| Previous Messages: |
| noodle |
06/19/2024 01:03PM
Thanks for all the kind words, everyone.
I did lose about seven pounds on that trip, even after those days of steaks and beers at the end, but once I got back home and started eating too many pizzas that came right back on. Clearly all I need is to do nothing but paddle and portage 10 miles a day, every day, while eating nothing. I'll look like a Greek god. (I mean, I currently look like a Greek god, but it's Dionysus with all the food and wine)
I didn't do any fishing this trip, as you saw; part of that was because this was the first one-way trip and I did have that hard deadline. If I wasn't halfway through the miles by halfway through the days I was going to turn around, because it would have been incredibly crappy to get to the end a day late, finding out my friend had to turn around and head home, and then try to offer someone a couple hundred bucks to drive me 4 hours back to EP30 and then drive themselves back. There's always a solution to a problem, but sometimes the solutions can be really expensive.
I did have another, much lazier, solo last fall, where I just puttered in a couple portages and slung a hammock and napped for a few days. On the way in, there was a canoe with two guys and their dog fishing (the dog wasn't fishing, of course) and as I got closer, they reeled in their lines and paddled up to me.
"How's the fishing," they asked.
"I dunno, I just put in," I said, just making conversation.
"You gonna do any fishing?"
"Ehhh, probably not, just thinking I'll find a spot and hang out a few days." Still just making casual conversation. I wasn't going to do any fishing -- I didn't bring any gear nor my fishing license -- but it was just small talk, ya know?
"Yeah, we're DNR conservation officers, can we see your fishing license?"
"Uhhhhhhh I'm not gonna do any fishing, I don't have any fishing gear, you can look, but here's my entry permit if you want" and look they did, peering in my canoe and asking a couple more probing questions, because in their eyes I was obviously someone who planned on fishing and just tried to cover it up.
Next time someone asks how the fishing is, it'll be just the facts, ma'am, leading off with either producing my license or saying that I'm not fishing at all. :)
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| Mocha |
06/18/2024 08:24PM
Really enjoyed your trip report. I’ve not soloed overnight, just day trips, but did the counting thing you did. My trips have been with just one person. We didn’t talk much, sometimes go hours without a word. When you get into a rhythm it’s hard to do the thing that will mess with it. Eating is one of the of the things, the cooking and cleaning. That’s why power bars and trail mix are so convenient.
Did you lose a lot of weight?
It’s such a personal accomplishment to cover all those miles solo, responsible for only you, but also responsible for everything you need to do to get through the day.
I hope you get to do another trip and then write about it. Very enjoyable and conversational…even if one sided.
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| SaganagaJoe |
06/19/2024 09:02AM
One of the best reports I've read in a while. Well done.
I know the feeling of not feeling hungry when in the woods.
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| OldTripper |
06/22/2024 10:21AM
That was an excellent trip report, Noodle!
Very well written. Thanks for sharing.
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| noodle |
06/18/2024 06:17PM
New Trip Report posted by noodle
Trip Name: One to Seagull, one-way.
Entry Point: 30
Click Here to View Trip Report
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| RetiredDave |
06/18/2024 07:20PM
I really enjoyed the narrative of your solo trip. It was honest, descriptive, and lots of fun to read! Some of your days were real pushes, and I know the feeling of being too beat to eat. I wish I had done something like your trip when I was a bit younger. Your writing style is to be commended!
I think we all know the feeling of "Should I follow the plan? Or, should I shorten the trip?" I've done both. I think we really learn a lot about ourselves solo canoeing.
Thanks for the enjoyable read and keep posting!
Dave
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| bruleman |
06/19/2024 10:51AM
A good portage trip and report, yes, but what struck me as missing, was paddling all those good fishing waters and not even wetting a line. I began going to the BWCA with my dad in 1957 to the Brule Island Camp and have visited, mostly, once a year over a period of over 50 years. We camped, portaged and experienced it in every imageable way but always got in some fishing time.
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