Packing up camp does take a fair bit of time. By Saturday, we had a routine going, and Nathan was included in it. Which he enjoyed. The earliest we "hit the road" was 9:30, but often it was closer to 10:30. We slept in 'til after 7 each morning too though...after all, it's a holiday!
Melanie and Matthew, however, didn't do much for help, other than a bit of fetching and carrying occasionally.
Matthew kept finding his soother in it's various "hiding places". Melanie loved the whistle that was permanently attached to his lifejacket. (Fortunately neither of them could blow it very well!) They had a very cute game of tug-of-war, which, naturally, ended in screams and parental intervention.
Nathan says, "That's the mucky portage!" See the yellow portage sign? That's all you have to locate the portage, but often it's enough to see from quite a distance. The approach to this portage was through very shallow water in a creek delta. I stepped out to pull us to the end since we had run aground, and I sunk in the muck. It was silty, full of sticks and air bubbles--the water was only a few inches deep, but when I stepped in the murky spots I went in over my knees--and then some!
While waiting for Philip to do his multiple trips, the kids got to entertain themselves.
At Little Coon Lake there was a curious and very brave loon who came to greet us.
He/she even stayed to watch the kids attempt to throw rocks at him. Actually, I think they were just splashing the rocks in the water--as my husband does not approve of intentionally disturbing wildlife. We think the loon, and later, it's friend, and later yet, it's two friends, must have been used to being fed by fishermen. They followed us around at first, then only showed up remarkably close to mealtimes. We, being ever so sensitive to the natural balance in the environment (and not having much food to spare, and no fish parts to give) did not give free food to the loons, but let them fend for themselves.
The best beaches were almost always at one or other end of a portage, and much more rarely at a site.
1 comment:
Nice commentary and pictures Roze!! Looks like you had a great time. You are very brave to do all that with three kids and pregnant!!
Good for you.
gloria
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