North Woods River Runner: October 2022

The morning started cold, under clear skies, as the nearly full moon set to the rising sun. The frost on the ground quickly dissipated under the dry breezes, making it difficult to contemplate the nearly winter-like temperatures in what was still considered an early fall season.

Including myself, six of us gathered for the day’s adventure. Four were former or present teaching colleagues, and the fifth was my Dad. We loaded the kayak trailer, given to me by a friend, after adding the padding from some foam noodles that my Dad had picked up at a dollar store. We halved the noodles and used electrical tape to hold them tight to the angle iron crossbars; a perfect resting place to haul our vessels to the river.

I personally had started the early morning in a stocking cap, but by the time we launched into the water, I had transferred to a billed hat. Warding off the slight chill, we all started in sweatshirts and coats under our life jackets. However, the sun shone forth throughout our journey, gradually gaining strength, sharing it with us, and therefore encouraging us to peel layers. By the time we stopped on a stretch of sand to make a fire and cook our breakfast, we were down to long sleeves. Breaking up and cutting some dead silver maple branches also helped convert the resting and stagnant potential energy into mobile and useful kinetic energy.

A perfectly cut branch in the shape of a “Y” held our giant frying pan while allowing the food to cook. My dog Kora, who had slipped off the front of my kayak (the result of zigging when I had to zag to avoid some half sunken deadfalls.), laid in the tall grasses nearby to bask in the sun; all the while eyeing our food’s progress.

Our giant skillet of potatoes, brats, eggs, and cheese quickly transferred into our gullets, after several helpings each (Kora included). From food to bodies, the energy would soon be used to provide us the paddle power needed to propel ourselves over the several miles that we still needed to go. Following a cupful of orange juice and hot cocoa, we erased our presence from the shoreline, took a group picture, and eased back into the water.

Doug, (Kora), Dad, Justin K, Justin B, Zach, and Me

	We stopped once more for a quick stretch break and to look over some potential pools where fish might reside.  I’d been marking key spots in my mind along the route all morning with the hope of still having an opportunity to test my theories before cold air set in for good.  Simultaneously the sun burst forth with its greatest amount of force for the day; a nearly 40° swing from the mid 30’s of the morning to the low 70’s of the early afternoon.  As we crawled back into the kayaks we peeled down to T-shirts.  It was a comfortable way to travel the remaining rest of the river; set in the fall colors and within the gentle winds out of the southwest.

By the end we were all thankful for the chance to get out, cook a meal, paddle a river, and hang out on what amounted to an absolutely beautiful fall day. Transferring the energy from food, sun, and companionship to mind, body, and spirit has a way of doing that.

See you along The Way…