So after five days of hiking with my new 8 friends, it was now time to switch out our heavy backpacks for canoes and mondos.
Due to the group traveling sizes of the Boundary Waters, we also had to split our group in half. My group set out in the early morning mist, a little unsure about the sudden transition. We had a new instructor, and we were missing half of our friends. The weather our first morning seemed to reflect all of our inner thoughts about this new expedition.
We got the hang of everything eventually. A few bumps along the way while we tried to find our new group dynamic and navigate these new waters.
We had to learn new skills too, to successfully complete our expedition. We learned the bowline and horse-hitch knot for use with our canoes. We learned all about portaging canoes and by the end, we were performing all of our tasks with efficiency.
Sitting and paddling in a canoe for hours at a time was different from hiking when we were in a single file line. I soon learned I loved canoeing even more than hiking: here is why:
Less cardio, more conversation:
Sitting in a canoe for long periods of time was a great way to get to know people. We had two canoes, one with two people and the other with three people. My favorite days were when all three of us girls were in the same canoe. So much to talk about!!! We had the most random of conversations, but we know so much about each other now because of it. Janie, Audrey and I went through so much together in the woods, today we are still so close because of it. We also learned that girls are way stronger than dudes.
Portages were a fun way to get our energy out.
With all that sitting in the canoe, when we finally hit land it became all about those portages. It definitely sucked carrying a 75 pound canoe over our heads, but we found ways to get through it. My favorite memory was when we were stalling before this particularly hard portage, and CJ and it decided to have a race. Through some mud. Some waist deep mud.
Needless to say, CJ and I provided some good entertainment for everyone to laugh at.
The Boundary waters were beautiful.
We were there in September, right in the beginning of the fall season, when the leaves were just beginning to change colors. We were up early enough everyday to see the sunrise and we arrived at camp at night to witness the day end with a magnificent sunset. Once we even paddled through the night to get to our campsite and we were all paddling in awe as the northern lights danced around us.
The best part of canoeing however, had to be reconnecting with the other group at the end and swapping war stories filled with mud, slippery rocks and slugs!
my lil adventures 
Great BWCAW story! Love the pictures of being stuck in the mud. Hope you have another canoe adventure soon.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you! So glad I can share this adventure. During the mud activities it was fun until we realized that now we had to live in our stinky clothes for four more days. But in hindsight, these are the silly moments that we often talk about fondly.
LikeLike