With our good friends the Ulmens, the Drouins, and the Standishes, we met at mile mark 63.5, which is a boondocking site nicely appointed along the St. Joe. It has easy access, is reasonably level, can handle three (and more) trailers easily, and hosts a stand of graceful cedars, which provide a nice ring around the rock fire pit. We rode bikes (126 miles), floated the "Joe" in kayaks, and ate well in a stay that lasted from Monday to Friday. The July days were hot (90s), so the shade of the cedars was welcome. But most pleasing was the coolness of the evening that called for sweatshirts and a campfire with s'mores! Books were read. Naps were taken. We rode in the morning and re-hydrated in the afternoon. One day we rode to Avery and back (34m); the next we did the Hiawatha trail (30m rail trail); the final ride was to the top of Gold Creek pass and back with a small jog toward Red Ives (60). The final ride was so Dave Ulmen could ride his age, which meant I had to add a little jog to Conrad Crossing and back at the turn to Red ives so I could add two miles to make my age of sixty-two. Every time I go to the St. Joe, it's the same, yet different. It's always the same harsh wilderness terrain, but each time there is a different peace attached to the camp spot we choose. All said and done, life is especially good along the St Joe.
Frac nestled between a few cedars.
The water front looking east, up river.
Thumbs up to the good life.
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