July 18, 2017 Tuesday

We had a grand adventure today. We all slept in and then did our Bible study. After lunch (pork sandwiches for the guys), Scott, Dad, Mom, and I hoped in Dad’s truck and went to scout out Nevin Lake. Our plan was to put in our kayaks in Nevin Lake and paddle to Bunyan Lake. We headed down Ingall Falls Road and it was deserted. There was NO ONE or no signs anywhere to be seen. It was bumpy road but not the worst we’ve seen. Every once in a while we would see a yellow sign with a number on it. We figured they were kilometer markers. After 10.4 miles down this road, we finally saw an access point sign. It didn’t say where we were or any helpful information. We pulled in and Scott and I walked down the boat launch to see if we could see anything on the lake - nothing. We studied the map more and decided that was Pickerel Lake and we had a ways to go to find Ingall Falls. We drove another 4 miles when we saw another access point sign. This one actually labeled it as Ingall Falls. We pulled in and hiked down to the falls. They were beautiful. It also seemed like it would be a place we could put the kayaks in.

We decided to go further to see if we could find an access point on Niven Lake. A logging company truck was headed toward us the opposite way. We flagged him down and talked to him a little bit. He told us we were going in the right direction and wasn’t sure if there was access to Bunyan Lake or not. We made it to kilometer marker 18 when we ran into another guy. He told us to go over the third bridge after marker 21 and the road goes off to the left but to stay right. 

Of course we did the opposite and turned left, but there was a guy on a huge John Deere excavator so Scott and Dad got out of the truck with the map and went and talked to him. This guy talked to them for quite awhile. He was even going to get his own map to show them. He said there was a way into Bunyan but it was virgin woods for part of the trip. We kept going until we ran into another worker in a truck who also stopped and talked to us. He said the last guy we talked to was the expert and he liked to talk fishing. He also told us the roads ahead were pretty good but if any of them looked questionable not to go down them. The roads were terrible!! We were bouncing all over the place. We came to a Y and went to the right where it appeared to end shortly after that. We got out and walked a ways thinking maybe it would lead to one of the lakes we were looking for. 

When we got back I discovered a tick on my pants. Later Dad and Scott found one too. It was God’s grace that we didn’t end up with any attached to us. Mom was crabby and needed a snack of course we didn’t have any food with us. I rubbed her shoulders for a bit and she came out of it somewhat! We had a lot of fun. 

We went back the way we came and took the other Y - that road was even worse!! Finally we found a little wider place where we could turn around so we did. Mom was very happy we were heading back except for the one time where Dad was looking at a lake on one side and almost drove into the lake on the other side. Scott hollered and grabbed for the wheel but Dad was fast and corrected quickly. :) When we were almost back we decided to find the entrance to Dore Lake. We ended up on the other side of 502 in some logging place. We went back and went in a circle - ending up back where we started the entire adventure. I talked them into heading back so we could find Dore Lake after passing marker 3 Dad gave up and turned around.

We had quesadillas for dinner. Mom and I kayaked around Paradise Island and we called it an early night.