A Trip of Firsts

Before I go on to tell about my trip on tues, I want you to know something. I get scared very easily. I Don't like not having another person around. I don't like not having control. I especially don't like not having someone around when I'm doing something that I'm not familiar with, and I don't have control of it.

So, if you can follow that, I'll continue. I wanted an adventure, but I didn't want it to go out of control, and I had planned on going with two friends. If you know what camp is like, then you might understand my need to get away after six weeks.

I decided that the best plan would be to canoe camp on the lake and hike in the morning and be back in the afternoon.

When I went to tell my friends the evening before we would leave, I was informed that they were hoping to switch their day off. I couldn't believe it. Why on our last day off together, and we hadn't done anything as a group, would they switch?

I had a hard time that night, I wasn't sure if I should go ahead or stay at camp.

My adventurous nature finally won. I didn't where I would go, but I would go somewhere.

The next day, I pulled out the map on one of my brakes, and tried to decide where to go. Within minutes I had a crowd watching my every move. They all wanted to help me find a place that I could go on my day off. Then Denis, one of the more quiet people, spoke up. he told me where he had been and offered to go part of the way with me.

That made me so happy, I wouldn't have to go as far, and I wouldn't have to be alone for the whole way, and he was experienced. I easily finished planing my route and hurried to my next activity.

That evening, I prepared to go. I was overjoyed at the fact that the third person going was another friend of mine. after the usual delays (forgetting a paddle, eating blueberries, packing gear, etc.), we set off down the unknown...OK, unknown to me...I was so excited to leave that the bank ran into me to slow me down. Once I cleared that, the bank wanted a turn and preceded to jump into my path.

The trees decided to join the fun and caught me in their branches over and over. Of course the logs decided to float up right when I went over them. Then there where bridges, and even a beaver dam to cross.

Anyway, I quickly learned that I should avoid all these things and that they were not as fun as they appeared.

It was much like the things in life. when you are young, every thing looks like fun, but you quickly learn that things are not as fun as they first appear after you struggle to get out of their clutches. Soon you learn to recognize danger and even anticipate the new obstacles that come your way.

Then you learn that friends can even be obstacles. As in the time when Denis wanted to show me something, but when I looked back, the river carried me into the bank. he laughed and passed. I paddled hard, and we were next to each other when we came to a bend in the river. I was on the inside of the 180 degree turn and I don't turn very fast. needless to say I "accidentally" ran him into the bank and passed him back... but in both cases, friends can either lead you, or push you, in to the obstacles.

By the end of the little river I was feeling much more confident about that trip, and I was ready to camp for the night seeing that night was already starting. Denis helped me figure out where the Green Island was, and I started off.

I found out when I got there that it was Dry Island. I made it to camp at about 9:30 and was in bed by ten. Oddly the fire that I made hated wood and refused to burn it. Even though it was very dry and definitely not green, so it died in the middle of the night. poor thing...

The next morning, I looked at my borrowed watch and it was 5:30. I had no argument but just got up...(I think I'm getting better, I didn't have to have a fight to get up, yay...anyway)... The fire was soon going and my food was cooking, unfortunately, my clothes that got wet in the evening were not dry...

I set out for an adventure at 7:30 and it seemed as if the sun had not risen yet. Alas, I still was quite unsure of the trip, I wasn't even sure if I would actually do it.

As I entered the cloud that hung above the water, I noticed two other kayaks along the shore. They were heading in the same direction.

I watched as I grew closer to them. we met at one of the outlets, and I found out that they were going the same way as me. Wade and Joan told me of what they encountered on this river and showed me several things. Wade pointed out a duck, and told me what kind it was. When it took off, in made quite the fuss. Still Joan heard an eagles cry, she scanned the trees and soon was showing the rest of us.

It was a beautiful bald eagle, I got to hear it cry again later, but it was wonderful. they went with me up the river until a bridge that I would have to portage. I never got to see them again, in my opinion, they were angels that were there to help me trust God that much more.

After getting stuck several times and a couple more portages, I realized that it was taking me too long to go up this river, and the trip was too advanced for my level. The water was literally black and you couldn't see more the two inches down, and it was at least three feet deep. I sadly turned around and fought my way back out.

When I got back to the lake I searched for Wade and Joan, but they were nowhere to be found. but I did find a row boat again heading my way. I smiled to my self, I saw another angel that was sent to make my day better. I got to talk to McLanagan for about 20 min. He told me more of the stories of the eagles and me feel better even though I had not accomplished my goal.

On the way back to my camp site, I heard loons everywhere. I knew I had my camera, but I couldn't find any loons. Just as I was giving up, one popped up infront of me. I grabbed my camera and started the chase.

After a couple of shots, a second loon joined. I thought that was unusual that I would see a pair. but I was happy anyway. About 3 min. later, another loon surfaced in the group. I was really excited, it's not every day that you see three loons in a group. Soon two left and I was still taking pictures of the one, when it left. I saw the other two not far away and headed in that direction, then I realized there were three there. I didn't think that a loon could swim that fast. then another surfaced. I was right, because now there were four.

I soon left the family to their fishing and continued on my way.

The rest of the trip was uneventful.

I returned at 2, after an hour of exploring Barefoot Bay.

The biggest lesson that I learned is that God knows when your afraid. Yet He's still there. He said "Lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the earth." all I need to do is trust Him. He can do the rest.

Joelle