Woke up at 5:30am this morning and started to getting our gear together and packed in the car. During all this early morning of scrambling around, Dad came over to Jackson and I and reminded us we forgot to wash the big pots and pans from dinner last night. Sometimes you just need to roll up your sleeves and get the job done. Well that’s just what Jackson and I did. We placed the pots and pans in the sink to dry and went about our business. Greg Negard looked on and tells me to turn the pots and pans upside down so they dry! Ha ha! What was I thinking!

We headed out of Bemidji, MN at 6:30 am with a canoe strapped to the top of Dads Subaru Outback. Then, around 9:30 am we crossed the border at International Falls. New scenery and the metric numbering system were now in full effect. Fastest speed limit was 55 mph or 80 km. Made it to Red Lake at 2:30 pm and first stop was at Red Lake Outfitter to see Harlan and get our permits for Woodland Caribou. Harlan showed us some nice spots on the map and told us we are in for some world class fishing! Next, we checked into the Super 8 right when you get into town by the Tim Hortons. Relaxed for a while and then went out to check out the town. We walked around downtown by the float planes and docks, and found a burger place called Lake View and stopped in for a fantastic burger. We all knew this would be our last cooked to order meal for a week! Or at least till Tuesday Dad joked! This evening we watched GI JOE in black, white and predominate green. The TV could color could not be change and there was a strawberry commercial that kept advertising green strawberries.

Jackson had to use the restroom and when he came out I told him to close that bathroom door! Later on, I had to use the bathroom and when I got in there, I knew something was just not right. After several flushing attempts, I had to approach Jackson about clogging up the toilet. He looked guilty from the get go and owned up to what had happened by calling the front desk and requesting a plunger to the room. The attendant said we can come down and get it. Sure enough, the plunger was on the front desk wrapped in a plastic bag, ready to go to work. There wasn’t anyone at the front desk, and it had only been a minute since Jackson hung up the phone in the room. Guess it’s better this way, no awkward conversation about why we are here to pick up the plunger. Jackson and I were laughing the entire time while running through the hotel with the plunger. After many failed plunging attempts, we could not fix the situation and frustration was setting in. Not to mention all the flushing, splashing, and plunger noise coming from the bathroom. All this commotion woke Dad up because we could not get the job done. Dad got up and showed us how to use the plunger, see there is a rubber flap on the inside that needed to be extended out to work properly. We were all laughing! Tonight I went to bed with sore stomach muscles from laughing so much, sometimes that pain can be the greatest.