Third annual Father-Child trip. Same crew as 2008: Mike and Max (8) Beckman; Mark, Luke (11), Ben (9), and Allie (8) Janosy; Pete, Megan (8), and Morgan (8) Mavoides; and Dave, Sam (8) and Sean (6) Sommerness.
The Mavoides and Janosi flew and drove in, respectively, the night of July 16th and spent the night at our house in Bloomington. We were up fairly bright and early and hit the road for the north woods, stopping for a cold cut lunch at the Beaver Bay Holiday Inn. It was a little cool for July, and as we headed inland from the shore it started to drizzle. Our previous two trips had near-perfect weather, so the law of averages had to catch up with us at some point. Spirits were high as we pushed off from the landing in the early afternoon.
We decided to take three canoes in, trimming them as best we could to account for light kids in front (or was it heavy dads in back?). In addition to the drizzle, the wind started kicking up, which made for a harrowing southern turn out of the Alton Lake portage. We all made it and started riding with the waves down the eastern shore looking for a campsite. One, two, three campsites were occupied before we passed our 2008 site. It too was occupied, so we kept going. It was looking pretty grim - none of us wanted to have to paddle against the waves back up to the northern end of the lake - but we thankfully struck paydirt on the very last site on the lake. It wasn't the greatest site in terms of having a nice landing area, but there were plenty of tent pads - home for four days!
The rain stopped for the most part, but it remained overcast and cool (lots of wind) for the first couple days. Pete's attempt to travel back to Sawbill to pick up Mike and Max was aborted due to the wind, so Jugs had to join him for the journey. I stayed back with 5 of the kids and took turns taking them fishing against the leeward side of a small island just outside our bay.
The weather turned beautiful on Sunday and Ben was finally able to swim (he'd been champing at the bit since we arrived). The fishing wasn't great - we pulled in a half dozen smallmouth over the course of the 4 days but no walleye. The boys caught a number of crayfish - the dads too one Beam-fueled night - and they made a nice appetizer a couple nights.
First order of business: Inventory Propel and determine daily ration.
Pete and the girls enjoy some coffee and cocoa.
Drying out - campsite from the water's edge. 
There were a few games of LCR but not nearly the draw as 2008.
Water detail
Fun with licorice
Whittling was a big draw
The girls with their replacement knives
Sean moved on to larger projects...
Warming up the grill for Allie...
The trooper
Dad, I need another leech - shocker.
Now that's a bass!
Luke, right before we blew down the lake
Mmmmm Spam
Mmmmm crayfish
The night the Beam ran out...
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