Friday
9:00 All aboard the two jeeps headed for Washburn, a small town on the shore of Lake Superior. It's just a feeling of exciting when I got on the car with a canoe and a kayaka on the top and tents, life jackets, sleeping bags and beers full of the trunks.
15:00 Arrived in the town and drove to the real north woods following a narrow and rocky path which was said to be known by locals only. On the way to the desitination, we got enough foods for camping.
18:00 Path ended deep into the woods arounded by the beautiful sounds of waves from the Lake Superior, but we cannot see the lake in the junk there at all. Even though we knew soon that the lake was only 50 meters away. The sunlight in the woods started reducing, we still cannot find the designated camping site. We walked along the beach which was 5 meters wide between the huge lake and the woods trying to find the site. It was clear that we have to settle down before the sunset in 2 hours.
19:00 A gap between the woods was so tiny that only one of us, Kristle an Astonian girl, noticed and checked it out. She went through the gap and found the open place perfect for camping with great delight. It was circle shape open place amid in the forests with around 15 meters diameter and even the driving path. We were lucky, it was proved not to be the designated camping site at last though. This one was even better, I think, because there is nothing artificial.
20:00 Half an hour before sunset, we met another porblem which was much much more serious than the former one. None of us took matches with us. That means we'll be devoured by the darkness soon; the only thing we can do is to stay in the dark tents waiting for the sleeping time if we cannot find the fire resourses in the end. " Is anyone here far sight? " " I am." I replyed, " but I did't take my glasses with me." ..."Maybe we can try to drill a wood rod on another peice of dry wood. " I almost laughed out when someone proposed so. Anyway, the most urgent problem was solved smoothly by the luck again. Naithen double-checked his jeep and found four match rods in an almost empty match box. Only four, no more at all. That's so called god bless.
Juta from Slovenia, called himself forest-man, because he was brought up in the forest. The job of lighting the camping fire was naturally taken over by him. Some others started settling the tents. Orland, another Chinese guy, collected dry woods with me in the forest and on the beach.
21:00 Dinner on the camping fire was cooked in a original way, the only tool used was thin brank with sharp head. A completely different good feeling for sure on account of anyone was starving.
22:00 Singing with Guitar together with the waives, we sat around the fire on the beach drinking and chating. Some games went on till 1 am. I was totally socked by a sudden glipse of the night sky at that time which was decorated with countless shining stars. I've never ever seen or even imagined so many obsolutely stunning stars hanging.
Saturday
1:00 am Sound sleep till 9 o'clock in the sleeping bag. The tents seemed not want to isolate the sounds of the waves and songs of the nature..
10:00 After breakfast, we went hiking in the forests which was known as a famous national park with huge black bears. I was a little scared
15:00 My first kayaking. A lot of fun, such an adventure when kayaka went through the caves.
19:00 We packed the camps and drove back to washburn to take part in Homecoming party which was held every five years. At the time of the party, everyone who used to live here will be back and join the party. We could even see some old people who were said to leave washburn during the childhood which was half century ago. Every corner of the tiny town was filled with happiness, music and beer. There were several bands singing in the center of the crossing road in front fo crowds till early morning with backbround of endless fireworks.
Sunday
We went swimming in the lake and visited weekend-market in Bay field, a popular tourist town on the lake shore. Very very American.
And then we were unexceptionally exhausted. It was 1 am on Monday morning when we were back to Madison.
