Sunday, May 24, 2015 Day two began with me up early (as usual) and the others sleeping. I heard Mike groan and say, "I want to get up but my body won't let me." Yes, we had really pushed ourselves hard on the first day but we had little time to rest! Only three days to enjoy the trip. Not long after, all four of us were up and having biscuits, gravy and eggs (another staple of our trips). One of the fun dynamics of our trips is that the sons are disdainful of their dads but extra nice to the uncle. Colin will rip me and tease me the whole time while deferring to Mike's wisdom in all things. Alex will thank me profusely for cooking and say "We eat better here than we do at home." It's all in good fun. So while Alex thanks me for the meals, Colin openly challenges my skills and critiques me. This morning had the same flavor. After breakfast, we took off to fish again and once again stayed out all day. We trolled on LLC and casted jigs here and there, catching fish now and again. After crossing the portage on to LCC around noon, we stopped on the big rock across from the portage for lunch and a swim. As we were sitting in the sun, snacking we suddenly heard a female voice say, "I'm going to swim to that big rock." We looked down the lake about 1/4 mile to see a young lady jump in and begin to swim in our direction. We laughed and asked one another, "Is she really coming this way?" Sure enough after a few minutes up she swam. "Are you a mermaid?" I asked. No she replied. Just a former U of M water polo swimmer with a sense of adventure who did not see us as she jumped in. No matter. We offered her some of our snack, chatted with her a bit and then she swam off to the next spot. It was one of the more amusing social interactions we have had on our trips. The rest of the day we fished and finally went up the river to the 115 and home like the day before. Before we got home, Colin caught one good sized northern that I offered to land for him. I got the fish in the canoe when all hell broke loose--it thrashed free of my grip, spilled the leech bucket, pooped all over my shirt, sent lures scattering from the tackle box and "swam" its way up under my seat so I could not get ahold of it. "Come on, man, it's just a fish" said my loving son. Fish dinner and a game of euchre along with a perfect sunset made for a wonderful end to the day. In two days we had squeezed every possible experience out of this trip. What a great time.