Namekagon by Canoe 5/8-9

“lizs, as soon as I can get back from my next class, I'll forward you the e-mail I got from prosecutor with directions.”

“maybe he sent it and I missed it...

thanks anyhoo! :-)”

“Clothes..gloves are nice..fleece ones..I have a pair of 3/4 fleece gloves I'll throw in my car for you, just in case..got rain gear? bring it..I wear Pre-cip pants when it's chilly just to avoid the drops from my paddle getting me wet..temps in the 60's with intermittant clouds during the day and 40's at night..no predicted rain (but this IS Wisconsin..home of the weather liars)..what size shoes do you wear?? a question from the Imelda Marcos of St Croix Falls..”

“LOL! 7.5 to 8. Hiking boots are 8s, I think, but I usually wear both wool-ish socks and things I call liner socks.

I was thinking of bringing Tevas and my trail runner/tennie-kinda things. Well, I have "true" tennies, too.

I just wondered on the gloves. Ya gotta understand. The most I've ever paddles in a canoe (and BADLY at that!!) was probably 3.5 hours. NOT TWO DAYS!!

OMG -- WHAT HAVE I DONE... GONE AND SIGNED UP FOR?!??!?

>8-O”

“When you are not paddling paddling you will be sitting decoratively in the bow looking at the bottom which will probably be about 2 feet below you..you will be scaring all wildlife for miles around screaming about rocks, fish and beer which you will have grasped permanently in your white-knuckled hand..I plan to have my camera ready..LOL..Teva's are good..I'll have a car load of shoes, as usual..we wear the same size..I'll bring my sealskin socks for you..nice over liners with Teva's..it'll be coolish..bring warm socks..2 pairs..and a pair of liners..”

“You're going down stream.”

“lizs, I forwarded prosecutor's directions to your profile e-mail.”

“Yeah, I sent Lizs and Sunshine an email with directions to the directions.”

“you are all gettin too worked up over a canoe trip, lol. canoeing is so much easier and relaxed than backpacking - i've been a canoer my whole life.”

“Canoeing? Excited? it's the BEER, simerman! THE BEER!”

“yes, it's the beer. all about the beer - i can understand that.”

“Reino and I just cleaned up our canoes -- first step, after carrying them out to the curbside, was to power spray the spiders out of under the decks front and back. Dozens of them had apparently hatched not long ago from nests in what they must have thought was a neat sheltered spot.

Then a nice sudsy sponging to get rid of winter grime, and as soon as they dry, a little 303 protectant for the Royalite hulls.

Earlier I reconfigured the rack onto the truck cap -- the bars are just over reino's and my heads, so no poked eyes like they would have been on the Focus, or used to be on the minivan in the old days.

As usual in getting ready for a trip, the odd things pop up -- only three of the NRS tie-down straps were in the storage bag -- what's happened to the fourth???? Argghhh.

Next phase, pick a tent out of the storage box -- probably go for space and bring the Eureka Equinox hexagonal. Then stuff the sleeping bags, grab stove and fuel canisters, etc. Clothes last.

BTW, prosecutor, mataharihiker, lizs, sunshine, are we going for deluxe campfire cookery Saturday night, or bping style?

Another BTW, a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin Brut is already chilled. How does cheesecake sound for the birthday cake?”

“I got some strawberries for strawberry shortcake for Friday nights celebration. But if you got cheesecake, we can have strawberry waffles Saturday morning instead.

Deluxe campfire cooking Saturday night.”

“prosecutor, I'll see what kinds of Joyce's cheesecakes are available in the morning. It's a local bakery. Strawberries may go well with cheesecake, too -- certainly with champagne!

BTW, do you like rum?”

“Oh my!! I am sooo ready! I'm packing right now!

Looks like Dick Head and I will be meeting you all at Phipps Landing Saturday am. I'll likely give you a call.

We were planning to roast hotdogs over the fire Saturday because I don't plan to haul my Apex stove and fuel. I'm just bringing my Esbit for coffee, etc. There's still time to change our minds...

As for beer...

it makes me a jolly good fellow,
I like beer.
Whiskey's too rough.
Champagne costs too much.
Vodka puts my mouth in gear.
This little refrain
should help to explain
As a matter of fact
I like beer.

She like's beer!

I don't know who wrote it but I like it. :o)”

“I'm still deciding just what to bring. I need to go back to that list of what meals Prosecutor is making.

Guess I'll probably just bring stuff like I'm backpacking. In other words, the Pepsi can stove, meals to rehydrate etc. Will have the Camelbak with water in the canoe.

How much water do we need to have for each of us? I suppose you could bring a jug or whatever. Also, I have a 96-oz. standup Nalgene bottle and even a FIVE GALLON water carrier. LOL! (you Yellow River hikers have seen it!)

I better go re-read this whole thread for pointers.

Can't wait to meet DickHead, Sunny!!! LMAO!”

“Also... to clarify when I went back and re-read the thread. I will be LEAVING my home hopefully no later than 4 p.m. Hoping to leave more like 2 p.m., which looks to put me at the cabin around 7 p.m.

Will call and let you know for sure.”

“I haven't decided whether to eat bping food or deluxe..sometimes, I like the simplicity of the former..”

“Lizs, when you are backpacking, you sweat a lot and need to bring a lot of water.

When you are canoeing, you are floating in a lot of water. Just bring a pint of water and a filter or aqua mira.

Lizs, when you are backpacking, weight is important and freeze dried meal really help lighten the load.

When you are canoeing a river with no portaging, the canoe carries the entire load. Bring coolers, frozen meat, cast iron frying pans, case of beer, etc.”

“Let's see, if we each bring a case of beer...

...naaaah, don't want to even think about the possibilities for TT mayhem.

With the opportunity of a wood fire, it fairly cries out for a weinie roast. May have to stop at the Lake Tomahawk Meat Market for some of their natural casing weiners or smoked bratwurst. The no muss, no fuss, roast 'em on a stick kind of outdoor cookery!

I see no one has answered whether they like rum or not, lol. I was thinking about mixing up a jug of Planter's Punch -- spiced rum and triple sec with orange, pineapple, lime, mango juices. Sort of a chaser for the b-day champagne. But if it's a beer crowd, I'll skip it.”

“This is my first "big" overnight canoe trip. I don't want to weigh myself down at this point. I want to bring what I'll bring -- backpacking stuff -- and then see how you other guys do it. I'd rather err on the "light and fast" side at this point, I think. (don't worry, I don't cook and LOVE my Mountain House, believe it or not! lol)

OK, now more mundane, albeit STUPID questions. LOL!

1. Prosecutor, it sounds like Sunny is stashing stuff at the campground. I'm taking it that is just her and the rest of us are carrying our gear in the boats?

2. The truth of truths comes out. egads!! I don't have a water filter. I do have Polar Pure. Anyway, so would rather bring more water than less, if that's OK.

3. If I'm in the front of the canoe, is my gear there, right behind me? Just wondering about accessibility for raingear, suntan lotion, etc.

4. What about pee-pee and poo-poo? LOL! I know what we would do on short canoe trips in the far, far past (and I'm sure it wasn't LNT). So, how do you handle that? (where is Nigal to say, "Just go in the water."???!?? LOL)

OK, those are all my stupid questions... for NOW, anyhoo.

:-)”

“1. Either way.

2. Boil water over campfire, or borrow my filter.

3. Your gear is right behind you in a dry bag.

4. Latrines at every campsite. Campsites every couple miles. Otherwise just do it like a bear does it.”

“Just heading out, prolly get there 9 or 9:30-ish! Can't wait!!”

“The case of beer and the four bottles of wine may not last that long. Better hurry.”