I did not bring the proper footwear
for the occasion.
Everyone else had water shoes
suitable for long portages
and slippery stones.
Me?
Flip-flops.
They slapped the backs of my heels
as I trudged along, a constant reminder
of my miscalculation.
After a long final canoe and portage,
we made it to our island
and set up camp.
There was something about being out there,
embedded in the wilderness,
and yet the lake water never quite
seemed to quench your thirst.
That night I dreamed
about catching an enormous fish.
All I wanted to do
was haul it back to camp
and raise it over my head,
the proud hunter
providing a much-needed feast
for his village.
We were awoken by a storm.
Wind tore through the campsite
and when we looked outside
the other tent had been completely
crushed.
We rushed into the rain
to secure the tarp
and our belongings.
The day before
we had been telling stories
about campers injured or killed
by falling trees.
Needless to say,
we didn't sleep well
the rest of the night.
The next day
we set off in our canoes
to hike the nearby trails.
Once on foot (and flip-flop),
we followed the trail higher
until we reached an overlook
of the lake,
Lake Disappointment.
Before heading back to camp for lunch,
my brother-in-law and I
decided to make a detour
and go fishing.
We paddled up to a rocky point
as the wind carried us
down the shoreline.
Just as we dropped our lines
into the water,
a family of loons appeared.
The adults were teaching
the chicks how to fish
as they drifted down the point
with us.
I got a bite
and quickly set the hook.
I could feel the weight
on the line
but thought it might just be
the current.
Then it moved.
Whatever was on the other end
pulled so hard
the canoe seemed to stay
right where it was.
I reeled again.
A prehistoric spine
came into view.
We froze in disbelief.
The muskie breached the surface
like a giant whale
coming up for air.
Then, with a snap of its head,
it broke the line
and disappeared.
We looked at each other and exchanged
“Holy shit” after “Holy shit.”
Once we gathered ourselves,
we decided it was getting late.
But before we headed in,
we paddled up
for one more drift
down the point.
Lake Disappointment
Ian Valor