BWCA Trip Report - Happy 75th Birthday Grandpa - Saganaga/Ester August 2016 Boundary Waters Trip Reports
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SaganagaJoe
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08/18/2016 02:00PM  
New Trip Report posted by SaganagaJoe

Trip Name: Happy 75th Birthday Grandpa - Saganaga/Ester August 2016.

Entry Point: 55

Click Here to View Trip Report
 
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08/18/2016 08:55PM  
thanks for sharing your relationship with your Grampa and how he has influenced you throughout your life. It's clear this trip was for him and i hope he is able to do more trips with you in the future. that portage to Ester can be pretty tough, i'm sure your grampa was determined to get to the lake and the sandy beach area. i've been studying google earth maps looking for that trail up to the bluff, maybe you can find it with GrammaL's description.

looking forward to more trip reports from you. i really appreciate you including your spiritual side and the connection you feel when you're out in the wilderness.
08/18/2016 09:23PM  
Great report Joe. It was great meeting you and your Grandpa the other day. He is a really cool man. Wished I had more time to talk to you guys.
08/18/2016 09:33PM  
Great trip report, Saganaga Joe! Both photos and text. Sharing across generations means a lot! PS: gravity filters work pretty good.
SaganagaJoe
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08/18/2016 10:20PM  
Thanks Sheryl, Dan, and Ray! I appreciate your kind remarks. Part of me is quietly hoping that someday I have a grandson who will bring me up north and take care of me!

The Ester portage was tough for him. He said he got a little winded on the steep part but he made it, and we took a nice long break before paddling, Fortunately he only had a light pack and 2 paddles to carry.

Ray, I am a firm believer in gravity filters. They are the way to go.

I'll have to remember to have Grandpa ask Don Germain where that trail was. He'll remember.
bottomtothetap
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08/20/2016 09:29PM  
Enjoyed your report.

I appreciate your writing style--shows much insight beyond your youth. If your grandpa was as much of a mentor to you as you describe, he's done a job he should be proud of!
plexmidwest
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08/22/2016 10:37AM  
Nice report Joe, glad things went well with grandpa.
SaganagaJoe
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08/23/2016 07:15AM  
Thanks guys!
08/23/2016 08:04AM  
what was the name of the book your grandpa wrote Joe?
ozarkpaddler
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08/23/2016 10:53PM  
quote bottomtothetap: "Enjoyed your report.


I appreciate your writing style--shows much insight beyond your youth. If your grandpa was as much of a mentor to you as you describe, he's done a job he should be proud of!"


I have to "Quote" bottomofthetap here, because he certainly said everything I am thinking! I feel we are very fortunate that you share these trip reports with us, Joe. They are more than just "Good reading" to me, they are outright "Treasures" to me, and I certainly beleve they are that to your grandfather? You AND he are truly "Blessed" to have each other and we are "Blessed" to have you on this forum; thanks so much for "Sharing," Joe!
SaganagaJoe
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08/24/2016 07:11AM  
quote Kiporby: "what was the name of the book your grandpa wrote Joe?"


Growing Inside Outside, by Thomas F. Hall
SaganagaJoe
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08/24/2016 07:21AM  
quote ozarkpaddler: "
quote bottomtothetap: "Enjoyed your report.

I appreciate your writing style--shows much insight beyond your youth. If your grandpa was as much of a mentor to you as you describe, he's done a job he should be proud of!"


I have to "Quote" bottomofthetap here, because he certainly said everything I am thinking! I feel we are very fortunate that you share these trip reports with us, Joe. They are more than just "Good reading" to me, they are outright "Treasures" to me, and I certainly beleve they are that to your grandfather? You AND he are truly "Blessed" to have each other and we are "Blessed" to have you on this forum; thanks so much for "Sharing," Joe!"


Thank you for the kind words Terry and bottomtothetap. I am truly blessed to have my grandpa as a part of my life. One of the best things my parents ever did was name me after him! If I can live my life with the same joy, vitality, life, exuberance, and faith that he has my life will have been well lived.
08/26/2016 09:24AM  
I enjoyed your trip report greatly, Joe. It was very well-written and I felt like I traveled along with you and Grandpa. That is the way a trip report should be. Thank you for sharing your blessings with us.

I have a great deal in common with your Grandpa. I am in my 70's, and I am very richly blessed with grandchildren who love me, including one who loves the north woods and the canoe country almost as much as Spartan1 and I do. I may have had my last canoe trip. I love the Lord. And I also had Mohs surgery this summer and still have a lesion on my face that I am supposed to wash daily and keep dry! (My doctor doesn't like peroxide and has different instructions for care, but it was still sort of fun to note all of the similarities.) I was pleased to hear that Grandpa's wound is healing well and that his doctor cleared him for the trip. Our generation made our early canoe trips (and all of our other outdoor adventures) in the era before sunscreen and we are paying the price. I hope you are taking that seriously. ;-)

Both you and your Grandpa are richly blessed. But of course I don't have to tell you that. You already know it.

One question. Do you use Photobucket to add the large photos to your report or some other method? I have always used Photobucket, but since we have moved and have DSL Internet I cannot get it to work for me. Perhaps it is my outdated operating system but even PB's tech support has been unable to help me. If you use some other system, could you share your technique with me, please? I like that so much better than having to click on small photos to see them in a report.

And your photos were wonderful, too!
SaganagaJoe
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08/26/2016 04:24PM  
Thanks for your feedback and encouragement, Lynda. Grandpa and I both wore hats most of the time and wore long pants and flannel shirts, so while we didn't use any sunscreen not much of our skin was exposed. I am very mindful of the effects of years of sunburn.

I upload my pictures using the standard way we have to do it on this site. The other variable is that I took most of the pictures with my iPhone 6 (with the really good camera) which may have something to do with the format the pictures were in and how they look once uploaded inside my report. I didn't use a different program.

Glad you enjoyed the report!
08/27/2016 07:36PM  
Very nice report. It serves as a fine reminder that we should thank those who introduced us to the outdoors and to try also to pass it along to others.

I hope that Grandpa gets to go again, but you have these memories no matter what, and those memories will always be on your trips.

I'm sure he is glad to have you, just like you are glad to have him.
SaganagaJoe
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08/27/2016 10:54PM  
quote 3Ball: "Very nice report. It serves as a fine reminder that we should thank those who introduced us to the outdoors and to try also to pass it along to others.


I hope that Grandpa gets to go again, but you have these memories no matter what, and those memories will always be on your trips.


I'm sure he is glad to have you, just like you are glad to have him."


Thanks, Jim. Yes, those memories are precious to me.
08/30/2016 10:18AM  
Awesome report,one of the best this year. Thanks.
SaganagaJoe
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08/31/2016 09:56AM  
quote Pinetree: "Awesome report,one of the best this year. Thanks."


Whoa Pinetree...thanks!
09/01/2016 08:44AM  
Since I only have a computer at work, it took me a few days to read, but well worth it - wonderful.
SaganagaJoe
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09/08/2016 06:52PM  
quote ParkerMag: "Since I only have a computer at work, it took me a few days to read, but well worth it - wonderful."


Thanks, Rod.
09/11/2016 12:09PM  
Thanks for sharing your trip report!

You and your grandpa have such a special relationship. You guys are lucky to have each other in your lives.
SaganagaJoe
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09/11/2016 06:51PM  
quote MNLindsey80: "Thanks for sharing your trip report!

You and your grandpa have such a special relationship. You guys are lucky to have each other in your lives. "


Thanks, Lindsey. Yes, I am so grateful to have my grandpa. He's a little bummed that he won't be coming along on my upcoming fall trip with me and one of my friends, but he'll be recovering from a routine cataracts surgery.
09/16/2016 09:22AM  
Great report. Thanks for sharing. I'd give my left arm for another camping trip with my grandpa. I'm glad you're still able to spend time out in the woods together.
SaganagaJoe
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09/22/2016 03:58PM  
quote hooky: "Great report. Thanks for sharing. I'd give my left arm for another camping trip with my grandpa. I'm glad you're still able to spend time out in the woods together."


It's bittersweet for me to think about the fact that every trip with him could be my last. There are no certainties in the future. I feel it more and more as time goes on.

My grandma basically has a terminal disease, she's doing well now but we're not sure when it will take her (could be many years, could only be a few) and I'm not going to take Grandpa away from her if she's not doing well. He's not getting any younger either. I leave all that in God's hands and thank Him for every chance I have to spend time with him. I hope we can get at least one more in.

My younger brother is almost old enough for me to take him, just the two of us. God has it such that he is exactly like his grandpa.
11/22/2021 11:32AM  
Joe,
I enjoy re-reading your trip reports, they always are uplifting and have great photos.

You've been quiet on this board the past few years. law school and the move back to MN to practice.

how is your grampa? how is being a lawyer?
SaganagaJoe
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02/11/2022 11:25AM  
Mocha: "Joe,
I enjoy re-reading your trip reports, they always are uplifting and have great photos.

You've been quiet on this board the past few years. law school and the move back to MN to practice.

how is your grampa? how is being a lawyer?"


Thanks, and glad you enjoy are still enjoying them! I log in every once in a while but it's been busy.

I haven't taken a trip since September 2016. Priorities shifted to hiking in Washington state while it was still easy for me to do that, some great memories I will never forget. Then I moved back to Minnesota in 2018, finished law school, moved to Brainerd (Cuyuna Country is awesome). got married, and then moved back to Maple Grove where I'm practicing law and getting ready to welcome my first child into the world in June. It's a boy!

I do want to keep posting my trip reports. I was going to take my bride and a few others to Ottertrack and Ester in September 2021 but got smoked out. We did a car camping trip with day hikes on the North Shore instead, and enjoyed kayaking in Brainerd all summer long before we moved back.

I still have all my BWCA gear and I may inherit an aluminum canoe when my in-laws downsize. So there are definitely more trips , Lord willing, in my future - with my wife, my son, my brothers...

Grandpa turned 80 last year and is in good health, exercising and walking all the time, tires a little more easily but is still going strong. I would be surprised if he got up to the BWCA again, more because of how difficult sleeping is. That makes memories of this trip all the more special.

I have not heard how Don and Carole are doing, have you? PM me...Thanks

Joe Pates
SaganagaJoe
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02/11/2022 11:34AM  
SaganagaJoe: "
quote hooky: "Great report. Thanks for sharing. I'd give my left arm for another camping trip with my grandpa. I'm glad you're still able to spend time out in the woods together."



It's bittersweet for me to think about the fact that every trip with him could be my last. There are no certainties in the future. I feel it more and more as time goes on.


My grandma basically has a terminal disease, she's doing well now but we're not sure when it will take her (could be many years, could only be a few) and I'm not going to take Grandpa away from her if she's not doing well. He's not getting any younger either. I leave all that in God's hands and thank Him for every chance I have to spend time with him. I hope we can get at least one more in.


My younger brother is almost old enough for me to take him, just the two of us. God has it such that he is exactly like his grandpa. "


Grandma is still with us and doing well, her condition is being managed well with medication.

My younger brother is now a head taller than me and could probably portage me and the canoe simultaneously. I may make him do that. haha
 
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