Tom's June Trip Journal
(Notes refer to Tom pics)
Day 1 – Arrived at outfitters, got fitted with wet suits , spray skirts, and PFD’s. We then got into our boats (3 tandems and 4 solos kayaks) and went out to practice rescues in the frigid waters (42 degrees Fahrenheit). Preston tried to make a case that because he had done a wet exit and rescue at Ajawah, he shouldn’t have to repeat it, but the guides (Brooke and Joe) didn’t buy it.
Joe – has worked in a variety of outdoor and wilderness education and leadership roles; expert kayaker, full of good humor, stories of Apostle Islands lore, shipwrecks, and natural history. (0060)
Brooke – is a geologist, ballerina, yoga instructor, and all around fan of teen age boys. She was very good at yelling “CODY!” in a stern voice. (0057)
Then we loaded our gear and food into dry bags, Strapped water bottles to the deck, put on sunscreen, and headed off for Oak Island, about 8 miles away. We paddled over a shipwreck that we could see through the Lake’s clear water, and then ran into some rough water. Tom decided to see whether the rescue routines actually worked, so he flipped his kayak. Routines worked.
About 5:00 in the afternoon we landed at Oak Island, hauled our boats out of the water, and carried our gear up to our campsite. Fixed dinner and relaxed. Throughout the trip all food, toiletry articles, cooking gear, etc had to be stored in bear-proof steel lockers at each site.
Day2 – We were up at 7:00, as we had 12 miles to paddle to reach our next campsite. Started the day with Brooke leading a yoga warm-up session on the dock. We stopped first at Raspberry Island (0009-0032), and hiked across to the old lighthouse on the East side. The lighthouse used to be manned by a keeper, his family, and two assistants who kept the light going and manned the foghorn. It’s been restored in the last few years, and we took a tour – led by Ranger Tim, a pleasant and jovial fellow – and climbed up to the top of the light to look out over the islands. Waiting for Tim to finish a tour, our crew worked in a few games of croquet. Needless to say there was perfect harmony in the understanding and interpretation of rules.
Picture 0029 is of Tom listening for the Raspberry Island Burrowing Ground Eel, a very rare creature that mimics the sound of Gaelic bagpipes. You have to listen very carefully.
We then hiked back, and then headed off for York Island (0033-0048), where we stopped at a lovely beach for another break. Brooke put on her geologist hat and looked for rocks while the rest of us either wandered aimlessly or sat and ate more snacks.
Then it was off to Sand Island. The weather today had settled into very calm water, with light winds and slow rolling swells coming in off the lake. Before landing we visited the sea caves on Sand; we could kayak in and paddle between pillars inside the cave, listening to the gurgling of the waves against the stone.
We pulled into a wide bay, beached, and hauled our gear up to the site. Mosquitoes were out in legions, and were very hungry. No one needed reminders to use their bug spray. Made dinner, relaxed. Another strange phenomenon was how the 32 oz can of Monster drink that Reid had smuggled along disappeared for several hours. For some reason Reid suspected his fellow kayakers of foul play, but it the end it turned up.
Wes learned that straining Ramen can have it’s hazards, as the Ramen somehow wound up all over the ground. Fortunately Colin had made an extra large serving of black beans and rice and Wes’ patrol didn’t starve.
On Sand Island we heard coyotes howling at night.
Day 3 – layover day, where we slept in until 8:00. Sand Island had been inhabited in years gone by; there had even been a small town on the island, and near our site were the remains of a couple model-T autos. This island had a well; elsewhere we had to filter our water.
After a lengthy conference, the boys decided to split into two groups for a trip across the island, some of the group kayaking for another stop at the caves, with the rest hiking. This was a cool old lighthouse, in the midst or restoration, so although we could climb to the top of the light, most of the house was closed. Workers in hazardous materials suits were cleaning off old paint.
After lunch on the rocks, we switched places in the kayaks, with another group stopping at the caves, and joined forces at Justice Bay, where we hung out, played Frisbee, and did a great job of doing nothing very enjoyably.
The water was again very still – great kayaking weather. We saw a number of mirages on the water.
We explored the island a bit, finding ruins of old buildings, but mostly hung out on the dock. There appeared to be a strange astronomical phenomenon, as there were reports of multiple moons being sighted.
Several of our group decided that since they had seen Joe perform an Eskimo roll, they could do it as well. Brushing off offers of advice that might impair their innate kayak prowess, they provided great entertainment to the rest of the group as they attempted to rolls. But each was 50% successful (i.e. they succeeded very well in getting themselves upside down.)
Lots of good times sitting around fires. We ate pretty well.
Day 4 – saw us returning to our original campsite on Oak Island. Since there was a chance of a thunderstorm, we didn’t linger on our two stops on York & Raspberry, and got back to Oak by 1:30. Although the thunderstorms didn’t materialize, our boys discovered that the bilge pumps each kayak was equipped with did an excellent job of delivering about as much water on your neighbor as a rain squall would. Nobody was dry when we disembarked at Oak.
Getting in early gave everyone the opportunity for some more relaxation (0100). Surprisingly no one wanted to accompany Tom and Paul on a short stroll across the Island to a great lookout. It had been described as a 45 minute stroll by a volunteer ranger who apparently had never been there, as it turned into a 7 mile hike, with enough mosquitoes to qualify as a biblical plague.
Day 5 – we loaded up, bade farewell to our campsite, and headed back to the mainland. One the way we checked out three shipwreck sites; Superior, and particularly the Apostle Islands, is the site of numerous shipwrecks, and Joe & Brooke told us the stories of the ones we visited.
Then it was back to base, where we cleaned out the kayaks, cleaned the wetsuits, dry bags, etc, moved all our gear into the van, and sat down to polish off the remains of our food. Then goodbye to Joe and Brooke and onto the road.
0008 –Preston applies some leverage to pack his dry bag.
0025 – Guides take a break from troop 33.
0054 – Wes rises.
0062 – Thomas with day's lunch in dry bag
0066,67 – Hike to Sand Island Light; Brooke describing natural wonders of island.
0068-0074 – At Sand Island Light
0075 – Mirage on water
0076-0085 – Relaxing at Justice bay stopover
0086 – Reid morning after consuming his 32 oz of Monster drink.
Video (3.5mb) is Brooke’s comment on sharing 5 days with Troop 33.