Boundary Waters Canoe Area

Twenty Four Hours - The Prompt: What's the perfect way to spend twenty-four hours somewhere you know well? Take us along.

Every place has its hidden favorites. The coffee shop with the perfect morning order, the view worth staying for until sunset, or the shortcut that somehow makes every trip better.

For this challenge, take us through the perfect twenty-four hours in a place you know well. It could be your hometown, the city you live in now, or somewhere you return to again and again.

Show us what makes this day special by taking us from one stop to the next. Share the moments, places, and little details that make this experience feel like it could only happen there.

vocal media challenge

My first day in the BWCA, I was apprehensive about going. There are bear, moose and other critters that do live there after all. Then there is the weather. And work to paddle, portage, set up camp and cook. So why do that? What about all the benefits. There are many. And it is not for everyone.

My mother, for example was encouraged for years before she agreed to join us. She was clearly afraid of the bears and moose. I told her I had only seen one moose so far up there. I didn't tell her that I saw bear every time though.

When my mother finally agreed to come along, on our way out of the BWCA, I heard her grumbling, and as I listened closer I heard her say, "I could have stayed home to see a chipmunk!"

My daughter came with us on her first trip with my women's only trip. She had been up there several years before on our yearly family trip. On her first year was the first time we paddled together.

She wasn't used to paddling in the back, so I took that position to steer the canoe. It was hilarious as she was so strong, we had to switch places after a couple lessons, because we were paddling in circles right off the landing.

In the photo below I was younger than my 51-year-old daughter is this year. Many years, I spent three weeks of the year in the BWCA. It didn't matter the conditions, where we went, what the weather was like, I always came back refreshed.

In twenty-four hours in the BWCA, there is a lot to see and do. One of my more recent times was staying in a cabin on the gunflint trail with two forever friends. We awoke that morning and went for a paddle on the lake.

We went to breakfast at the lodge as we landed. While we enjoyed our breakfast, we planned our day to include a hike up the magnetic trail. Probably a three-mile hike one way.

We would bring a lunch and take our time and enjoy the day. Hoping it wouldn't take us all day. This was a few years ago now, and my friend Rose is 80 this year, I am 72, and Mary is 66. We no longer portage, sleep on the ground, or cook over an open fire.

When we left on our hike, we had no idea if we would go the full way on the trail. Our time together was more important than the hike. As we got half-way up the trail, we were crossing a small stream when Rose fell and landed on her face and was hurt.

We didn't know what to do but told her to stay there until she was okay to get up, and we would help her up. At that moment, three hikers showed up and one was a nurse.

The nurse immediately takes care of the situation with Rose and soon the three of them are helping her back down the trail. The nurse recommended we go into the nearest town and have Rose checked out. We did that and she was fine. She did have bruises and wasn't feeling well.

We decided to continue our plans after Rose had a rest, only dinner would be earlier, so we would have an earlier bedtime. We planned dinner at a resort up the gunflint trail with a great view. It was beautiful that day. Perfect for the end of the hike and an outdoor dinner.

We were fast approaching fall. As some of my photos show below. It was beautiful up there and the company was great, despite the spill Rose took. She was wonderful and didn't complain even one bit about her fall. She moved a bit slower, but other than that she appeared fine.