Passing The Torch...Kinda...

"Building a house of fire baby
 Building it with our love..."
Alice Cooper




Once again  I sit here in my dining room trying to think of a way to begin.  What do I write?  What do I discuss?  What the fuck do I do. 


Ok, let me discuss the trip this year. 


It turned out that the only two to make the trip this year was me...big surprise...and my youngest child Brennett.  My wife could not make it because of work, The General could not make it because he was picking up a new dog, Brother John and Radar had work, Ducky and Bartender just couldn't swing it because of family life...which is all good.  Nevertheless, I made sure the tradition wasn't lost because I want my kids to carry on this tradition when I can't do it anymore.  I want them to make this trip something that is important to them just like it is to me after I am no longer able to do it.  But beyond that I want them to make this something that they can pass on to their kids like I am going to do to them.  I'm just happy that I have kids that I can pass this tradition onto to make sure it becomes something bigger than me.  Ok, I'm digressing lol...


Like I said before Bug and I were the only ones to carry on the tradition of The Bigfork River Runners tradition.  I had most of the gear ready on the 25th of May so that when I finished work on the 26th and he got done with school we would only have a few things to toss into our truck before heading to Harrilson  Camp Site.  We headed there because The General said that would be a great place to start since Brother John had never canoed that part of the river...(this was back when I though there would be more than just Bug and I on the trip).  I was still under the impression that The General and Brianna were going to be joining use on the river. 


The night before we left The General said that him and Brianna would meet us there Saturday morning to take the trip with us.  I found out the following night that they were only going to canoe the day because of the new dog.  It was suppose to get chilly Saturday night and he didn't want to have to worry about his new puppy.  I could understand that because the puppy cost a pretty penny.   I wouldn't want to have to worry about a dog that cost that much after only a day of having it, so it was all good.  Bug and I were still looking forward to taking a trip down the river with The General and Brianna.  Anyway,Bug and I got to Harrilson and proceeded to make camp. 


We set up my old Spider Tent and I got busy making some firewood with my new chainsaw while Bug unloaded the gear we would need for the evening.  We didn't unload all of our gear because the landing at Harrilson is about 100 yards from the campsite.  I knew we were going to have to move all of our stuff to the landing in the morning when Mom and Dad brought our canoe in the morning.  We cooked some dogs and I sipped a few brews...it was the perfect start to another River Runner Weekend. 


To many the evening was non-eventful, however, it was a memory that neither Bug or I will ever forget.  It was his first time on the Bigfork and it was my first time taking one of my children on the trip.  It was nothing short than a thing of beauty. 


After we got up we made some simple grub so we didn't have dishes and then packed up camp to take to the landing while we waited for my folks and my niece and nephew to show up with mine and Bug's ride. 


To be continued...