The Boundary Waters Wilderness Canoe Area

 

In August of 2023 me and three close friends went on an amazing paddling trip in the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area in northern Minnesota. The unique wilderness area is over 1 million acres with over 1,100 lakes and ponds and 1,200 miles of canoe routes. It is a wilderness lover and paddlers paradise. It's also a spot I have wanted to explore since I was in middle school, when I first read about the area. 

Pine Creek

Pine Lake campsite

Across 5 days we paddling through 10 lakes. The first day an outfitter towed us and our canoes, dropping us off in the northern section of Lake Vermilion. We then did the short 0.4 mile Trout Lake Portage to Trout Lake, where we paddling along the eastern side before portaging 0.8 miles to Pine Lake. We paddling to the largest island on the lake and spent our first night there. 

Jarrett's fish at Pine Lake, before capsizing the canoe and falling in :-D 

me adding wood to the fire at Pine Lake

                                           

Pine Creek

Portage point to Chad Lake from Pine Creek

The next day we paddled north along Pine Creek, which was a wide sinuous river surrounded by wetlands. We took this to the 0.8 mile portage to Chad Lake. We paddled across this lake, once again not encountering any other people. We then portaged 0.7 miles to Buck Lake. This was already a long day, but we decided to continue on and try to get to what we were told was an amazing camping spot on Cummings Lake. Doing this long day would then allow us to spend two nights at this location. 

Portaging to Buck Lake!

Paul portaging 

So we paddled up the length of Buck Lake then did the tough 1.6 mile portage to Cummings Lake. It was approaching sunset, but we paddled hard and made it to a stunning camp site on a peninsula. 

portage break on the way to Cummings Lake. 

Sunset over Cummings Lake

Cummings Lake campsite on the peninsula

Cummings Lake

Cummings Lake

After two nights at Cummings Lake we paddled south through Korb Lake, along the Korb River to Little Crab Lake then a quick portage to Crab Lake. We camped along the southern shore, where we had our first only bit of rain the entire trip. 

the group at Crab Lake!

Final night, on the southern shore of Crab Lake

                                        

Crab Lake

Crab Lake

Red maple seedling on the shore of Crab Lake

The final day we had a quick paddle to the final 1.3 mile portage south to Burntside Lake, where our outfitter towed us back across the lake and drove us back to Ely, MN. It was an incredible trip, and I look forward to returning to the BWWCA as soon as possible! 

a few late summer macro shots from the garden

 

Paris Olympics and Mallorca Spain

Sometime in 2018 we first talked about going to the Paris Olympics. After a few years of planning, and saving money, amidst many life changes (including moving multiple times), we made it work! It was a combination delayed honey moon and incredible trip. We went to the Olympics for about 5 days, then to Spain for a week, and then back to the Olympics. The Olympics and Paris were a fun but exhausting part, while the time in Spain was centered more on relaxing. 

For ease of travel, we packed small carry-ons for the whole trip. this ended up being 12.7 lbs. It included- 

2 pairs of shorts, 1 pair of pants, 1 long sleeve button-up, 1 t-shirt, 2 tank tops, 1 pair of running shorts, 1 pair of shorts for sleeping, 4 pairs of underwear, 4 pairs of socks, 1 swimsuit, 1 pair of sneakers, toiletries, e-reader, external battery and inverters/cords. 

At the Toronto Airport we had 27 Canadian olympians on our flight. As part of the celebration of their departure, the Team Canada breakdance team was performing at the gate, there was a mini-parade with many of the Olympians, and press conference with the pilot of our flight and the athletes. It was a pretty cool atmosphere and kick-off for the trip!

part of the press conference

Along the Seine River before the start of the opening ceremony

Posing with the Paris Olympics Mascot, the Phryge, just before the opening cermony along the Seine. 

It was raining and chilly for most of the opening ceremony, we didnt take many pictures, but here was the masked horseman riding up the river carrying the torch

police units from all over the world were present

the view from our room at night

the marathon GOAT!

Sammy wearing the silly promotional sunglasses that were being handed out at the restaurant we were at

Warholm and Mahuchikh- two modern day legends of athletics

the start of the 1500m final! Jakob Ingebrigtsen slowly walked to the start line

Cole Hocker won the 1500m in a THRILLING race! Yared Nuguse came 3rd. This was the first time in112 years that two American athletes landed on the podium in this event!

women's 1500m heats

Before a hot morning of watching various heats in the athletics events, including some of my favorite runners!

men's 110m hurdle heats

Sam walking in Colombes, France, heading towards the historic Stade Yves-du-Manoir, to watch field hocky

Netherlands had a strong fan base for the field hockey

After several days we went to Mallorca Spain for a week for relaxing along the Mediterranean Sea. I went on some absolutely beautiful runs. While it was warm, South Carolina is hotter in the summer, so this felt like a break from the humidity of the southeastern USA. 

We enjoyed exploring Palma

We toured inside the stunning and ancient (>800yr old) Catedral-Basílica de Santa María de Mallorca 

inside one of the staircases

along the rooftop, at sunset. these tours are still relatively new and infrequent, we were fortunate to be able to explore such an incredibly beautiful and historical cathedral

wandering an alleyway in Palma

outside the cathedral

a view from hotel to the peninsula across the bay, which I ran to most days.

outside the Bercy Arena, where the gymnastics were held

Simone Biles! 

The temporary venue for beach volleyball was right next to the Eiffel Tower, it was an incredible spot!

The walk to stade de france in Sain-Denis

stade de france !

a french rat!