Little Indian Sioux Loop Through The Beartracks
by HighPlainsDrifter
Trip Type:
Paddling Canoe
Entry Date:
05/31/2008
Entry & Exit Point:
Little Indian Sioux River (north) (EP 14)
Number of Days:
8
Group Size:
4
Part 2 of 11
Travel to Ely
In years past, the day before day zero had Matthew and Nate doing some strange “11th hour“ heroics. I had bad memories of the year of the last-minute oil change (11 PM) in my driveway, during a thunderstorm, and the accidental fill up without the oil plug in place. This resulted in a mad dash for the cat litter, chaos, and no sleep for the “old man” before the 450 mile trek to the promise land. So, once again, I asked “the boys” (as Dave used to call them), lets get it done early in the week, 4 AM comes early. Who is going to help with the fried egg sandwiches? A silence fell over the land, and the “old man” made breakfast for “put-in” day.
And, so it came to pass, after the usual night-before last-minute “brain gas” events, that morning came and Ely was finally on the radar. We stopped, as usual, in Marshall, MN, for our McDonald’s breakfast. After that, gas at Saint Cloud and lunch at Cloquet. Along the way, I constantly quizzed Danielle on the artists of moldy old tunes. Well, I had fun and a captive audience. The miles clicked off quickly. Soon, we were looking for the big blue water tank that marks Ely, and the end of a long day. Just before Ely, hey, that is a moose standing there! Yup, that is a moose and a big one too.
We arrive at the door of VNO around 3 PM and Lynn remembered my name! Now that is very good PR. She is the same person that responded to my email question about spring bugs as: ”You probably should be just fine, I think that the ticks will eat all of the black flies!”. This was our first time at VNO and I got to say, they are good people, fun, and highly recommended for a place to hang your hat. Lynn gave us our “canoe paddle” key and we left to check out our digs. This wasn’t the Ritz, but the atmosphere and being together was priceless. Then we headed to town to do the usual things to help with the Ely economy, pick up the permit, buy a new fishing pole, buy T-shirts, souvenirs, wolf down some beers, and “carb-up” with pasta at the Italian joint. It is then out for an after-dinner drive to entry 14.
In our quest for an early departure, we like to do a test drive in unfamiliar country. It is worth doing, because in the morning we would leave in the dark. The Echo Trail was about the slowest and roughest hunk of "maintained" gravel road I have been on. Usually, we buzz along a good FS road at 40+. The Echo Trail could take off your front end if you try that. Before we left, we asked Lynn, how long to get out to LIS North? She said an hour, with a smile. Go on! It ain't that far. It took an hour + change, but we saw 2 moose.
We parked the car at the entry and hustled down the trail to the river. There she was, quiet, and flowing away to parts unknown. I was pumped. Damn that water looks good. Look at that country. We should see moose. Ok, we are getting up here early! Lets get back to VNO and catch a few winks. You asleep yet?
In years past, the day before day zero had Matthew and Nate doing some strange “11th hour“ heroics. I had bad memories of the year of the last-minute oil change (11 PM) in my driveway, during a thunderstorm, and the accidental fill up without the oil plug in place. This resulted in a mad dash for the cat litter, chaos, and no sleep for the “old man” before the 450 mile trek to the promise land. So, once again, I asked “the boys” (as Dave used to call them), lets get it done early in the week, 4 AM comes early. Who is going to help with the fried egg sandwiches? A silence fell over the land, and the “old man” made breakfast for “put-in” day.
And, so it came to pass, after the usual night-before last-minute “brain gas” events, that morning came and Ely was finally on the radar. We stopped, as usual, in Marshall, MN, for our McDonald’s breakfast. After that, gas at Saint Cloud and lunch at Cloquet. Along the way, I constantly quizzed Danielle on the artists of moldy old tunes. Well, I had fun and a captive audience. The miles clicked off quickly. Soon, we were looking for the big blue water tank that marks Ely, and the end of a long day. Just before Ely, hey, that is a moose standing there! Yup, that is a moose and a big one too.
We arrive at the door of VNO around 3 PM and Lynn remembered my name! Now that is very good PR. She is the same person that responded to my email question about spring bugs as: ”You probably should be just fine, I think that the ticks will eat all of the black flies!”. This was our first time at VNO and I got to say, they are good people, fun, and highly recommended for a place to hang your hat. Lynn gave us our “canoe paddle” key and we left to check out our digs. This wasn’t the Ritz, but the atmosphere and being together was priceless. Then we headed to town to do the usual things to help with the Ely economy, pick up the permit, buy a new fishing pole, buy T-shirts, souvenirs, wolf down some beers, and “carb-up” with pasta at the Italian joint. It is then out for an after-dinner drive to entry 14.
In our quest for an early departure, we like to do a test drive in unfamiliar country. It is worth doing, because in the morning we would leave in the dark. The Echo Trail was about the slowest and roughest hunk of "maintained" gravel road I have been on. Usually, we buzz along a good FS road at 40+. The Echo Trail could take off your front end if you try that. Before we left, we asked Lynn, how long to get out to LIS North? She said an hour, with a smile. Go on! It ain't that far. It took an hour + change, but we saw 2 moose.
We parked the car at the entry and hustled down the trail to the river. There she was, quiet, and flowing away to parts unknown. I was pumped. Damn that water looks good. Look at that country. We should see moose. Ok, we are getting up here early! Lets get back to VNO and catch a few winks. You asleep yet?
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