Richard Pepper August 2003

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Richard Pepper's Aug. 2003

Canoe Trip
with
"The Zavitz Family Plus"
Aug. 18 - 13
along the Turtle River System

Steve and Ellie Zavitz had volunteered to lead the Dorion Bible Camp canoe trip during the week of Aug. 17 - 23rd. Sadly, by the time they went on vacation in July, only one camper (I believe) was left still signed up for it and so we had to cancel the trip.

However, since they had the time set aside anyway, they decided to have a family canoe trip anyway (with their two sons, Jacob and Joshua) along with the one remaining camper, Ashley, and their friend/super nanny, Stephanie Parker. I appreciate their welcoming me along as well.

A huge thank you goes to former-DBC-Canoe-Trip-Leader-Extraordinaire, Dave Shaw, for lending us his two canoes AND his truck!!

Thank you Steve and Ellie, especially, for accommodating my request to be back in time for the wedding pictured below. Unfortunately, my picture of Jennifer playing the piano during the worship at her own wedding didn't turn out well. That was a very moving feature of the ceremony.

Monday

Put in at Hwy 622 Turtle River Bridge. Short paddle to short portage. Saw bald eagle. Went swimming. To Pekagoning Lake. Sailed up the Turtle River to our island. Hamburger stew. Very hot at night.

Heading out

Riding in comfort

Sailing the T.River

Great stew!

Tuesday

Paddled to rapids. Sudden rain! Took shelter under tarp. Ashley and Steve lined the canoes up the rapids. Meanwhile Stephanie found the portage. All through this trip we ran into teams competing in the "Raid the North Extreme" race. We pointed several of them towards this portage.

While making my way through the bush, I was stung 5x by wasps. Pitas for lunch there. Slipped into water, received an impressive but painless gash in my shin. Paddled to long portage into Smirch Lake. Paddled to Dam. Carried the canoes over the rocks. Jacob stung by an insect. To Dibble Lake island. Chicken stew. Camp fire.

Trapped by rain
Tarped by rain
Lining canoes

Wednesday

Pancakes for breakfast. Spent most of the day at a beach further up the lake. Lunch there. Back for hobo supper. S'mores in the rain. Lightning. Rained most of the night. Stephanie and Ashley had to have a tarp put over their tent.

See sawing	Happy Josh	Awake
Wed. on the beach	Ellie & Jacob	Pyro
Wed. supper	Happy Jacob	Singeing in the rain

Thursday

Windy day. Paddled back to island on Smirch Lake. Sang (including Christmas songs) while crossing the lake. Set up tents on moss pads left by previous campers. Northern lights. Since I was right next door, I could hear Stephanie and Ashley's Bible discussions and occasionally pitched in. I was impressed that S. knew about the Maccabees. That Great Commission School must be alright after all.

Nights were intense.

Josh escapes.

Ooh aah!

Friday and Saturday

Sunny day. Back via the long portage to the rapids (with the wasps). Took turns shooting them with Steve. Swam again at the first/last portage. All four Zavitzes shared a canoe from there back to the cars. Camped on the beach by Turtle River Bridge. Spaghetti for supper.