Thursday and Friday Morning on the St. Mary's
Once more up at daylight and starting the fire. We like to hang around and drink coffee and have a leisurely breakfast. Egg beaters western style was very good. We also had another helping of oatmeal. Casually packing up and breaking down the tent, loading and leaving behind one of the best camping sights on the river, we were cruising on down by ten o'clock. We have a garbage scow thanks to our good buddy Mac. He volunteers to take the trash. After burning all combustibles we generally have a plastic bag full each day. He is now carrying four bags. This section of the river is fairly wide and so the current decreases somewhat. It was a slow and easy paddle for a few miles and then: trouble. The river was impassible. Bear scouted the right hand side of the river and was able to saw and chop a way through. Five of the solo paddlers went through this way. We pulled our canoe out of the left side of the river and portaged about 200 hundred feet. We attached two lines and five of us pulled the canoe (ala dog sled style). It was easy enough as the ground was soft and full of leaves. Another hour and we were once again setting up for snacks and drinks. We had a sprinkle of rain and so we decided to put up a tarp. Twelve by sixteen. It was big enough to put the table and nine guys under. We needed it because shortly it decided to rain in earnest. However after a while it ceased and we were able to sit around the campfire for one last time. Tonight it was hot dogs and beans and baked potatoes. Very good.
Friday Morning
Knowing it would all be over in to short a while I believe we were reluctant to see it all end. Our last two hours were spent drifting to Tompkins Landing a wide spot on the river. After pulling out and loading the trailers we sadly said our good byes. It is really to short of a period to spend with such splendid guys. As we pulled away the laughter ceased.
Once more up at daylight and starting the fire. We like to hang around and drink coffee and have a leisurely breakfast. Egg beaters western style was very good. We also had another helping of oatmeal. Casually packing up and breaking down the tent, loading and leaving behind one of the best camping sights on the river, we were cruising on down by ten o'clock. We have a garbage scow thanks to our good buddy Mac. He volunteers to take the trash. After burning all combustibles we generally have a plastic bag full each day. He is now carrying four bags. This section of the river is fairly wide and so the current decreases somewhat. It was a slow and easy paddle for a few miles and then: trouble. The river was impassible. Bear scouted the right hand side of the river and was able to saw and chop a way through. Five of the solo paddlers went through this way. We pulled our canoe out of the left side of the river and portaged about 200 hundred feet. We attached two lines and five of us pulled the canoe (ala dog sled style). It was easy enough as the ground was soft and full of leaves. Another hour and we were once again setting up for snacks and drinks. We had a sprinkle of rain and so we decided to put up a tarp. Twelve by sixteen. It was big enough to put the table and nine guys under. We needed it because shortly it decided to rain in earnest. However after a while it ceased and we were able to sit around the campfire for one last time. Tonight it was hot dogs and beans and baked potatoes. Very good.
Friday Morning
Knowing it would all be over in to short a while I believe we were reluctant to see it all end. Our last two hours were spent drifting to Tompkins Landing a wide spot on the river. After pulling out and loading the trailers we sadly said our good byes. It is really to short of a period to spend with such splendid guys. As we pulled away the laughter ceased.