THE CANOE TRIP
By: Dr. Ben Ezra Jacobson, PhD. Chapter 2
The morning came with dark skies and rain. The air was cool and water ran from the dinning fly. What had been a dry and firm footing last night when we returned from our canoe ride after dark, was now mud. We stepped on stones along the path to the tables which were dry...under the canopy. Our food supply was dry but the camp stoves had taken on moisture from the humidity...and were a bit difficult to get started...but once burning...continued for the next hour. All campers like fried potatoes with bacon and eggs. We made some flap jacks and poured genuine imitation Maple syrup over them...and a big pot of hot tea. Though the air was cool and the rain cold...our spirits were not, not at all. Dressed in sweat pants and sweat shirts and ball caps, we were dry. None of us wanted to admit that we had nothing under our sweat suits...but bulges showed that we were all quite naked underneath.
As we were cleaning up from breakfast...a boat pulled up to the landing. It had a covered top of canvas type fabric much like a convertible automobile and the owner after tying up at the burned out bridge...made his way up the incline to our campsite. It was the guy who had visited with us at the store the day before. He had an official type uniform on and said that he came to check on us because there were storm warnings out for the area.
"Storm warnings," we all said in unison, " Wisconsin has storms"?
He laughed, "Well not like tornadoes or hurricanes, but this area can have severe lightning strikes in storms...and you might not be too safe on the island. I can take you to shore where there is more protection until we are out of danger."
He was sincere...and we knew that he meant business...but he was also kind and obviously interested in our well being. He was a tall guy about 27 or 28, sandy haired, ruddy complexioned and affable. As we looked at each other...it seemed like we would best be listening to his warning.
"What about all of our gear," we asked, "do we just leave it here...or take it with us?
"I would suggest that we secure your canoes with a chain and lock, close up your tents but bring your personal affects with you, and I will take you to shore with me," he said. "We will find you accommodations if the storm continues...which it might, the weather people are saying the front has stalled over our area in a 50 mile radius...and it might not be safe to return to the island until it is over...and that could be tomorrow."
We all looked at each other and someone said, "oh shit". Leave the island was the right thing to do...but to leave the camping gear and the canoes was not exactly what we felt comfortable in doing.
"We'll be up a creek with out a paddle, literally, if the gear is gone when we get back", Tom said. "I am favor of taking it all with us...even if we get soaked."
"And what if you get struck by lightning in the process," said Ted, the ranger.
"Come on guys...we have to do what is best...to be out of harm's way," replied Larry..."who is going to brave electrocution just to steal our gear?"
"Right," said the ranger. "We will patrol the area as best we can...and no one is going to bother it during an electrical storm."
No sooner had the words come out of his mouth than a clasp of thunder rocked the island and the flash lit up the sky.
"We can be ready in about 15 seconds," Fred exhorted...and off to the tent he went for his things.
The six of us got into Ted's boat and huddled together as we made the rocking trip back to the mainland. Another staff member from the ranger's office met us at the dock to tie up the craft and hand us slickers to throw over us as we ran to the office. The presiding ranger told us to have a seat...and tried to reassure us that we would be well cared for...and that they would keep an eye on our things on the island. One of the guys rolled his eyes as if he did not believe it...and I was expecting the Ranger to chastise him...but he did not. Instead he got up from his seat and sat down next to us...and again assured us that they would watch our canoes and camp gear.
"We will have to find you some safe lodging for the night," he advised. "I can take two or three of you to my house and Mitch and his wife have room for two of you in their spare bedroom and that leaves only you". He was pointing to me.
"You can stay at my cabin down the road," Ted said. " It is small...but there is room for one besides me...and it is warm and dry."
All of my camp mates looked at me...and I could see what they were thinking...Ben is going to get screwed tonight. Ted did not look like the type of man that was into mutual male gratification. I suspected that I would be on the sofa and he would be in his room behind a closed door. Not that I would not like to get screwed in the night...I just did not read the same writing on the wall that my camp mates were trying hard to conjure up.
We spent most of the day at the ranger station...and Ted took us to a local dive for lunch...which to our great surprise was very good. The ranger station picked up the tab which made it that much better. This storm business might not be so bad after all. We all looked at each other and someone said, "oh shit". Leave the island was the right thing to do...but to leave the camping gear and the canoes was not exactly what we felt comfortable in doing.
"We'll be up a creek with out a paddle, literally, if the gear is gone when we get back", Tom said. "I am favor of taking it all with us...even if we get soaked."
"And what if you get struck by lightning in the process," said Ted, the ranger.
"Come on guys...we have to do what is best...to be out of harm's way," replied Larry..."who is going to brave electrocution just to steal our gear?"
"Right," said the ranger. "We will patrol the area as best we can...and no one is going to bother it during an electrical storm."
No sooner had the words come out of his mouth than a clasp of thunder rocked the island and the flash lit up the sky.
"We can be ready in about 15 seconds," Fred exhorted...and off to the tent he went for his things.
The six of us got into Ted's boat and huddled together as we made the rocking trip back to the mainland. Another staff member from the ranger's office met us at the dock to tie up the craft and hand us slickers to throw over us as we ran to the office. The presiding ranger told us to have a seat...and tried to reassure us that we would be well cared for...and that they would keep an eye on our things on the island. One of the guys rolled his eyes as if he did not believe it...and I was expecting the Ranger to chastise him...but he did not. Instead he got up from his seat and sat down next to us...and again assured us that they would watch our canoes and camp gear.
"We will have to find you some safe lodging for the night," he advised. "I can take two or three of you to my house and Mitch and his wife have room for two of you in their spare bedroom and that leaves only you". He was pointing to me.
"You can stay at my cabin down the road," Ted said. " It is small...but there is room for one besides me...and it is warm and dry."
All of my camp mates looked at me...and I could see what they were thinking...Ben is going to get screwed tonight. Ted did not look like the type of man that was into mutual male gratification. I suspected that I would be on the sofa and he would be in his room behind a closed door. Not that I would not like to get screwed in the night...I just did not read the same writing on the wall that my camp mates were trying hard to conjure up.
We spent most of the day at the ranger station...and Ted took us to a local dive for lunch...which to our great surprise was very good. The ranger station picked up the tab which made it that much better. This storm business might not be so bad after all.
The storm continued through out the day and there were several lightning strikes in the area. We heard the volunteer fire department go out several times...once to strike on a garage and twice to a strike in a campground...but as far as we knew at that time...our island camp was safe. We watched the weather channel on the news and listened to the Ranger's scanner and felt like we were on top of all the news. The intensity of the storm lessened for a bit in the late afternoon as we parted to our respective lodgings for the night. Ted drove me to his cabin which was about a half mile to the north. I was expecting a shack with a pot bellied stove...but was pleasantly surprised to find a nice, modern log cabin with a field stone fireplace in the center...and a modest but well equipped kitchen. There were two bedrooms down stairs and a loft bedroom upstairs where one could look out at the lake. Lodging here might not be too bad.
"Are you fond of Pizza and salad," he asked as he showed me his cabin.
"Yes, I am," I responded. "Do you have a Pizza place around here?"
"Sure do", he replied, " but I also make them from scratch. When I was your age...I worked in a Pizza shop and learned all the tricks."
"Fantastic," I added. " I have never met a Pizza, that I did not like...maybe with the exception of anchovies."
"Me too," Ted said, " they're just too damn salty for my taste."
"Yeah...I know what you mean"...I responded as I looked out the window at the rain.
"If you want a shower...the Pizza will be about 30 minutes," Ted advised, "Go ahead and get that out of the way and you'll feel better for supper."
I wondered if he would follow me into the bathroom...but he did not. I showered and shaved and put on some dry clothing...blue jeans and a red sweat shirt. When I returned to the kitchen...Ted was setting the Pizza on the cooling rack...and was pouring tea into glasses.
"All set", he said, "let's eat this while it is hot. You know the secret to good pizza is putting the Italian sausage on raw and letting it bake...makes for a greasy Pizza...but so good."
I so totally agreed. The greaser...the better.
After our supper, Ted said to me, "Let's call the other guys in your camping group so you can talk with them before turning in. They will want to know that you are ok...and I suspect you will rest better knowing that they are in good care."
I thought his gesture incredibly thoughtful...and as I spoke to each of the other guys...they had all been fed very well and were settling in with their respective hosts. All seem contented with the sleeping arrangements and we spoke briefly of returning to the island tomorrow if the storm passed.
Again wondering at Ted's motives for bringing me to his house...I asked, "where do you want me to sleep? The sofa looks very comfortable."
"It's not", Ted replied, " your back would be killing you by morning. I usually sleep in the loft except during storms. Too close to a lightning bolt if it should ever hit. We will both sleep down stairs. You can have the west bedroom and I will take the east one."
I remembered that both were very nice and had full size beds with the bathroom opening on both sides between the two bedrooms. Ted hung around fidgeting with the blinds while I removed my sweat shirt exposing my bare chest...and he hung around while I removed my shoes and socks. What is he going to do when I remove my jeans and he sees that I have no underwear on under them. As I slid them down and stepped out...he chuckled and said, "I thought as much. I never wear underwear when I am off duty...unless my mom is going to be here."
"What about when your girlfriend is here," I asked.
"Yah right," he laughed. "Not likely...I'm gay."
I beamed a great smile. Maybe the boys were right...maybe I was going to get screwed tonight.
"I'm off for a shower"...he said as he left the room chuckling.
I turned off the light and crawled beneath the sheet...listening to the water running in the shower...and wondering what was going to happen next.