Clint and I jumped off at Moose Lake Landing on a cool August day. Clear sky, light breeze. In two hour's we'd be at the portage to Ensign- 200 yards of easy walk with packs and canoe. Another two hour's easy paddle and the portage to Mesabi would be at our feet and we'd finish it in the dark, set up camp not far from the portage. Dinner, maybe a little fishing by moonlight. Walleyes bite best at night, are dark water feeders.
Portage to Ensign behind, we did the short river run to Ensign proper and began our paddle. A light breeze at our backs encouraged us along, pushed the blades deeper and we sang- Clint had the absolutely best voice I've ever heard in a man- and enjoyed the day.
Then the wind came up.
Ensign flows east to west, is about six miles long, a mile or more wide, dotted with islands.
We'd maybe got a mile before we knew we were in for a stormy night. The westerly wind hit hard and sudden, lifting the water to troughs five and six feet deep from the wave crest, a few even deeper.
The Windsong would plummet bow first into the trough, suddenly rise as the pointed end hit the bottom, sweep us upward and we'd paddle furiously to reach the crest as the wave behind pushed us forward. Into the trough again we'd plunge and rise, the thin canoe a knife slicing the water and rising to cut again. Up. Down. Up. Down. A roller coaster ride, our bodies held between the thwarts of a thin piece of aluminum hull.
Wind blown spray wet our bodies, stung in our eyes, washed inside the canoe, wetted packs and feet.
I barely rescued my hat, blown off my head and caught as it whipped just to the end of arm's reach, to be stuffed under the seat beneath me.
Perhaps it was the kindred spirit, the lovers of Adventure, the primal man within us, the pure joy of living. Whatever, Clint and I both cried a "Hallelujah!" together and began to laugh. Lusty, bold laughter that comes from the release of pressures within, the loss of binding ties. Laughter from the depths, the purest form of sound that begins deep in the spirit and builds through every cell of the body, each releasing its joy and comes forth ringing in the ears.
Our paddles dipped fast and deep and we rose upon a wave. Higher. Higher.
And then we were upon it, sitting so perfectly balanced at the crest. Clint turned to look as I called his name, my arm outstretched, fingertips holding my paddle as it reached for the trough bottom. And stopped a foot short.
Above the wave, the wind was fierce, flinging white cap foam everywhere, soaking us more. From the cloudless sky it came, its whine added to the roar of the foaming water, louder than our voices of praise as we surfed the wave, perfect in its form, Clint at one side, I at the other, open air below us, the perfect belly of the Grumman lightly touching its element.
Miles passed beneath us as we were suddenly deposited on the sands at the east end of Ensign, the waves pushing until the pine forest stopped our progress.
We laughed as we stepped ashore, ear-to-ear grins as we eyed each other, dragging the canoe farther into the bush.
"Where's your life jacket?" I asked Clint, standing shirtless in the wind.
He grinned and laughed.
"The same place yours is- under the seat."
"Now we have to get back to the portage," he told me, pointing to the west and south.
Our escape had swept us three-quarters of a mile past our destination.
It would be great to say the paddle against those waves was easy, as much fun as the ride in, but it wasn't. It was hard work and we sweated under the spray, still with no life jackets on, and was several hours paddling to travel the short way. One stroke forward, two strokes back, as the expression is. Only it was reality then. Those waves made us pay in pain for the joy they'd given us, for the pleasure of our souls.
And that is what surviving is like.
Unimaginable in the purity of the joy of living. Painful in the work it can entail. Pleasure in just being 'able'. Not wearing a life jacket, but trusting in skill and One-ness with God in all His elements for He is in control and will bring us to fulfillment of His perfect Will. If we die in the process, so be it. Who are we to question the One Who is Perfect and has the Perfect Understanding?
I am only a man. So be it.
Bless God.
SunDog
