Boundary Waters, Trip Reports, BWCA, Stories

Lake One: First trip 4 and 7 year old grand daughters
by bwcadan

Trip Type: Paddling Canoe
Entry Date: 07/02/2018
Entry & Exit Point: Lake One (EP 30)
Number of Days: 6
Group Size: 4
Trip Introduction:
Lake One Family Camping Trip with Son and Two Granddaughters
Report
Lake One: First trip for 4 and 7 year old grand children Dates: July 2-July 6 Participants: Son Kevin, Avery-age 7, Savvy-age 4 (almost 5), and myself

Left Kansas City early Sunday for the 13-hour drive to Kawishiwi Lodge and Bunkhouse on Lake One. Plenty of planned entertainment such as drawing, 20 questions and computer time with movies and games available for the ride. Dinner was pretrip steaks with green beans, bananas, and dessert. Bunkhouse was good and kids loved the 3 tier bunks. 

Day 1: A good nights sleep preceded an oatmeal-based breakfast before we left in the 18.5 canoe on a bright sunny day. Saw wild life on the way to our camp located in the SW portion of the lake. Included this day and later in the week were otter, a moose, ducks, fish, loons, dragon flies, deer, spiders, bugs, eagles, other birds including a hawk, squirrel, chip monk, mosquitoes (not bad), and a snapping turtle. The turtle was promptly named Snappy and later renamed Sneaky Snappy as it was seen on 3 different days around the camp and in the brush. Other turtles were seen in the water. Set up camp and the main activities involved cards, and bubble blowing before heat and serve dinner. Dessert of fruit bowls and the main attraction was S’mores (every night). Sunset and to bed for all, with me in a separate tent to sleep after they played games. The bug whacker was put to good use to kill any bugs in each tent.

Day 2,3, and 4: Breakfasts each day were all you could eat pancakes and hot chocolate. Snacks, available most of the time, were meat sticks, instant lemonade, food bars, fruit bowls, and bubble gum provided by Dad. Activities included cards, hammock time, fishing solo with Dad, beanbag tossing, coloring, bubbles, chasing Snappy, yelling for echoes, hunting for wood, rock throwing plus splitting with a hammer, and day trips in the canoe. Lake One to Lake 2 portage was explored. Another hit was hide and seek the oversize beanbags around the camp. Also enjoyed was the multitude of pictures taken by each girl with a total of one thousand available. Other pictures were also taken.   

We had one hard blow with some rain one day and a blustery 2:30 AM cool front pass through the following night. Was windy on Thursday. Fishing was generally not that great, although the girls and Dad enjoyed every minute they were out. We never took both out at the same time to fish.

To help enhance the trip, we had 2 paddles for them to use and they generally got the hang of it. Was glad to have the time to enjoy the learning curve for each. Savvy paddled the wrong way until she did get it right. Avery was interested in holding the paddle in the water as we went along to watch for water designs over the top of paddle. Both enjoyed nice breaks in the action. From the stern, I did not critique their form.

While both girls missed their mother, by day Tuesday, that became a non-issue as they were enjoying time with Dad and Papa. It did not hurt that an evening call home was available from a Verizon phone.

Friday departure: We left camp around 8:00 or so for the 40 minute paddle to our car. After the final settle up and showers, we headed to Ely and the DQ for lunch, ice cream included. Leaving early, we were able to stop in Minneapolis at the Mall of America for a very kid friendly time there including some shopping. From there we went to a hotel for the night. On to Kansas City by early afternoon was achieved without any problems.

We had a few minor scrapes for the girls with 2 Band Aids needed and both Dad and Papa had a toe incident. For me, the trip was very enjoyable and I hope to go again at some point. This trip was completely different from the adult tripping I do, the proper planning by both of us with the help from my wife and daughter-in-law made the trip a success in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area.