Chapter Three

The rustic cabin sat on Devil Track Lake, which is about 15 minutes drive from Grand Marais and Lake Superior. The cedar wood siding and roofing blend the three-bedroom house into the surroundings. In the mornings the fog rolls off the lake and everything drips with dew. Devil Track is a long clear Lake with pebbled shores. Lots of fishing boats that sometimes include my Grandfather. Plenty of evergreens, cabins, and dirt roads encircle the lake. Calls of loons can be heard echoing deep into the woods. Birch trees bend and twist as the paper-like bark peels.
I get out of bed soon after my father left and headed into the kitchen. The entrancing smell of bacon dances in the air. Grandma's already got breakfast firing up on the skillet. It looks as if Grandpa's already left on his early morning walks. "Morning darling!" Grandma Charlotte greets me. "Can you put some milk and orange juice on the table?"
I shuffle my legs toward the refrigerator as my mind and body are still asleep. Flipping around the bacon and the eggs she fiddled with her apron and asked, "Since you and Grandpa are going on your camping adventure, do you suppose you can help me in the garden today? We can make it a day just for the two of us. Maybe even go into town or whatever you want to do?" "Are you kidding I'd love that!" Suddenly stirred. "No nature please, since I'll be living a caveman's daydream the next eight days how about some civilized, soul-rotting consumerism? Go for lunch and some shopping?" "We can do that." She simply replied keeping an eye on the stove.
After the hearty breakfast and helping her with the gardening, we drove into town and came to rip it up. That's right we are some dangerous ladies. If you see us walking on the sidewalks better go to the other side. We're libel to be polite and apologize for no reason, it's terrifying. We hit all the shops in town and then some. Had a wonderful lunch of fresh fish and topped it off with some ice cream, because why not? We sat on some benches with a central view of the harbor. As tourists infest the town we watch the sailboats on full display in the fair weather. Gull calls sound out over the crashing waves, and a cool breeze blusters off the cool Lake Superior waters. Away from Grandpa's ears, we can just talk plainly.
The sun poking out from the clouds forces me to squint and sneeze, every time it gets me. "Thanks, grandma I needed that."
"I don't always get to spoil you so. It's my pleasure that I get to spend this time with you." She put her arm around me and squeezed my shoulder. I have to admit it felt pretty good to be with her. "Tomorrow we'll be leaving quite early but when I get back I can help you in the garden more. Pick up where we left off today. If that's all right?" Not wanting to seem presumptive.
She smiled and assured, "Of course, next time we whoop it up in Duluth, just the two of us." We watched the comings and goings as we sat on our bench. Then a serious look overtook her. "I know you've been hurting this summer and how could you not? Things are very uncertain, I'm not even sure what's going on. Nobody likes change, it's hard, and your whole life is changing. Home, school, friends, and probably your body." I almost choked on my spit. "Grandma!" I said embarrassed. "What? You're growing up so fast, and so beautiful. Can't I be proud of you?" She charms. "The fact is none of this is about you, but it does affect you, and that is hard for anyone. I'm just trying to say that if you need to chat with someone, who may have more grey hair than your other friends but might have a bit more wisdom. You can come to me." I turned with a smile and we hugged.
"Thanks." I looked down suddenly a bit choked, "I needed that."
"Now about tomorrow and your grandpa, don't let him push you around." She joked and then laid out. "You see, he sees these trips as rights of passage in our family. Your father, Grandpa, and great grandpa, all took similar trips. I suppose it's a bonding experience, I don't know, I've only been out there a couple of times." Gaining curiosity now I ask hoping to be subtle. "Did you enjoy being out there? Did you like it?"
She crossed her arms and sat back, "Yes, I did. It's very calming and beautiful out there. I'm not going to sugar cart it and say it's all relaxing and easy. It's quite hard in fact, but that is part of the journey. The paddling is difficult and arms will burn. The weight of the backpacks will pull and pinch on top of the heavyweight. Hard rocks and ground can poke at you as you sleep on the ground. Bugs bite at you as if with a relentless vengeance."
"That's sugarcoating it?" I say now a bit put off by the idea now. "Why on earth make this journey if it's torture?"
She thinks and with a pensive look, "The same reason you do all things that are hard." Leaving that to hang in the air.
Confused I prompt "And why's that?" "My dear, you'll have to figure that out on your own." She says as she stands up. "You've got an early start tomorrow, best that we get back to your grandfather, the man's useless without me." She jokes."Jordi, it's going to be just fine." She moved in to hug me and I shall not fight it.