2011 - TRIP PLANNING BEGINS IN AN UNLIKELY PLACE - It was a beautiful mid-July morning and we were sitting in a treatment room in Hartford, CT where Bette was to begin her first treatment of chemotherapy. She looked over to me, where a large picture hung behind me, and says “Rick, look at that picture. It looks just like a scene from the Boundary Waters”. I looked and quickly agreed; it looks just like a lake shore in the Boundary Waters. I examine the picture and notice the title “Moon Over Cherokee Lake” by Craig Blacklock.

This is a special, almost surreal omen for us, and we are both amazed by this coincidence; it took on special meaning to us. You need to realize that the Boundary Waters are not well known in Connecticut, so to find a particular lake which my wife had previously selected for a future trip, takes on the status of a “sign”. It speaks to Kiporby’s July/August thread, “Do you feel his presence”, and we did at that moment. Although I have essentially planned our past 5 trips, I had asked Bette to choose a lake she would like to visit and her choice was Cherokee Lake; she made this selection over 2 years ago, we were stalled by which way to enter and get to this lake.

Needless to say we have made Cherokee Lake our destination for 2011. As we begin planning our trip to Cherokee Lake we plan to enter thru Entry #50 and depart out of Entry #47 thru Poplar Lake. We will be asking for some portage information. Of course I will rely on all of you for that planning assist.

Bette is now more than 2/3rds thru her treatment regiment and is keeping her positive focus every minute, I am very proud of her.

Thank you all,

“Boppa”