A year past the Boundary Waters

It has been a whole year since my adventure with my sister, niece and 3 strangers who I now will always consider my friends.  It was a highlight of my life so far- not trying to be over dramatic, but it is truth.  Without this special group of people, it just couldn't have been the same.

The Boundary Waters Art Campers - Rose, Emily, Debi, Nathan, Penny, Pat

There are not many times that have so many vivid memories as that canoe and camping trip- it was an instructive, eye-opening, exciting and at times terrorizing event.  I found out how strong I am, how resilient and realized how big of a transition I have made physically and personally. AND it was SO much fun.

I found so many things I CAN do, and I few things that I won't.  Lol- pretending to hang off a cliff is one of them, but I guess eventually I did that, too.  Oy.

I told them that they were all going to hell for making me do this!  They laughed at me

 I still have not totally come to full realization of what those things I will, won't and can't do are- a simple example is a friend suggesting that we bring swim suits next time we hit the beach up at Madeline Island- my immediate reaction was "I can't do that". And then I thought: "why not?".  I still feel that I am not good enough to wear that swimsuit in public, even though I guess I totally can.  In fact, I know I will now that I have seen that glitch in my thinking.  The little things that are roadblocks to living a full and fun life crop up every so often.  First of all, why should we judge ourselves according to the warped sense of beauty that the media, and perhaps society in general hold to be true.  And secondly, you have lost over 70 pounds- girl - get over it.  But so many years of not being a normal weight is a hard mind set to overcome.  So many years of hiding ones self are not something that leaves the basic fabric of your being easily.  It is a fight my brain has been having for over a year now.  Reinvent yourself whenever you get a chance!

She looks sweet but she's evil!  LOL  LOVE that girl!

So I look at this trip to confirm that I can indeed do things I never imagined.  I can sleep in a sleeping bag on the ground and not be a crabby basketcase the next day.  I CAN go without proper bathroom accommodations and not want to die.  I can eat LORDKNOWSHOWMANY calories during a day and indeed not only not gain, but lose weight!  Of course who knows how many calories I burned off- and that was the key. But to be handed 2 TWO! salted nut bars (candy bars!!!) for a morning snack during our trip to Canada???? WHAT???  I can't eat those, but I did and ooooooooh were they good!  There were multitudes of examples of this - Eat, eat, eat, and then paddle paddle paddle.  And I believe I mentioned the way a certain person forced me down the side of a cliff against my will by holding my sweating hand all the way down coughpennyahemcough.  The results were a beauty that was totally worth the terror of descent, and you wouldn't believe how fast I made it back up the side of said cliff! Overcoming the self enforced mental and physical roadblocks has enhanced my life in so many ways- has given me permission to do thing that traditionally Debi did not do!

I want to go back there, but I know I have to skip a few years, as there is no way I will ever take that trip again.  That trip has set an extraordinary standard to which all subsequent ones will be held to and I will need to realize that wonderful group of people, who all experienced this trip and found their own ways to transform and grow,  and that unique time in our lives cannot be repeated.  So I will wait until the time is right and a totally different trip is ready to be taken.

yeah, I took it upside down!  why not!

The scenery and the land was amazing. The weather was pretty much perfect- the bugs were somewhat subdued!  The food was great and the company was outstanding.  It was one surprising, breath-taking moment after another- from the islands, the little bit of wildlife, the petroglyphs, the campfires, the water, the campsites, the art work, the quiet, the laughter, the love. 

We saw virtually no one besides ourselves from Monday to Friday afternoon, and it was an amazing thing.

At some point in your life, step out of your comfort zone and your living room and your regular life and do something different. Do something scary. Do it because you really have to.  Do it for you.

And find your joy there.

One last Boundary waters post- tying up loose ends. LOL!!!!

OMG- LOOK at what I found.  I apparently never tied up these loose ends!  Funny!!  LOOK at the green grass and sigh people of Wisconsin.  It is coming!!!

Ok, I am going to make a few comments as we go here and post this as is.  

Ready to leave!  LOOK!!!  SHORTS and a tank top!  :)

Emily and Rose during their canoeing test at the camp

Emily and Rose after their bailout!  

Emily and Rose with a canoe-full

Preparing for the trip

Packing our shtuff

This is a hoot!  The memories and smells and sounds come flooding back

The other group of canoers who were there at the same time as we were

Swimming!!

Penny!!

Pat hard at work lifeguarding, Nathan trying to get settled and my pedicured toesy!  That pedi was not long for this world.  Lol

First night campsite

Our life jacket tree

Yay for coffee!!!!!

Morning in Minnesota

Typical path to the loo!

Our glorious sandy beach campsite

Oh wow this was so much fun to revisit-

What a fabulous week that was.

Arts and recreation in the Boundary Waters

This Boundary waters trip definitely turned into an arts and recreation camp for us.  Because of the fact the other family did not come along, we were able to have a pack of art supplies.  THIS was indeed an awesome thing.  Penny had just run a family camp the week before, and had some great supplies available for us to use.  I had along a few of my water soluble pastel pencils, plus sharpies and some other things.  Nathan actually brought some really nice paper, so we were set!

My main source of creative outlet was the photography with the dual purpose of recording the trip and me finding my art shots that are always lurking about.  I am planning a whole separate post with some creative shots and editing.  I asked everyone to feel free to pick up the camera and shoot, so some of the pix I have were mostly the results of the other camera fiend in the group-Penny!

Clouds over Vermilion Lake

Rainbows and clouds

Goofing around was certainly part of the recreating!

They look like they are having entirely too much fun!  :)

This was somewhat horrifying for me- more to follow on this

ANIMALS - none very large- were a source of interest for many.  sorry the toad is out of focus, not having my reading glasses handy was not a good thing sometimes

Butterflies liked us

This butterfly hung out on Rose's elbow for about 10 minutes, it was licking her!!

Of course there was plenty of opportunity for swimming!

Pat lifeguarding us

Goofing around or swimming?? 

Rock climbing of various sorts:

Pictograph from a canoe trip- not rock climbing but involved rocks!

And of course there is the various projects we did. I did some pastel drawing, plus we did tshirts, camp flags, and other personal individual things.....

Painting down by the lake

We did spend a lot of time dealing with food, it was bound to happen that some creative things were going on!

fresh from the lake

Campfires and popcorn

All of the food came in bags with some interesting messages!!  

And of course did I mention that we did photography??

caught in a pool

Penny in her glory after we retrieved our phones

Interesting fact:  When we were at the next location to pick up the other group of voyagers, we had a little delay.  So while waiting we ended up walking!  Got some glorious pictures during that little interlude!  You'd think we would have crashed in the car, but I couldn't sit still.  Glad we all went down that path.

Almost done with these posts, it seems so long ago now.

Remember to always be a joy giver and find some creativity in your life.  Even if you think you aren't creative!  We all know that isn't true, everyone has that spark.  It just needs to be uncovered from that daily blanket of life