Sunday, June 10, 2007 A Day on Vernon Lake

It must have been 7:00 AM when I woke up. I have decided to stay. This is a nice way to travel. I do as I feel. I slept hard for the first night sleeping alone in the wilderness. Total exhaustion might have something to do with it. Twice during the night I climbed out of the bag to relieve myself. The first time it was incredibly dark and cold. The second time there was a very faint hint of light. Both times it was too cold to be hanging around admiring my surroundings in my Merino wool socks.

About 8AM I slide the canoe in to explore and fish. I have decided a late breakfast/lunch and then a meal of fish for supper will be good today. I kept two Smallies, and released everything else. The lake was dead calm and the biting flies were enjoying the lack of resistance. Without clouds and a breeze the sun was cooking. A breeze finally did kick in and a few clouds rolled through. I went back to camp and left the fish in the rapids for supper. I had a light breakfast and some good coffee using the java press I brought.

It was a relaxing day. I cleaned up camp, making a log bench with what was lying about. Picking up the rocks around camp the fire grate became user friendly. A thorough walk around camp cleaned up a lot of little pieces of junk. I entered the tent read a book until a midday nap kicked in. I have not had a midday nap in years.

I finally awoke and took a little hike up stream coming back with some perfect firewood. A nice pile was stacked and some birch bark, tinder and kindling waited for a match to get it started. I cleaned the fish and started getting supper ready. It consisted of the Smallies with Garlic, Mashed Red Potatoes. I thought my eyes were bigger than my stomach but it was no challenge for my stomach. I cleaned the dishes, Packed away the tarp and ropes. Packed the equipment bag for an early checkout the next morning. I took the fish guts for a little paddle down the lake and had a few casts along the way. Nothing seemed to be hungry so I went back to camp and waded the rapids. The Old Faithful Countdown caught several walleyes in front of camp until it finally broke off telling me it was time for bed. A beaver swam by me at about 10 yards and the loons were feeding in the bay. They again let me float within ten feet of them earlier in the night. This turned out to be a fantastic day. It definitely slowed my world down.