Tag: Boat Camping

Into the Unknown: Where the Fish Boats Outnumber Us 100 to 1

bearcruzer

If you want to feel like a celebrity, here’s a tip: bring a cabin cruiser to a lake where everybody else fishes out of a 16-foot aluminum boat. Our launch from the Warroad City Boat Launch went smoothly, just a little dragging of the trailer over the launch to keep us humble. But the inspector at the ramp told us flat out he’d never seen a boat quite like ours come through there. We’d pictured sharing Lake of the Woods with other pleasure boats like Bearcruzer. Instead, we’ve gotten a steady stream of stares, questions, and what we’re choosing to interpret as friendly curiosity from the campground regulars. We were even presented with some fresh fish on Thursday night….since we hadn’t had the chance to catch our own yet, and he didn’t want us to miss a Friday fish fry.!!! We shared it with my Dad…as it was always his favorite!!! Our plan now is simple: explore respectfully and toss a line in here and there so the local fishermen know we come in peace.

Our first real test came fast. The channel leaving Warroad was skinny; we are still getting to know Bearcruzer, so when shallow water alarms sound, it’s all hands on deck to make certain we are not about to sink or run aground. We trimmed the engine and proceeded slowly till we were in deeper water. Crisis averted. We’d read about Garden Island on the US side of the border and pointed Bearcruzer thirty miles north to check it out. The wind was out of the west and built the lake into a steady three-foot chop the whole way up, enough to keep us both gripping the helm as the waves splashed over the bow, and we kept watch on Sierra, decked out in her new life jacket, bracing against the rocking. We were hoping for the calm serenity of a Garden Island. Instead, we found the waves wrapping clean around the island, turning the main anchorage into something closer to a washing machine than a place to spend the night. No, thank you!

So we pulled out the charts, made the call, and turned northwest toward Oak Island and a spot called Bobbies Bay, hoping the geography would cut us a break from the wind and waves and allow us a calm anchorage to hide in till Mother Nature was done rearranging the upstairs furniture. We tucked in just northwest of Hennum’s Oak Island Lodge and found exactly what we needed: flat water, a handful of cabins along the shore, and a couple of fishing lodges keeping watch over the bay. We stayed two nights. Aleshia served us a wonderful Breakfast Saturday morning at the lodge restaurant, and invited us to return later that evening for live music. As we arrived that evening, the inflatable floor of our dinghy began hissing at us and getting very squishy. She should still get us back to the boat, we’ll deal with it tomorrow. We went on to enjoy some classic country music and easy conversation with the local fishermen before limping back to Bearcruzer. Mike found that the valve cover on the underside of the dinghy floor had not been closed properly. An easy fix…thank goodness.

Between enjoying a meal and entertainment at Hennum’s, we took Sierra exploring the forest roads connecting the lodges on each side of the island, mud and all, where we found evidence of both bear and hearty pioneers. Which brings us to an important seasonal discovery: we have arrived at peak mosquito and tick season. Lucky us. Every hike now ends the same way, full-body brushdowns for Sierra and a thorough tick check for both of us, conducted with the seriousness of airport security. Worth it. Mostly.

Wildlife Scorecard so far: 1 turtle, 2beaver (tail-slap victorious), 2 Loons (not us), numerous White Pelicans, countless mosquitoes & ticks (I think we are losing this fight)

Sometimes the weather likes to test us!

bearcruzer

Our first day on the road, we were met with rain and winds from just east of Denver all the way to Ogallala, NE, where we stopped at Lake Ogallala State Recreation Area for the night.   We opted for the West side Campground as it was less crowded, and we had our choice of beautiful Lakeside Pull-Through Camp spots where Mike proceeded to check and tighten any loose bolts on the trailer. After giving Sierra a much-deserved walk, we settled in for a beautiful sunset followed by an amazing lightning storm.

To clarify our camping situation.  We are staying on the boat on the trailer while traveling.  It is set up to provide us a warm, dry place to sleep, eat, and get out of the weather.  Sierra even has her own little cubby.   While on the trailer, we use a step ladder to get on and off, and Sierra now waits for us to lift her on and off after she learned the hard way about boat-to-ground distances…she is OK.

Our 2nd day driving we were still challenged with both wind and a little rain but made it just outside of Nunda SD where we experienced the very best of what Harvest Hosts is all about thanks to our hosts George and Linda Fenwick — the private tour of the Waterfowl Production Areas, dinner at the Nunda Bar & Grill (rated 4.8 stars, by the way — clearly a gem), souvenir t-shirts, and a storm shelter offer during a tornado watch. That’s hospitality you don’t forget.  Linda’s elective collection of yard art along her walking paths made exploring their property fun.  It was a pleasure spending time together.

On our 3rd day, we pulled a 12-hour drive day with rain again and several detours.  We arrived in Baudette, MN. While exploring our choices for boat launches and a place to leave the truck and trailer, Sierra met a western painted turtle and saw her first beaver at Zipple Bay State Park She was enthralled and wanted to swim after it but it slapped its tail and dove under the water.  Nothing quite like a tail slap to establish the pecking order!

We pulled into Warroad City Campground around 8:00pm and found one of their larger camping spots with electricity available. With the wind still out of the NW at 18 – 20mph with rain expected, we settled in for a couple of days.   We talked to the ranger the next morning and were told it would be no problem leaving the truck and trailer.  The Campground itself is extensive with many of the long-term campers looking like they have been handed down through generations.   After 2 nights at the campground we decided we could wait no longer, so with the wind and waves finally letting up a little we readied Bearcruzer for her aventure onto Lake of the Woods. We felt secure knowing this boat was built to handle wind and waves.   With over 14,500 islands straddling the US/Canada border there is no shortage of places to explore….so where to now?    Come along and find out!