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BearBrown
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I haven't solo'ed in the dub yet but have once while hiking for several days.
I'm looking forward to my solo canoe trip this year because it will be so much less hassle to deal with. I only have to plan for me: what I want to take with, carry, eat, see, fish, camp at and so forth. I always do just about all of the planning for our group trips, from canoe routes, to menu, to permits and canoe rental.
I also don't like having to tell people not to do stupid stuff like yell a lot or throw stuff into the lake that doesn't belong there and having to generally guide people in leave no trace practices. And we all have our own opinions on how to do things.... So I think it will be refreshing to do a trip how I want to do a trip. Just go where I want, how far I want, take photos when I want, fish where I want, camp where I want. etc.
Sounds great to me.
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mooseplums
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Its all about me and the outdoors, one on one....simple as that.
"Nothin wrong with quiet" ~ Jeremiah Johnson
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nctry
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quote BearBrown: "I haven't solo'ed in the dub yet but have once while hiking for several days.
I'm looking forward to my solo canoe trip this year because it will be so much less hassle to deal with. I only have to plan for me: what I want to take with, carry, eat, see, fish, camp at and so forth. I always do just about all of the planning for our group trips, from canoe routes, to menu, to permits and canoe rental.
I also don't like having to tell people not to do stupid stuff like yell a lot or throw stuff into the lake that doesn't belong there and having to generally guide people in leave no trace practices. And we all have our own opinions on how to do things.... So I think it will be refreshing to do a trip how I want to do a trip. Just go where I want, how far I want, take photos when I want, fish where I want, camp where I want. etc.
Sounds great to me. "
Good to hear a young person with your wilderness ethics. I think you'll enjoy the solo thing... This must drive outfitters bananas cause profit to them is numbers. But a group of one has very little effect on the land as compared to a group of nine. I wish the numbers where more like six max with the nine rule on portages.
I got bored or tired of taking groups out all the time when I was your age and started exploring my options. The BW is only one out of several good options within easy reach of Minnesota. Soloing just happened for me... I didn't even think of it as anything that crazy. So when life let me back into the canoe scene, it was natural to take off on my own. Be safe! Can't stress that enough. But enjoy your time alone. I saw photography is important to you. It would be a bugger to me to always feel rushed or whatever taking away from that interest alone.
Enjoy!
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Merganser
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I prefer to paddle a solo canoe over a tandem. It's just more gracefully and usually all the paddlers are in sync. I can take the line I want at the pace I want. I have not done a group solo, I don't know how that would impact those dynamics but I'd like to find out sometime.
Other than when you meet other paddlers it's just you in the wild. Much more of an immersion experience than with the distractions of a group.
I can move every day and travel longer, harder routes than any of my trip mates are interested in. This was part of what got me started.
You do all the work. Nobody complains. All deisions are unanimously agreed on. I can get up and travel early. Make camp when I want, where I want.
I guess it's all about me isn't It.
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butthead
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I just think paddling a solo canoe is much more fun!
I can be quite the hermit without trouble, yet I enjoy company now and then, hence the idea of "Group Solo Trips" oxymoron that it is.
butthead
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TomT
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For me it's a lot less stressfull. I've always been the group leader when I go with others and feel responsible for them having a good time and staying safe. Going solo = no worries. I am able to clear my head and really relax and get into it.
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boonie
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I like that it's "perfectly me" - there are no interruptions of my immersion in the world, of my awareness and observation, of my thoughts. There are no compromises - it's totally selfish and totally relaxing. I like the silence and the stillness that goes with the minimized impact that a solo paddler has on that world. My connection with the natural world is uninterrupted when I'm solo. It's a whole different world and experience than my everyday life.
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bwcasolo
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for me it is the me, myself and i thing. i just love the leave me alone time.
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kanoes
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quote bwcasolo: " for me it is the me, myself and i thing. i just love the leave me alone time."
ditto that.
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RainGearRight
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I've only one solo under my belt with one penciled in for August but I found the the positives to be planning only for myself. Trying to get my friends to commit and help plan a group trip is exhausting.
Being self sufficient is an amazing feeling. Nothing gets across that portage unless I carry it and by the time I drop into the hammock at the next camp it is because I got myself there.
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yellowcanoe
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It's easier for me to get me moving than me and an army of cats. Ever see how long it takes for a group to get going..someone has to go pee,someone forgot something.
Solo too the pressure is off. If you don't feel like doing something noone says you have to.
You learn alot more solo.. as you are responsible for you.
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Sierra1
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I really like to go solo. It's good for the soul and refreshing to leave everything and everyone behind to become a bit introspective. That and you can make all of your own decisions without bargaining with someone else. Then there are the "other" reasons...
1. I don't have to listen to someone snore all night long and keep me awake. I can do that well enough by myself.
2. I get to eat the whole walleye and cook it the way I want.
3. I don't have to listen too someone whine about the bugs, weather, food, portage, blah, blah, blah...
What are your "other" reasons..?
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PineKnot
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I can relax more on a solo. It's great for the soul. And I can burp and fart with no worries. And I don't have to smell someone else who farts in the tent at night.
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Sierra1
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Here's something else to think about. When I'm soloing I feel much more aware of where I am and what I'm doing. Everything you do has more importance. You seem to be more on your toes and alert. More focused without the tunnel vision effect you have at home. i feel more alive...
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kanoes
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2 or 3 years ago i got a bug up my a$$ for an early april trip, the previous record iceout. i didnt have to look for a partner...i just went. FREEDOM!
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jwartman59
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it's quiet.
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boonie
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quote yellowcanoe: "It's easier for me to get me moving than me and an army of cats. Ever see how long it takes for a group to get going..someone has to go pee,someone forgot something."
That's the truth, too. When my brother goes with me, it cuts the expense of travel to MN but increases the time. There's an obscure law of nature that states that no two bladders can ever be coordinated :).
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Banksiana
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My solo boat is a Time Machine-
Days are full and last forever- a week can double in volume, twelve days become a joyous month.
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Minnesotian
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quote boonie: "quote yellowcanoe: "It's easier for me to get me moving than me and an army of cats. Ever see how long it takes for a group to get going..someone has to go pee,someone forgot something."
That's the truth, too. When my brother goes with me, it cuts the expense of travel to MN but increases the time. There's an obscure law of nature that states that no two bladders can ever be coordinated :)."
Agreed. When I solo, I take as much time as I want in the morning. Usually I find myself on the water or starting to hike about half an hour after sunrise. When I am with others, we are lucky if we are moving by 10:00 in the morning. Drives me nuts!
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AndySG
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quote kanoes: "quote bwcasolo: " for me it is the me, myself and i thing. i just love the leave me alone time."
ditto that."
Agreed. Nothing like "total me time" while doing something I love.
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boonie
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Another solo positive is that there's no one to talk me into doing something stupid (not that I usually need help). Of course, there's no one to talk me out of it either.
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Zulu
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I like the freedom to extend or shorten the length of the trip without considering someone else's wishes other than the dogs.
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boonie
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quote RainGearRight: "I've only one solo under my belt with one penciled in for August but I found the the positives to be planning only for myself. Trying to get my friends to commit and help plan a group trip is exhausting. "
Ain't that the truth! I'm usually trying to get one other person to go with me because of the expense and the distance, and even that gets so complicated that I've just taken to saying "Here's what I'm doing and when I'm doing it. If that works out for you, great! I'll need to know by _______ and I'll need xxx$ by then." Going alone sure does simplify it a lot and it's still a lot of work.
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bear bait
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I can do what I want when I want how I want where I want.
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TomT
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quote bear bait: "I can do what I want when I want how I want where I want. "
Don't take this the wrong way, but After 23 years of marriage, it's a good thing to have that personal freedom. Marriage is all about compromising. There's no compromising on a solo trip!
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rookie in 03
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For me the peace and quiet along with a total awareness of the bdub can't be found on our group trips.
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boonie
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quote TomT: "quote bear bait: "I can do what I want when I want how I want where I want. "
Don't take this the wrong way, but After 23 years of marriage, it's a good thing to have that personal freedom. Marriage is all about compromising. There's no compromising on a solo trip!
"
Somebody once asked me what my wife did while I was gone on my solo vacations. I said she did whatever she wanted to do. I think she likes my solo trips - she usually takes several days off from work while I'm gone.
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bear bait
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quote TomT: "quote bear bait: "I can do what I want when I want how I want where I want. "
Don't take this the wrong way, but After 23 years of marriage, it's a good thing to have that personal freedom. Marriage is all about compromising. There's no compromising on a solo trip!
"
solo tripping is what i'm talking about.
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OBX2Kayak
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quote AndySG: "quote kanoes: "quote bwcasolo: " for me it is the me, myself and i thing. i just love the leave me alone time."
ditto that."
Agreed. Nothing like "total me time" while doing something I love."
+3 I love the solitude.
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Franzenrp
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The biggest positive thing on a solo trip is, that there is no negatives !
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TomT
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quote bear bait: "quote TomT: "quote bear bait: "I can do what I want when I want how I want where I want. "
Don't take this the wrong way, but After 23 years of marriage, it's a good thing to have that personal freedom. Marriage is all about compromising. There's no compromising on a solo trip!
"
solo tripping is what i'm talking about."
I knew that I just don't want people to think I have to escape my wife. :)
Single people have total freedom to do as they please and probably can't releate to this. When soloing, it's a very cool feeling to not have to check with anyone when there's a decision to be made.
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bwcasolo
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right on banksi!
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