Boundary Waters 2008

Something I have been doing for the past umteen years is to accompany the senior high group on a trip into the Minnesota Wilderness called the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. A great place to go an spend time reflecting on the great places that God created for his humans to enjoy. Each year, as I prepare to go I wonder how many more years He will allow me to go. This year was no different. I love the trip and enjoy it more and more each year. I enjoy being with the kids and sharing my knowledge and love of the out of doors.
We left from church on Sunday, July 20th, to travel as far as Mink Lake Camp for an overnight stay and to pick up the rest of our gear (our canoes, tents, cooking supplies, etc.).

On Monday morning we headed out to start our journey on Sawbill lake. After canoeing the length of the lake we found that the campsites that we had planned to use were filled so our group backtracked and found a site for the night.


After setting up camp and the students taking their tread test (they have to be able to tread for 20 minutes or they were a zipped up life jacket at all times) it began to rain. But in spite of the rain we had a great evening and awoke to a wonderfully beautiful sunny day. Chuck had told us that Tuesday would be a hard work day so we prepared ourselves and set out on our adventure. After the first portage, an 80 rod one, we had 3 more to go. We missed the second 80 rod portage and took a little detour through the marshes and over a beaver dam but ended up on the lake we were supposed to end up on. The next portage was to be a 110 which ended up to be about a 20 because the water was high and then the 180 rod portage. This was the one we really worked on for the day.





We ended up on Cherokee lake for the night and did a little swimming and laying around. Our site was up on a little incline and had a beautiful view of the lake. Wednesday dawned again with beautiful sunshine and the steam rising from the lake was a sight to behold.





We had only 3 portages this day and should have been a piece of cake. The first was a killer one and seemed to be harder than the 180 but we made it and the next was shorter and a little less of a work out. The third took us by some of the area that was affected by the blowdown. It was an amazing sight to see.




We stayed that night on South Temperance and Chuck's group stayed on North Temperance. Thursday was a little cloudy and rainy but we headed out for our last big day of canoeing.


We had a 10 rod portage passed a small waterfall and then into Brule Lake. The lake seemed to go on forever but we finally made our campsite just before the wind picked up and the lake got a bit choppy. We had plenty of time for naps and cards and farkle. On Friday morning we headed in to the landing where we met Steve who returned us to Mink Lake to clean up and head home. As always I was amazed at how much I could do and how fast the week went.
But again God is Good -- I made it without too many bumps or bruises!

What do you do on weekends? ? ? or as Sharyn says "You are Nuts!"

Weekends for having a great time with friends -- right? Well, some of my friends (the junior high from CBC; Chuck, the youth pastor; & Micah, another volunteer staff) and I went on what we call "Traveling Camp" this past weekend. There were 8 of us and we had a great time. I'll try to capsulize the weekend in pictures.

We left Friday afternoon in a 15 passenger van to travel to Amnicon State park in Wisconsin. We enjoyed an evening of listening to the rain on the tarp but still roasted marshmallows for s'mores and the boys explored the park. Saturday morning we got up, had breakfast, went to the falls for our morning devotion time.


Then we load up and head out to catch the ferry to Madeline Island and Big Bay
State Park.



While there we walked a trail for the boys to jump off the rocks into a very cold Lake Superior (but they had a great time). Even Chuck jumps in to the lake.





Me, I'm a wimp!! I climb down the rocks and walk into the lake -- but I made it all the way in. After a bit it's not so cold -- or maybe it's just that I get numb.




After having lunch and playing on the beach we head back to the ferry for our return.
It was quite windy and Lake Superior was quite choppy and waves were amazing to watch as they hit the side of the dock as we were getting on the ferry.



From Bayfield, we drove to Pattison State Park for Saturday evening. And yes, we do sleep in the tents. The boys again did their exploring and Chuck and I got a chance to play a little cribbage and get dinner ready for them.




Sunday morning we walked over to Manitou Falls for our morning devotion time and then we loaded up and headed to St Croix Falls and "Fawn Doe Rosa", a animal rescue park where you can feed and view animals. The trip ended back at CBC on Sunday afternoon without me, as Gary picked me up so I could be back in time to wish Michelle and Jeremy well before they boarded the plan for their Iceland Trip. Every trip I take with the youth, our church secretary, Sharyn, tells me that I am "N U T S" but what she doesn't realize is that I always have a great time and it really is what keeps me young. I say "bring em on!"

Next weekend I head up to the Boundary Waters with the senior high.

Happy Birthday Margaret & Michelle

Today is a reminder of that day 29 years ago!

Thanks for the memories!

"Hangin' With Mormor"

Well, it now has been two weeks that Oliver has been coming to Mormor's. Here is what Oliver does when he comes -- he "hangs" out on the Lizards and chews whatever it is that he can put into his mouth.

He loves the jumpy seat that we have for him but still has to have something to chew on.


Last week when Oliver was here we put a "boppy" behind him because his balance wasn't quite there yet but L O O K what we figured out this week! We can sit by ourselves and maintain balance.


He loves to sit and play and smile.



After Oliver's morning nap today a "big" truck pulled in the driveway and we went out to see what it was. He was fascinated by the truck.

The guys were delivering a brand new grill for Morfar and Mormor.


Then Oliver and I decided to go for an adventure and take a little walk. Oliver got to see another big truck with a bobcat on behind that was getting ready to cut branches away from the power poles. Then we walked by a garden but the flowers were all done blooming. Across the street was more construction.

We made our Walgreens destination after seeing all of the fun things.



Marmie called while we were at Walgreens to say that she was coming early to pick up Oliver so we high-tailed it back home and showed Marmie the new grill which she decided needed some very small footprints on the new stainless steel.

(I can't wait until the 1st of August when Danya and Laura come to visit at Nana's house. It will be fun to be able to post about her adventures in Minnesota.)