Canoeing the Mississippi - Part 4

Extra weight no longer a problem for shallow water, We bulked up for the next leg of our journey, Water containers, even some canned goods An acceptable luxury in our seventeen foot canoe, A canvas topping lashed everything in securely, Offered some weather proofing for sensitive gear, Our sleeping bags, some staples, and clean clothing. Cameras were kept in waterproof pouches That stayed within easy reach of paddlers, Fishing rods and car mounts for the canoe, In case we burned out, topped the load, With ice chest and Dr. Peppers easily accessible. In high spirits we set out on the next leg, Destination Cass Lake's Boy's Camp Chippewa. I had traveled this leg before as a twelve year old, By canoe, but with less luxury, until Bemidji, Where each of our crew went to a late movie, And downed a Paul Bunyan Special banana split One banana and seven scoops of ice cream, Camp four miles across open water long after dark, With only a fire on a distant shore to guide us home. (4) Poet's Notes: (4) People die pulling stunts like this. In fact strong winds arose forcing us to shore shortly after we started, light rain and lightning flashes high in the sky! We had to pull our canoes wading in the dark along the shore for 3 hours to reach our camp. Our counselors pledged us all to secrecy for they would have been fired had management known the danger they put us all in.