Our last morning on the water dawned misty and gray. The trees blurred together to create a unified front along the distant shore. The waters were quiet and calm as we slid the canoes back into the water and loaded them once more.
Silently, while paddling at an easy pace, I said goodbye to the loons, the eagles, the heavy pine forest landscape, and the pristine waters of the BWCA.
In a society of constant technological distraction and achingly over-burdened schedules, family time like this is to be treasured, even if only for a few nights.
The landscape may be familiar to me after 20 years of living in northern Minnesota — the lakes, the pines, the rocky shoreline, even the loons and the eagles — but I was reminded of a quote of Rachel Carson’s from Silent Spring:
“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature — the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.”
Without the distractions of daily life, the BWCA provides visitors an opportunity to ponder the beauty, and truly appreciate it. Too often, we are multi-tasking even while engaged in recreational pursuits. Everyone needs some time periodically to escape to the wilderness — no wi-fi, no cell phone, no intrusion from the outside world. Power lines and cell towers are not part of this landscape, and therein lies the difference from so many other settings where similar pursuits are enjoyed. These modern-day conveniences change the tone of our engagement with each other. And as wonderful as technology can be, it is a blessing to unplug and engage in a different way.
Ciao! ~ Kat
Other posts in this series:
Travel. Garden. Eat. 
23 responses to “Unplugged and Off-the-Grid ~ Conclusion: Heading Home”
[…] Coming soon, the final post in the series: Heading Home […]
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What a really beautiful series. I really enjoyed them all, Kat. And you’re bringing home a bit of the wilderness back into your “everyday” life.
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Thanks so much, Kathy — blogging is such a fun way to extend good memories.
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(Continuing on!) was traveling through India….was fun to catch up with your adventure, Kat! I’d miss the tranquility after getting this close to nature:)
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I am looking forward to your future posts with some interesting stories and food insights from your travels, Peri!
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I missed a few parts of this series while I w
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This was a beautifully photographed series, Kat, and today’s accompanying commentary was just about perfect. It mustn’t have been easy to leave but how fortunate that you were able to visit the Boundary Waters in the first place. I hope you do so again. 🙂
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John, I hope we return soon, too – we are so lucky to be surrounded by incredible beauty throughout northern MN but the BWCA is even more magical. Thanks much for your kind words.
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I have never been there….it’s truly beautiful! The same kind of beauty I have found in the wilderness of Sweden and Finland! Thanks for taking us along!
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Thank you for coming along, tiny. You should write on your memories of the wilderness (or perhaps you already have?)
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The BWCA will always hold a special place in our hearts. Perhaps we’ll even revisit one of these days. And I agree, it’s good to unplug from time to time. Happy paddling…..we may just have to add a water craft back into our lives. I miss it!
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The RV could remain safely parked at the outfitters while you unplugged for a few days 🙂
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I ventured to the Boundary Waters more than 3 decades ago. I shall always remember the beauty and tranquility. Thank you for bringing back such wonderful memories!
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Hopefully some day you may be able to return again. Thanks, littlesundog.
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And a silence that soothes the soul. A true specialness that thankfully still exists. Lovely. And a lovely place you took us to.
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So true, Cheryl — we all should be grateful that it has been preserved, and hopefully always will be.
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nice shots looks like a peaceful place
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The Boundary Waters is one of the definitions of peaceful!
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Especially like the path with the hidden canoe !
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That was the edge of a portage trail! — I had just come through carrying our canoe, and set it off to the side so as not to block the trail while I waited for my husband to come through with the packs.
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Perfect composure!
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I grew up in the inter city neighborhoods of Illinois. My trip to the BWCA was my first exposure to eagles, to moose that were not in cages, and water you could drink out of the lake. As a result of that trip I moved west when I got through school so I could be closer to the mountains and the ocean, so I could hear them whisper at night, so I could see the stars at night and share it all with the eagles, the bears, and the cougars.
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This is such a wonderful comment, Charlie — thank you so much for sharing.
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