Against the Wind by Jim Tilley

Author:Jim Tilley
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Red Hen Press
Published: 2019-09-15T00:00:00+00:00

Over dinner Ralph recounts his discussions with the camp director and walks Steve through the maps, indicating where they’d camped overnight in the fishing cabin their counselors broke into and where things went wrong on the Rouge River. He points out Carp Lake, which goes by a French name on the government map, and the probable location of the overgrown portage to reach it. The difficult part of the trip will be the middle stretch where the low-lying terrain is likely swampy. “Few lakes, almost no paddling, a lot of portaging. Much of it through alder thickets, I’m guessing. There might be some slogging through bogs. I’d like to set aside three days for that part of the trip.”

“I’m not sure we’ll be able to handle the overgrown portages with the camp’s heavy wood and canvas canoes,” says Steve. “Have you considered taking Kevlar canoes instead?”

“The director advises against lighter canoes because the winds are generally strong on the Baskatong. They’ll be harder to handle.”

“But they’ll be weighed down with packs,” says Steve.

“Not as much at the end of the trip with the food almost gone by then— The director’s pressing us to take the camp canoes. I believe he’s thinking of exposing his brand more broadly, you know, the camp crest on the bow of each canoe.”

Steve selects two of the maps and spends a few minutes studying them. “How about an alternative route a little farther north or south with more water, less land? The Baskatong is huge— Does it matter where we enter it?”

“There aren’t any good alternatives,” Ralph says. He picks at his meal while Steve has another look at the maps. Jean-Pierre and Monique get up from their table and leave. A quick dinner. Ralph wonders if he’s been the cause. Jean-Pierre appears distressed.

“You’re right,” says Steve. “But I’m concerned. The middle portion can break the whole trip. It will defeat the purpose of our reunion.”

“That’s why I plan to cheat a little. I’m going to commission a pilot to fly us—only you and me—in a seaplane over the entire route. From the air, we’ll pick out the most difficult portages in the middle section.”

“Then we’ll know where they are,” says Steve, “but that won’t make them any easier.”

“I’m thinking that you and I can blaze the most difficult trails before the trip— Not clear them, merely mark them.”

“That could take several days, maybe a week or more.”

“Consider it a little extra for us. Two consecutive weekends in May should do it.”

Steve frowns. “The beginning of May is the end of my semester. I’ll be grading papers and exams. How about the end of the month?”

“Fine with me.”

“Are you going to tell Jack and Bill?”

“You bet— Jack’s already told me he doesn’t consider me trustworthy after that episode with his sister. I plan to let him know everything you and I talk about.”

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