Friday June 16, 2023

The game plan for today is something of a staging effort, as we hope to strike camp and head for Kawasachong and grab a site there or on Square Lake so as to have a quicker exit tomorrow. Once we’re loaded up and, on the water, a quick change of plans is implemented on the fly. We’ll head out today. So, it’s day one all over again, only going forward in reverse with lighter packs.

The morning starts off rather gray but, yet again, the sun makes another starring role as the day wears on. This will be the last day of my third BWCA trip this year and with nearly 2 weeks' worth of overnights, I didn’t experience even a single drop of rain. The grim circumstance of that reality is that with the planes passing over on a somewhat regular basis is a reliable sign that a fire has broken out somewhere.

It’s a pleasant but mostly unremarkable return to Kawishiwi lake. In the river section we all paddle right up on a lone Canadian goose who isn't troubled by our intrusion in the least. Although Aurora is still wary as she still vividly recalls being attacked by trumpeter swans on Duncan Lake a couple years ago. All the sites are taken on both Kawasachong & Square as we pass through those respective lakes so, I take that as a sign we chose the right course of action today. The Pagami Creek fire line is highlighted by a stark contrast in the horizon on the distant shores of Square Lake.

Not having taken one all day, a short rest stop is in order shortly after arriving on Kawishiwi Lake. From there we do battle with the wind one last time before arriving at the landing which is buzzing with activity.

Aurora & Blake note that the kiosk has a notice of a fire ban put into effect a couple days prior. I explain that we are not culpable because we didn’t get word until today. We get everything loaded up and motor to the Trestle Inn for hot eats & cool drinks.

After eating, we have a little more excitement as Joel’s flashes me (from behind) with his headlights. It appears one of his tires has sprung a leak but, since we are only a few miles from Finland, we are able to limp it into town to change it.

If the fish were biting as voraciously as the mosquitos, this would've been a trip for the ages! A good number of fish were caught but, we never really got into them the way I was hoping. Still, Blake said he had a good time and would like to go again someday and, ultimately, that's the bottom line.

This was also a notable trip for Aurora, in that she's starting to spread her wings venturing out on her first tandem paddle without me and her very first solo. She excelled in both facets and it was exciting for me to see her have the confidence to do so.

It was an after the fact realization; but, looking back, the smokey air really hampered us from fully enjoying ourselves. While I did mention cutting our one daytrip very short, there was a daily feeling of sluggishness throughout the trip for all of us.

Finally, it took me quite a while to finish this trip report. Like I usually do, I had started on it shortly after we'd returned from the trip. But, soon after, it became apparent that my Dad was fading fast. And clearly put this report on the back burner while the cavalcade of friends and relatives came to say their goodbyes; and then, pay their last respects at his funeral. So, this trip will always be remembered as the last one I did while my Father was still alive. I am so grateful for the abundant time I was graced to have with him. And he will always be a guiding presence on my future endeavors - canoe trips or otherwise.