Andrew enjoys the show as dozens of crayfish begin their nightly jousts at sunset.

A few photos: Click each thumbnail for a larger image and slideshow.

We rent outboards from the Star Lake Store and bring them to the Woodlands. Micah leads a voyage to the small island in Plum Lake. Another loon, just before it ducks into the deeps. Pontificating and arguing from a tube. Andrew was 'tertending' to be Popeye. Andrew and Grandma look for ducks. The view from the Oak's pier nearing sunset. Sunset at the Woodlands is the reason we do it every year. As we lose daylight, Micah and Scott work on the motor. Sunset on Plum Lake. An eagle looks out for fish on Plum Lake. A pair of eagles discuss world politics. Keep focused and you may see some wondrous little things. Fishing near the rocks around the 'Far Island' on Plum Lake. An eagle swoops down for dinner. A beer and a fire makes the night complete. Andrew prepares his bowl for sand castle building. Stretching it out at the lakeshore. Looking for eagles, skiers, and deer. A deer, taken from the boat near the 'Choke' on Plum Lake. The Plum Lake Si-ters prepare for a jump. The Ski-ters pile high for the crowd. Castle building with Uncle Micah. From the Sayner Public Fishing Pier. Let's go for a boat ride, Mommy. What do we see here? A young eagle above Plum Lake. The end of another wonderful day at the Woodlands. Sam pauses her canoeing in 'Dad Bay' to poses for the camera. Pads in 'Dad Bay' were sheltering fry of various fish. So Sam dug in and pulled a few "kid" fish out of the water. Gotcha! (This probably is not legal.) The boat house near 'Dad Bay' is probably going to fall into the lake soon. A colorful pad on Aurora Lake. It had always been a dream to canoe Aurora Lake and conditions were right. An eagle in the quiet of eutrified Aurora Lake. The eutrification process at Aurora proved hospitable to snails. A field of pads at Ballard Lake. We caught a few small crappie and bluegills on Ballard Lake. Crane on the stream between Ballard Lake and Irving Lake. Fishing is fun in the drainage pipe under Camp #2 Road. Web Photo Display by VisualLightBox.com v4.8

Statistics:

Dates: For a week, beginning 7/30/2011

Home bases: The Woodlands Resort, 'Oak' Cottage

Areas Explored: Vilas County, Wisconsin, & Wisconsin Dells

Transportation: 2009 Dodge Grand Caravan, the Pelican canoe, and a rented Yamaha 8hp outboard motor

New Frontiers: First time canoeing Aurora Lake, Ballard & Irving Lakes.

Cast: Jessica, Andrew, Scott, Barbara, Micah, Marlin, & Samantha

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See ALL Sayner Trips

Trip Notes: 2011's trip to Sayner proved to be the most relaxing in many years. The weather was great. The sun was out most days. The water and the air was warm, but not hot. (This made for horrible fishing, but whatever... ) Because of this, we spent more time in the lake than usual.

We stayed at the Woodlands' Oak cottage on Plum Lake for the fourth year in a row and were treated warmly by our hosts Larry & Kathy. It was our seventh time to the Woodlands and by now we were old pros. We know where to get supplies on the way up US-51. We know how to get the motor cheaply on the boat. (Thanks to nearby Errington's.)  We know the lakes and the hills and the places where animals hang out and we stayed put most of the week taking it all in.

The warm days were full of swimming, fishing, canoeing, exploring. The long, cool nights were full of fires, movies, games, and food. This is what I always seek when I am tramping across the country and it is always right in Vilas County.

There was definitely more eagle activity in 2011 than in years past, although many of the familiar nests were missing. It seems there are new eagle families moving onto Plum Lake.

It was good seeing Andrew enjoying the same place I enjoyed when I was his age. There is some comfort in this tradition, to be sure.

3 year-old Scott and his Dad in Sayner, 1983. 

Scott and his 3 year-old Boy in Sayner, 2011.  

We did little outside travel except for a canoe jumping trip on Aurora "Lake" and then Irving and Ballard Lakes. It was on my bucket list to explore the mysterious wild of the eutrified Aurora Lake. It's bottom was ten feet of snail-filled mud, but there was evidence that there are still large pike in the lake at certain spots (although they weren't hungry in the August heat.) Ballard Lake was windy and full of hungry little crappie and bluegills. We also found sport in fishing for fry in the fallen trees near 'Dad Bay' on Plum Lake.

Other excursions involved us shopping in Eagle River and St. Germain and eating Friday Fish Fry in Boulder Junction and burgers in the Sayner Pub.