There once was a lad from the Lone Star State,
who dreamed of exploration and realized that just over the horizon, adventure await.
He was commissioned by the internal desire for adventure,
which burns deep inside us all, and within him grew,
so he assembled a ragtag crew to explore a land seen by few.
He set off for the ancient land- more north than he’d ever been-
whose beauty and wonder only true voyageurs and men of the wilds knew.
By air and by land, the voyageur lad traveled to his Uncle’s cabin,
nestled deep within the Harshaw Hill country.
This legendary cabin, was built solely by the hands of the one they call Uncle Buck-
the most amazing cabin one could ever see.
Uncle Buck is renowned and recognized throughout the land
for his merit, adventurous spirit, long grizzled beard, and skillful hand.
It was here, in the cabin’s comfort, the brave Sugar Beans (as he was fondly named)
greeted his courageous crew with a hearty, “Boozhoo!”
They were some of the finest canoeists around-
paddlers tested, tried and true.
Together they pondered, planned, and plotted the course of their adventure
for which they’d set forth;
packed their belongings, and dreamed of North.
Sugar Beans’ crew consisted of five, rugged braves-
paddlers he knew had grit and could battle the wind, rain, and waves.
Uncle Buck, a wise and grizz old guide, had seen many moons in the Northland sky.
Respect of all living things and the song of the wild are the codes to which he ascribes.
Jonesy, a well-traveled voyageur himself and Sugar Beans’ proud dad,
had been to this land and wanted to share its magic with his brave little lad.
Joeseppi , a young blood at heart, was the lad’s loyal cousin and friend,
a trustworthy bowman, on whom all paddlers could depend.
Makwa, the newcomer- fierce as a bear and as tough as the rest-
and after day one, she gave it her best.
And last there was Pierrὲson; the lad’s other cousin and fellow adventure zealot,
who once learned his lesson and stayed away from anything that resembled an apricot.
They loaded the van, strapped on the canoes, and greeted the early morning with a boisterous “Bonjour!” and embarked North to begin The Magical Northwoods Mystery Tour.
Traversing blue highways the voyageurs meandered north, through the wilds of Wisconsin and the Land of 10,000 lakes, hoping to make the Canadian border before it was too late.
Eventually they arrived at the Magical Northwoods’ doorway- delicate and ornate.
The crew unloaded their gear and launched their canoes- confident and sure.
Each eager paddle stroke brought them closer to all the memories they would create.
And Sugar Bean and his crew created memories- some of the best.
Memories that seep into dreams and make one feel blessed.
Memories of:
discovering a pictograph and plodding through a ****** river- just to get back on path;
stumbling upon wolf tracks and forgetting the fishing poles- but never the packs;
exploring craggy caves and battling and paddling against the wind and waves;
hunting for ice under rock clefts out of the sun, they searched and searched but came up with none;
swimming in the warm water nearly every day and asking painted turtles if they wanted to play;
practicing the art of stalking seagulls, and on every lake, they gave greeting the glorious eagles;
dropkicking each and every single portage and of food and laughter there was no shortage.
The crew came back with fantastic tales and experienced everything a voyageur could wish.
And although his dad will try to tell you it was only by an eighth of an inch, there are pictures to prove that Sugar Beans caught the biggest fish!
So here’s a paddle rattle for you- young voyageur lad- the greatest voyageur old Quetico’s ever seen! May your adventurous spirit continue to grow and may the waters you paddle always be serene.