Fitz owns a cabin on the Vermilion River so, we all spend the night before there. We’re up insanely early to get to Anderson Outfitters in Crane Lake by 6:00 a.m. to catch our tow to Bottle portage. The “fossils” among us are astonished by an antiquated vestige of a bygone era (a phone booth) propped up just outside and reminisce of having to use one like it to call our parents to pick us up from practice back in the day.

After that short stroll down amnesia lane, we load up and are on our way across Crane Lake to the Loon River. It’s a cool overcast morning but the added adrenaline of starting our adventure is sufficient to burn the edge off as we roar across the lake & up the river. We share the tow with 2 other gentlemen, who tell us they will be staying on Lac La Croix, and the outfitter dog “Brewer” whose curiosity becomes a little ‘taxing’ as he tirelessly scurries back and forth about the boat.

Our first stop is at Loon Falls portage. We all hop out and leisurely stroll alongside the rail tracks that pull the loaded boat up and over the hill into Loon Lake. Passing by some charming flowers still in bloom along the way, Naomi is chided not to pick them as we converge at the dock just as the boat is being released off the carriage back into the water.

It is a shorter trek up to Beatty portage where we “rinse & repeat” before getting back on the water for the final long haul up to Bottle portage.

Hopefully, this will be our, one and, only portage of the day. Confident in that, we have indulged and brought a few extra luxury items along. Curious, some of the younger members of our crew veer left at the fork the first time across while the rest of us take the high road to the right. Converging at the rocky landing at Bottle Lake, those that took the muddy mess low road resolve to use the other trail on their next excursion across.

In short order we are loaded up and paddling out across Bottle Lake. Fitz, Caroline & Naomi are in the first canoe, Father Brandon, Isaiah & Zoe in the next, lastly Aurora & I paddle The Black Pearl. It’s overcast and even before we reach Iron Aurora & I get hung up on a rock-odile lurking just below the surface. After catching up to the rest of the gang near Iron Lake, it starts raining. Gently at first but, at times, it briefly morphs into a sideways pins & needles tribulation. Still, it never gets too serious, and we paddle our way south hopeful to grab the site on the large island situated near that end of the lake.

We’d met a group heading out on the portage and they told us the lake was mostly empty, and we’ve already passed a few vacant sites so, we’re feeling pretty good about our chances. The protracted paddle around the island heightens our anticipation as we creep around from one corner to the next. Fitz is in the lead canoe and seeing them make a beeline towards shore signals to the rest of us that the site is indeed vacant.

A nice gently sloping granite landing is just out in front of an exquisite fire grate that rivals any to be found in all of canoe country. The site, and really the vast majority of this large island, is crowned with a majestic stand of mature red pines that afford interminable tarp & hammock options. Of course, like all stands of red pine, there is limited undergrowth to contend with so exploration will be convenient as well. There are plenty of flat tent pads peppered about, so I think it’s safe to say, everyone is instantly smitten with the site and set up soon beings in earnest.

The rain has stopped and while us elders are putting the finishing touches on getting camp up, the kids are eager to try their luck fishing. Caroline draws first blood as she hauls in a decent smallie right from shore. Apparently, Father Brandon is still ruminating on a recent Gospel Passage (“Do you think I have come to give peace on earth? No, I tell you, but rather division; for henceforth in one house there will be five divided, three against two and two against three...”) as he breaks us into groups: Fitz, Caroline, Aurora & myself vs. Father, Naomi, Isaiah & Zoe. Much to the angst of Caroline, Father Brandon says only walleyes count and initiates plenty of dubious trash talking even after Aurora brings in a couple of small walleyes giving us the early lead.

It’s early in the trip, but it’s clearly evident that some definitive personality characteristics have already bubbled to the surface within our group dynamic. Much like Aurora, Isaiah is more contemplative, quiet and reserved; while Caroline & Zoe are anything but! As they both impetuously say whatever’s on their mind – most especially whenever it has anything to do with how they feel about Father Brandon and his behaviors. For his part, Father Brandon is eager and tireless in “poking the hive” provoking and inflaming the previously mentioned behaviors.

It remains overcast and looks like it wants to rain but, we don’t see much the rest of the day. Father, Naomi, Aurora & Isaiah sit down around the blue barrel to play a game of cards, Fitz & Caroline try some shoreline fishing, Zoe takes a nap, and I strike out to find some firewood.

Father informs everyone that we should just start calling him ‘BWCA Brandon’ because he’s an expert at all things associated with being out here and begins bellowing some bothersome guttural sounds that are allegedly supposed to be spot on animal sounds/calls. Meanwhile, Naomi takes no small amount of contentment in beating Father at cards just before we all reconvene to prepare our supper of hamburgers, brats & corn on the cob. Afterwards, Naomi puts Zoe’s hair up in a Dutch braid as we’re all hopeful that the clouds will move on but unfortunately, it’s remains an overcast sky tonight so no stars or talk if the moon is waxing or waning.