Sunday July 13, 2025 (Bear Head Lake State Park Minnesota
I’m sitting at a table at the trail center in Bear Head State Park. It’s a great place to spread your materials out, separate from mosquitos, use a flush toilet and be alone. When I finish here, l’ll test out the beach and perhaps next time I’ll remember my swimsuit.
It’s such a peaceful place. But my long awaited Big Trip is nearing. And I’m studying maps of the 30 some rapids, rocks, eddies and possible portages.
Trying not to Panic? It’s two weeks and Two days until Anne and I leave for Winnipeg, Manitoba Canada. I’ve been working on my accent and have memorized Oh Canada. I probably will get the maple leaf tattoo. But I fear my CA plates will give me away.
On the 29th of July we drive to Anne’s cousin’s house and then the next day we drive up to Thompson, Manitoba. The end of the road. There are only a few roads in this province. We board a train at 4:00 PM for a 16 hour train trip to Churchill, the town famous for its polar bears and beluga whales. A couple days later, we return to Thompson. On August 4th we fly with a group of 8 people and 4 canoes to Oxford House, Manitoba which is a Bunibonibee Cree Nation village.
By the end of the day, we will have paddled to our first campsite on the Hayes River heading to York Factory on the Hudson Bay.
Mountain Peace 