Journal by Duane Lasley,
Images by Duane Lasley, Randy Freeman and John Gidley
Monday July 22, 2024, the participants, three men, two women, group leader Duane Lasley and assistant group leader Randy Freeman met at the Richard I Bong Veterans Historical Center and departed for Ely, Minnesota around 11:30 a.m. In Ely we met with the outfitter where we obtained personal packs, sleeping pads, sleeping bags and were fitted for paddles and life jackets. After the outfitter, we checked in to Veterans on the Lake Resort and then ate dinner at The Boathouse Restaurant in Ely. After dinner, journals, maps and map cases were distributed and everyone was briefed on the location we were heading to, what the lake where we were going was like and ground rules for the trip.
Tuesday July 23, after a hearty breakfast, the outfitter picked us up at 7:30 and transported us and our gear to the entry point for the BWCA. We portaged all of our gear and canoes down to the lake, paired up, loaded the canoes and paddled out onto the lake. Our first choice of camp-sites was available so we quickly occupied it and got to work setting up camp. Lunch was tortillas, hard salami, cheese and drink mix. The afternoon was occupied doing camp chores, fishing, relaxing and getting to know each other better. Dinner the first night in camp was fried fish, fresh steaks cooked over an open fire, potatoes and green beans.Â
Wednesday July 24, morning it was fresh bacon and eggs for breakfast. After camp chores were done, it was a day for fishing and relaxing around camp. Everyone that went fishing caught fish and it was fresh fried fish for lunch and again for dinner. The decision was made to cut the trip short by two days and pull out Thursday afternoon because of a forecast of high headwinds starting early Friday morning and lasting continuously through at least Monday.
Thursday July 25, morning was for those that wanted to fish to go early and return for a brunch of peanut butter and jelly or hard salami in wraps or sandwiches. We then broke camp, loaded the canoes, paddled across the lake and portaged all of our gear back up to the entry point. The outfitter picked us up at 3:00 and returned us to the resort where we cleaned up. Dinner Thursday night was at the Frisky Otter in Ely
Friday July 26 • morning was fresh eggs/ omelets to order for breakfast, packing up, straightening up the cabin then a return to the Bong Center.
VERY SPECIAL THANKS TO OUR SPONSORS!!
