Early Sunday morning I drove to Daughter #4's house and picked up young Angus (age 12), then drove my son's house and picked up Colin (age 15) for a 4 day camping and canoeing trip in Minnesota's north woods. It was an enjoyable, if rainy, few days and nights. I told the boys that when camping with Papaw they were on their own crook for meals, as I only make porridge for breakfast and fry bread for supper. If they wanted anything else, they had better bring it, or have good luck finding it in the bush. After one night of my fry bread, I didn't have to supper for them any more. I like my fry bread, they said they did too. They said it was really good, only they didn't want any more this trip, or ever. The porridge was a hit though, and they even discovered they could add a handful of fresh picked wild blueberries to their breakfast to make it much better.
Angus having a go at sawing firewood. Sawing firewood was not their favorite activity.
Here I can't really tell what they're thinking, but it appears they're thinking they're facing a firing squad.
Day tripping; carrying enough tea for my lunch, enough gear to stay the night out, and whatever they fetched along to eat.
Angus, displaying my first aid handiwork. Papaw only carries duct tape to bandages, they thought that was funny.
Their first time ever alone in a canoe.
In the end, they made it home safe-ish. My children say I have grown soft with aging, what with treating injuries and even cooking. My son can remember many days in the BWCAW when we didn't cook or eat at all, just get up, break camp, paddle somewhere new, make a new camp, and call it a day. Injuries were treated by one rule, "If the bone is not protruding, I don't want to hear about it".
Angus having a go at sawing firewood. Sawing firewood was not their favorite activity.
Here I can't really tell what they're thinking, but it appears they're thinking they're facing a firing squad.
Day tripping; carrying enough tea for my lunch, enough gear to stay the night out, and whatever they fetched along to eat.
Angus, displaying my first aid handiwork. Papaw only carries duct tape to bandages, they thought that was funny.
Their first time ever alone in a canoe.
In the end, they made it home safe-ish. My children say I have grown soft with aging, what with treating injuries and even cooking. My son can remember many days in the BWCAW when we didn't cook or eat at all, just get up, break camp, paddle somewhere new, make a new camp, and call it a day. Injuries were treated by one rule, "If the bone is not protruding, I don't want to hear about it".