I'm glad you have the opportunity to return to that unique and beautiful part of the world. Yes, mid-Sept. can be iffy weather but it can also be absolutely amazingly beautiful which is why it's worth the gamble. I think you will have a great trip.

Northern Wisconsin lakes are wonderful as well. In fact, paddling on any lake in that region is really fun and beautiful.

My first canoe trip in the BWCAW was with a church group in 1967. After that I made numerous trips in the Boundary Waters area including what is now Voyageurs National Park. Quetico is slightly less visited and is vast which is why it's my favorite place to canoe. I need to return before I get too old.

Have fun!

I love my Bike Friday. It has served me well but the bloom is starting to go off that rose for me as well. On our last trip in Thailand I noticed that the derailleur was awfully close to the tire. And, it turns out it actually did touch the sidewall of my tire wearing into the rubber considerably! That has never happened before. But now I don't see why it won't happen again. I have had bike mechanics look at it and they just shrug their shoulders. It's a sad situation because now I don't trust the bike anymore.

Starting in 1989, I have gone there about 15 times, I think, with various groups of guys from churches I have attended. About 7 or 8 years back, I told the guys it was my last because my knees were about gone. However, this time it is with a guy who was a kid on one of those trips and he is going with his fiance and with another old guy friend of his who lives up there and has the equipment, looking for an excuse to go. I have been assured there are no long portages, so we will see how it goes. Mid Sep can be "iffy" weatherwise up there too.

To be clear, I won't be in the Boundary Waters area on this trip. I did have that privilege a few lifetimes ago when as an early teenager I joined my father, an uncle, and several cousins close to my age for a week of paddling in the pristine Canadian wilderness.

I was fortunate to have that opportunity, and even more to be able to repeat it a few years later on when my church youth group made a trip up there as well.

This time, I'll be paddling on lakes closer to the Twin Cities, and in northern Wisconsin. That'll be a great experience too and I'm looking forward to it.

The bloom is off the rose for me in my regard for that one. I'll put it up for sale one of these days.

My favorite place on earth is Quetico Provincial Park which adjoins the BWCAW in Canada. The BWCAW is a close second favorite place for me. Having moved from Minnesota to Portland, OR 40 years ago it is harder now to just take off and go on a canoe trip up there. I'm envious of you doing it. Have fun.

Hey, that's a great bike!

Some type of corrugated plastic. It's naturally buoyant, but I also have a pair of inflatable air bladders that go in the bow and stern just to be sure.

One of the attractive features is that it's only 40 pounds or so- pretty good for a two-seat plastic boat. I've seen molded boats that weigh in at twice that weight.

What is the skin made of?

There may be some sidewalks and MURPs but no significant unpaved segments, as I understand it.

In the event we get rained on, though, Serenity's fenders ("mudguards" to those of you who hail from the former British Empire) will be an asset although they're very close to the tires ("tyres", to the same subset of readers as above) making any buildup of crud somewhat problematic.

As I rode across some dried mud from flooded roads today, it occurred to me that if you are going to ride dirt paths (?), wider tires would be better for the job.

Give us lots of preamble to your trip, it’s going to be fun!

"Not that you asked my opinion, but I vote for the most comfortable bike. "

All votes count, or ought to. :)

They're about equally comfortable, and equally enjoyable to ride.

It'll be easier to carry my "good" camera (the faux-SLR LUMIX) in Serenity's handlebar bag, and I hope / plan / expect to take many photos.

I had to look up White Mountain Wilderness, to see if we went there in 2021, and didn't realize it. No. We were very close, at Ontonagon, but then we dropped down and rode the shore of Lake Gogebic.

I look forward to following along.

Not that you asked my opinion, but I vote for the most comfortable bike. If they are both comfortable, then I think you should take the go fast bike, since you have the SAG wagon, take advantage of it!

Sounds fun! I also plan to be heading that direction with some friends who invited me to go along driving from Dayton, OH to some unspecified to me BWCAW entry point for a week starting about mid Sep.

I have eyeballed those origami kayaks, but at 77, I probably would not use it enough to be worth having. I'm sure you will enjoy it up there!