ways to spend my time... just was feeling out of sorts about it after getting my permit, etc yesterday. It was the last piece of the puzzle and now it's mostly ready to go until we finalize menu and pack in the summer. Which seems like a long way away.

We always manage to add a trip in to the mix so I hope we can this year too. We had to cancel two trips last fall because life got in the way and that's probably part of my withdrawal.

Just felt good to vent to people who'd understand... my husband just rolls his eyes and laughs at me when I am longing for more trips to plan. ;-)

Is it a solo, or a group trip?
The biggest part/failure of trip planning for me, historically, has been verifying and establishing and re-confirming that others in the group are still actually going. It's a long way from "yeah, that sounds great" to "we're on our way!".

Time for a solo!

HowardSprague: "Is it a solo, or a group trip?
The biggest part/failure of trip planning for me, historically, has been verifying and establishing and re-confirming that others in the group are still actually going. It's a long way from "yeah, that sounds great" to "we're on our way!"."

It's a group.. but a very reliable one... me, my husband and one of my best friends who's always wanted to go to the same area and trips frequently. Only variable is whether our 19 year old joins us or not. And we had to coordinate time off of work with one group member being a federal employee so the planning started a lot earlier than usual.

That's why I don't usually do any planning until about a week before.

nctry: "Do what I do, switch it all up a dozen times."

+1...make alternate plans as if there were a fire in the original area...and then plan a trip to WCPP or Wabakimi or Temagami or..... :)

we are making plans for short, local river trips until bwca day rolls around. Gotta get in shape for all that paddling.

Hey Kari! It looks as though I will be having a mother-daughter trip in August - I will keep you posted - You or you and M are invited if it really comes together and you are always welcome at the cabin. We have a nice 10 mile day trip on our chain of lakes that you can explore.

HowardSprague: "Is it a solo, or a group trip?
The biggest part/failure of trip planning for me, historically, has been verifying and establishing and re-confirming that others in the group are still actually going. It's a long way from "yeah, that sounds great" to "we're on our way!"."

Amen to that! People around here are always going . . . until a few days after I've made arrangements for everyone! Then it's back to the drawing board :(.

jcavenagh: "

nctry: "Do what I do, switch it all up a dozen times."

+1...make alternate plans as if there were a fire in the original area...and then plan a trip to WCPP or Wabakimi or Temagami or..... :)"

That's a good idea! Because one year there was - Pagami Creek. They closed my entry about 2-3 days before I left and I was scrambling for options. Now I have a whole portfolio of trips ;).

boonie: "

jcavenagh: "

nctry: "Do what I do, switch it all up a dozen times."

+1...make alternate plans as if there were a fire in the original area...and then plan a trip to WCPP or Wabakimi or Temagami or..... :)"

That's a good idea! Because one year there was - Pagami Creek. They closed my entry about 2-3 days before I left and I was scrambling for options. Now I have a whole portfolio of trips ;)."

Love the fire escape plan... that gives me a way to extend my planning. And a good excuse for having the maps spread out everywhere.

Grandma L: "Hey Kari! It looks as though I will be having a mother-daughter trip in August - I will keep you posted - You or you and M are invited if it really comes together and you are always welcome at the cabin. We have a nice 10 mile day trip on our chain of lakes that you can explore."

Both sound great. Cabin more likely for short getaways. Part of the reason we only have one canoe trip planned is that we are doing other things for vacation. I always promise we can do something other than canoeing for our vacation but this year we're actually doing it. And with my work schedule it's hard to just do a weekend canoe trip.

Twins87:

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF NOW. I usually spend a lot of my late winter and early spring in the planning stages of multiple trips. But so far 2018 is not shaping up that way and I am going through withdrawal already. "

Here are some ideas:

That's What Winter is For!

Big Tent: "

Twins87:

I DON'T KNOW WHAT TO DO WITH MYSELF NOW. I usually spend a lot of my late winter and early spring in the planning stages of multiple trips. But so far 2018 is not shaping up that way and I am going through withdrawal already. "

Here are some ideas:


That's What Winter is For! "

FUNNY... that was one of the other vacations we took instead of canoeing... we went to Nashville and spent an awesome week with OneMatch seeing the sights and sounds of Music City.

See what you get for being so efficient?

It's not that we aren't going to be outdoors at all between now and then. We've got several other trips in the works... long weekend at Jay Cooke State Park for spring break... a week at a Rockwood cabin in July (another one of my concessions this year... yes we can spend time up north but not sleep on the ground every night) ... probably at least one car camping trip to Sawbill.

It's the planning I am yearning for... because I have most of the plans in place for all of those trips. And usually this time of year I am just beginning that part of my year's adventures. I think last year may have spoiled me... I had 5 trips on the calendar... including one with our newbie neighbors that we spent a lot of time planning and teaching for.

Hubby keeps telling me I should be an outfitter so I can plan trips all the time but I wouldn't get to go on them so I know that's not the solution.

And I already get a lot of vacation time at work so that's not going to change anytime soon.

I'll just daydream and plan trips that might not happen. And spend more time here.

Love hearing all of the suggestions. I should've had a different title for the post... What do you do in your daydreaming downtime when all your trips are planned?

What do you do in your daydreaming downtime when all your trips are planned?

My new daydreaming thing is wondering "what kind of WCPP trip will Twins87 plan for me? What do you need to know from me?

Or are you one of those people who claims to enjoy cutting the grass, but will never double their pleasure by cutting mine? :)

Well the past few years I assessed and reassessed my gear for 6 months while I waited. This year I plan to practice and play more golf. My gear is just fine as it is. My golf game needs the work.

scramble4a5: "Well the past few years I assessed and reassessed my gear for 6 months while I waited. This year I plan to practice and play more golf. My gear is just fine as it is. My golf game needs the work."

Maybe take the camping gear and backpack with for balls lofted into the woods a ways.

boonie: "What do you do in your daydreaming downtime when all your trips are planned?


My new daydreaming thing is wondering "what kind of WCPP trip will Twins87 plan for me? What do you need to know from me?


Or are you one of those people who claims to enjoy cutting the grass, but will never double their pleasure by cutting mine? :)



"

Never planned a trip north of the border... perhaps it would be a new challenge for me. But I might have a hard time explaining to my family why I'm spending my evenings planning a trip to WCPP....

Twins87: "

boonie: "

jcavenagh: "

nctry: "Do what I do, switch it all up a dozen times."

+1...make alternate plans as if there were a fire in the original area...and then plan a trip to WCPP or Wabakimi or Temagami or..... :)"

That's a good idea! Because one year there was - Pagami Creek. They closed my entry about 2-3 days before I left and I was scrambling for options. Now I have a whole portfolio of trips ;)."

Love the fire escape plan... that gives me a way to extend my planning. And a good excuse for having the maps spread out everywhere. "

Yeah...in 2015 I had a solo planned and there was a threat of a fire ban in the BW. I had a trip planned into the west side of Wabakimi that never materialized originally. So about a week before my put in date, I switched from BW to Wab. Of course, getting permits for Wab is so easy due to the fact that only about 300-600 people visit that park in any given year.
And, I have heard the fish are fat and plentiful up there. Personally, I wouldn't know because my fishing skills are, how shall I say??...less than proficient.

Twins87: "

boonie: "What do you do in your daydreaming downtime when all your trips are planned?



My new daydreaming thing is wondering "what kind of WCPP trip will Twins87 plan for me? What do you need to know from me?



Or are you one of those people who claims to enjoy cutting the grass, but will never double their pleasure by cutting mine? :)



"

Never planned a trip north of the border... perhaps it would be a new challenge for me. But I might have a hard time explaining to my family why I'm spending my evenings planning a trip to WCPP.... "

Yeah, a new challenge - think of all the extra work of planning that! Just tell them you're doing it for me ;).

jcavenagh: "

Twins87: "

boonie: "

jcavenagh: "

nctry: "Do what I do, switch it all up a dozen times."

+1...make alternate plans as if there were a fire in the original area...and then plan a trip to WCPP or Wabakimi or Temagami or..... :)"

That's a good idea! Because one year there was - Pagami Creek. They closed my entry about 2-3 days before I left and I was scrambling for options. Now I have a whole portfolio of trips ;)."

Love the fire escape plan... that gives me a way to extend my planning. And a good excuse for having the maps spread out everywhere. "

Yeah...in 2015 I had a solo planned and there was a threat of a fire ban in the BW. I had a trip planned into the west side of Wabakimi that never materialized originally. So about a week before my put in date, I switched from BW to Wab. Of course, getting permits for Wab is so easy due to the fact that only about 300-600 people visit that park in any given year.
And, I have heard the fish are fat and plentiful up there. Personally, I wouldn't know because my fishing skills are, how shall I say??...less than proficient."

You switched because of a fire ban, Jim . . . ?! They don't light my fire, but sometimes you must embrace the cold and darkness! :) Besides, fish bite better if you don't smell like smoke.

boonie: "

Twins87: "

boonie: "What do you do in your daydreaming downtime when all your trips are planned?



My new daydreaming thing is wondering "what kind of WCPP trip will Twins87 plan for me? What do you need to know from me?



Or are you one of those people who claims to enjoy cutting the grass, but will never double their pleasure by cutting mine? :)




"

Never planned a trip north of the border... perhaps it would be a new challenge for me. But I might have a hard time explaining to my family why I'm spending my evenings planning a trip to WCPP.... "

Yeah, a new challenge - think of all the extra work of planning that! Just tell them you're doing it for me ;). "

It could be payment for all the enjoyment I get out of your trip reports ...

boonie - truth be told it was my first solo and I had initially thought that I would play it safe and do my first solo in BWCA because there are more people there.
BUT I really wanted to do Wabakimi from the west. All I needed was the flimsiest excuse to go to Wab and the potential fire ban was it....
And that's ...the rest of the story, Good Day! <---say it ala Paul Harvey]