Boundary Waters, Trip Reports, BWCA, Stories

1st solo trip
by thecanoeman

Trip Type: Paddling Canoe
Entry Date: 06/10/2008
Entry & Exit Point: Fall Lake (EP 24)
Number of Days: 3
Group Size: 1
Day 2 of 3
Wednesday, June 11, 2008 I wake at 4:30 and I listen for wind, none, I listen for Rain, none. then I lay there soaking it all in when all of a sudden I feel another presence it is moving slowly but with a mission up my arm it was a TICK!!!! I move as though someone yelled BEAR and I grab the flashlight and I am right I crush it with all 230 lbs of force, what a way to wake up. It is a beautiful day but I suspect it wont be for long. I checked the weather before I left and the report calls for 20 to 30 mph winds. I get some great shots of the sunrise over the bay, by the time I make coffee the winds start up and within 1 hour they are howling. I try to hone my fire making skills and today is a better day. Camp bound I spend all day tending to the fire, chopping, splitting and drying wood out. I even made a wood pile that is going to make some weary traveler very happy. I did everything short of striking a match for them. I realize that one doesn't need to have a large blazing fire, I had one that was just right. I have a couple of visitors, the local camp robbers and they rob me blind. its been 24hrs without company and I feed them in fear that they will leave me, they oblige and keep me company for hours they would even fly and land on my hand. there was also a fledgling with them it was a very unusual color almost like steel blue. I here what I thought was an Eagle, when I move to get a closer look they both fly over my head they were dark and as large as an Eagle and made the same sound as one but I'm not sure what they were? When I check the canoe and see the leech container came loose from the wind so there go's $30.00 in a container and leeches. again I am sleeping by 8:00 pm. All through the night we have some very bad winds and rain, I wake a couple of times to check on the canoe.

3 camp robbers, 2 unknown Eagle like birds, no mosquitoes and 1 TICK