Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Trip Reports :: Trip Report - Return to Cherokee (with a bonus)
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Spartan2 |
quote wawasee: "What a great trip report! I wish I had the oppurtunity to meet some of you fine folks!" Well, one suggestion I might have is if you can make it to Madison, Wisconsin March 8-10 for Canoecopia, a lot of us will be there then. There is usually a gathering of bwca.com folks one evening, and you will also see many of us on the floor of the exposition, and certainly we will be at Jerry's (One Match) session when he sings his songs with the One Match Band! Come get acquainted with us then. |
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mcspin50 |
Take care, Lil M. |
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Spartan2 |
And of course the other one is our BWCA.com decal, but I assume you might have recognized that. :-) |
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wawasee |
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Spartan2 |
We think the Steri-Pen worked out fine. No problems so far and we've been off the water for--what?--10 days. It is easier than filtering, and quicker. Actually that is David with a dog brush, I believe. We didn't have a clothes lint brush along. I don't think most people go on a canoe trip with a lot of clothing care items, do they? LOL! I have a Big Agnes sleeping bag with the integrated pad, which I love. I am a "tosser and turner" and until I got that I could NEVER stay on my pad and would wake up cold because I had rolled off. Neil insists that an Exped wouldn't fit in the sleeve of my bag, but I am not totally convinced. We may investigate it if I go again. (I only say "if" because it looks like next year I'll be having a couple of knees replaced and I may eventually be headed for spinal surgery, so who knows?) That is Bill in the sunrise. Neil took that photo. He will be pleased that you like it. Piwi is amazingly good in the canoe, I think, for a puppy 8 months old. That was one thing that surprised me a bit. Now for the eggs. This year we got pasteurized eggs from my daughter in the Chicago area, so I didn't have to worry about salmonella (I have never worried for us, but with sharing them with others I was a little leery). We carry them in a very odd manner, but we have done it for many years and it works for us. We wrap them, in their original store (cardboard) cartons in two paper grocery bags. Then we duct-tape that package underneath the stern seat of the canoe. They just "ride" there during paddling and portaging and they do fine. When in camp we put them in a cool place, usually under the canoe, and at night he usually hangs the pack or stashes it up in a tree. We took two dozen this time and didn't break a one (until we wanted to.) They were yummy! |
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Spartan2 |
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shock |
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cheesewiz |
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Spartan2 |
quote Papinator: Really? I have no idea about mushrooms, so wouldn't have dared to eat any. I just thought some of them were interesting-looking. There were lots around this year--many I didn't photograph, too. (and some that I photographed but the photos were lousy.) |
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Spartan2 |
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Spartan2 |
I wish I had realized who you were so that we could have said "hello" in person. Watching you take off with that canoe made my day! (and made me feel about 90 years old all at the same time. LOL!) |
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OneMatch |
I'm sorry you didn't get to camp at your site. As you know, that is one of my favorites as well, but I have to admit you turned your travels into an adventure. I totally enjoyed this. Thanks for taking the time to make it a great read. |
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otter1 |
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quark2222 |
Tomster |
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mooseplums |
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misqua |
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Dennisal |
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canucanu2 |
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Spartan2 |
Trip Name: Return to Cherokee (with a bonus). Entry Point: 38 Click Here to View Trip Report |
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Papinator |
Will have to try to make it there next year for sure, we're planning on purchasing a new canoe :) I will also say I'm super jealous of your mushroom finds! Several of those photos are pictures of some tasties! |
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plainspaddler |
Mike |
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Twins87 |
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alpine525 |
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Ho Ho |
We would, however, like to dispel one misconception that somehow pops up throughout the report, which is that David and I were along to help. The truth is that we were just along to have fun. And we had a really really wonderful time (as did Piwi). Thanks for taking us along! Of course I could comment on every little thing, but I'll wait until I write my own report, which will be sometime in the winter because I'm much lazier than you. :-) But two comments can't wait - First, the chickadee you photographed on Day 3 of our trip sure looks like a Boreal Chickadee, which is really quite rare in the lower 48 ("serious" birders flock to NE Minnesota in the hopes of finding one), in contrast to the much more common Black-capped Chickadee, which outnumber Boreals even in canoe country 1000 to 1 (that's a ball-park estimate). The key fieldmark that is visible in your picture is the brown (rather than black) crown. That's very cool! (Unfortunately, David and I were out evaluating campsites when you saw this guy.) Second, I'm as shocked and horrified as everyone else that David is cleaning lint (or dog hair, to be more precise) off of his fleece on a canoe trip. Has he no shame? Thanks for the great trip and great report! |
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WhiteWolf |
I'am moved deeply by the love the "Spartans" show for canoe country but even more by HO HO and David's act of sacrifice. Unreal. If the "Spartans" ever need help getting to where they wanna get in the BWCAW, if possible, I would help as much as I can. We need more HO HO and David's in this world. BTW-- my wife has been an insulin dependent diabetic since the age of 3, and we could only have one child (with many complications-- but such a blessing in the end.) Alot like what canoe country throws at a person. I truly understand the difficulties "canoe country" can impose on such people. The "Spartans" are true warriors. Thanks for giving me the "fever" back. |
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Canoodler |
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Spartan2 |
There are several fairly easy routes out of Sawbill. We had one super-easy trip from there, the first trip after Spartan1's kidney transplant. If it is still raining, see my trip report entitled, "The Celebration Trip". It was from Sawbill also, and almost no portages! Some nice loon shots in that trip, too, as I remember. Good wishes to you for your health. I sympathize, or empathize, or whatever the correct term is. :-) |
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Spartan2 |
I use Photobucket for the photos and a tag is embedded in the report but the image is online at photobucket. It is quite easy once you get the hang of it. I just resize the images to 800 x 600 and put them in Photobucket, then use the IMG button to copy and paste them into the report. It is a trick I learned from Ho Ho, not my original idea. |
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ozarkpaddler |
quote Spartan2: "ozarkpaddler, Well, headed out the door in a few minutes, but the rain is supposed to continue tomorrow (not complaining, we NEED it). So, I've got some more reading to do. THANKS! |
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ArrowheadPaddler |
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ozarkpaddler |
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mjmkjun |
Piwi deserves a cookie for good manners. |
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nojobro |
quote Spartan2: " I was sure hoping not! Lol |
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paddlefamily |
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toonces300 |
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nojobro |
Is that a pic of David with a lint brush???? :-) How do you carry your fresh eggs? We never have brought fresh, but we recently built a coop and now have backyard city chickens. I would maybe bring some next time... I love all your pics, but there was one in the mist that I really loved, and the one of the three loons, all with their tails to the camera. And the picture of (who?) in the sunrise is really cool, too. Our dog Booker challenges Piwi to a "best canoe campign dog" championship! :) Though perhaps he would only "win" the camping portion (he only tolerates the canoeing). Though I have to admit Piwi sounds more entertaining. I am amazed that this is the first time you have heard wolves howling, with how many trips you have taken. Neat! And did the Steri Pen work out? |
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onepaddleshort |
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fishonfishoff |
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Wilderness Mama |
Bill and David are friends of ours, and I'm the one who does the campsite evaluations for BWJ. Since we had an old map when we were there, I didn't realize until returning home that we had missed two of the campsites. I was so grateful that they were willing to check them out for me. Also, you stayed at "our" campsite on Cherokee and your story and photos brought back precious memories. Every time we go out there and camp, we claim each spot as our own. Each time I evaluate a campsite, I think of what it would be like for those camping there...perhaps the rating goes a little higher according to the happy memories associated with it. Love your foggy photos, too. And the big beaver dam...more memories! LOL! Heather (Wilderness Mama) |
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Boppa |
You have done a great job in bringing this wonderful trip to us and have shared this trip with us in a unique way. Kudos' to Bill and David as they show a side of/to canoe trippers and of this site that there are others whom are willing to help because of what they find of value in canoe tripping. I have experienced that side of this site as well. Thanks for keeping the desire and spirit of tripping going forward - how many years was that? lol Thanks as always, Boppa |
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SunCatcher |
I truly enjoyed the photo's and play by play. "Piwi" looked to be a celebrity, and not only did you have a great team helping with the portaging and stuff, but you had a nice pup to keep it all interesting. I also like the fact that you actually broke this into several "mini trips" All in one Big Adventure. So Your total experience, and all the folks you hooked up with, and all the fun with the grandaughter, got topped off by a wonderful trip to the Wilderness with some new found friends. Thanks to HoHo and David for helping out the Spartan's.... That is what is so special about this place we are more than just "canoe fanatics" Thanks for sharing SunCatcher |
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Spartan2 |
Then when Spartan1 was diagnosed with Stage4 Renal Failure and was contemplating peritoneal dialysis, I posted on QJ that we wouldn't be taking a canoe trip in 2008. We would be renting a cabin and taking day trips. Bill contacted me and offered the use of their "cabin". I didn't know then that it is a gorgeous home that David (an architect) had designed, built up on a boulder out in the boreal forest. All we really knew, because we hadn't met these people in person, was that someone was offering us a place to stay at no charge to us, for TWO WEEKS, so that we could take Anna up for her cabin week, and have a week for ourselves to take day trips into the BWCA, instead of our yearly canoe trip. We stayed in their beautiful retirement home for our "cabin week" three consecutive summers with Anna, even after the transplant, and we had never met Bill and David in the flesh! Finally, we met them at Canoecopia in 2011. By then they were retiring and moving to live full-time at their Ely home. Last year we took Anna up to meet them and she and I swam off the dock with Bill in frigid water. It was a cold, gray day. Neil and David were smart and watched from the dock. So. . .they aren't exactly new found friends. We feel like we have known them for years and years, and we knew of their character and their kindness for a long time before the offer to help on this canoe trip ever came about. The world is full of beautiful people. But I have trouble thinking of any much more so than Bill and David. And Piwi is pretty gorgeous herself! :-) |
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ducks |
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Spartan2 |
It will be difficult to wait until winter for your report. We are looking forward to seeing YOUR pictures! It WAS fun. We certainly agree with that. I just shared our book with an elderly friend yesterday (much more elderly than I)and she kept saying how much fun it looked like it must have been. And she also did a real double-take at David with the "clothes-brush". LOL! |
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TomT |
I loved the beautiful pics and the shots of Piwi too. I cannot wait to take my young dog on my next trip! That pic of the toad sitting in the leaves is really cool too. Serious camo going on there. Bill and David are special guys to know up there. Kudos to them for helping you and Neil return to Cherokee. Thanks for posting. PS. Come on HoHo, it's been a while since you did up a report. |
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Spartan2 |
Spartan1 took the photo of the toad, so I know he will smile when he reads your compliment. :-) |