Getting ready: Janet's story

Okay, one of the ways we're preparing for this excursion is learning how to blog using my mini ipad.  This may be the hardest part.  

Yesterday I received this story from Janet Dalquist, adventurer extraordinaire, who is about as fearless as they come, about an expedition at a time before the kayak craze, before cell phones and emails, free-standing tents and jet boils. Here's a challenge for you:  what all can you think of that we take for granted now that didn't exist in 1988? which really, seems like just yesterday.

Note to Sue Ellen Kingsley and Terry Kinzel prior to their kayaking around Copper Island, August 2014

8/14/14

Hi -- A comparable note.  In 1988 August 14-15 Don Yerg and I canoed from the Copper Harbor marina to the Lac LaBelle marina.  We had flat water all the way to Keystone Bay and camped overnight.  On the 15th there was a major storm which blew through the Baraga area, almost a tornado in power.  As I recall, the Gazette reported trees down, and the same storm hit the Iron Mountain and Norway area.  Sons David and Dan were really ticked off at me.

That morning there were high rolling waves, not breaking, from the East pushing into Bete Gris.  Yerg, whose PhD was in meteorology, was reluctant to start out.  I had no qualms having canoed in much worse conditions (choppy heavy waves in Green Bay) and believed we could actually surf most of the way back.  We did and it was glorious.

We took time to take a welcome dip at Bete Gris and then headed around the breakwater into Lac LaBelle and the resort area where we had parked our cars.  Just as we entered the old river area heavy rain and wind hit us--a surprise, because the day had been sunny and windy.  We hugged the shoreline in the midst of rough chop and paddled like hell to get to the resort.  And we did, safely.

My impressions:  Few safe places to get to quickly if the weather requires it.  Looking into clear flat water I swear you can see almost to the middle of the earth!  Huge huge boulders.  No fish.  No boats, canoes, kayaks.

I am glad we did it!

Good luck.

Jan Dalquist

Thank you so much for this story, Jan.  You put us to shame.  We should have it relatively easy, although I won't say any more for fear of jinxing our trip.

Janet is planning to be at the Harbor Haus on Sunday the 24th and we're looking forward to hearing more of her adventures.

You all come, too.

SEK

Sent from my iPad