Well, now that the dust has settled, and two other trips are under my belt, I'll blow the smoke off the playing field here. Here's the truths of this trip:
1. Joey did an excellent job of planning, scouting, and setting it up. THANKS, Joey.
2. Piper San, though a bit tetched in his head, is a damned good camp cook.
3. Keith and Jules loaned me the flat bottomed swamp pirogue to use in the cypress swamps. THANKS. Field notes: The boat, as loaded, had 3" of freeboard, an inch and a half on the port side plus another inch and a half on its starboard side. I breathed pretty carefully, and took on water only once. Whitecaps danced around on our way out, but we stuck to the shore on the return trip, as I'd lost my snorkel.
4. Time spent in practice naps does not count off your lifetime. 'Nuff said.
5. Fellowship in camp constitutes some of the most precious time and events in our lives.
6. Friend Wingo, that was the 14th cousin of our Appalachian wine box. And these guys sipped it with all the same couth and swave that we did. BTW, Jimmy, thanks again for that great trip into your mountains.
7. I did not partake of any gree-itz, Viennie snausages, or other trash food, but did actually eat a couple of 5T hot dogs.
8. The R&R on this trip was very much needed, appreciated, and utilized. I even sang a few songs in camp for the others. You could tell they enjoyed it a lot, from the appreciative expression on their scrunched-up, care-worn faces.
9 Joey's wife, Ms Joy, is a gracious lady whilst sipping wine, eating shrimp, and enduring us clods. Thanks, Joy.
10. Piper San's wife deserves a medal, and is always kind to me. Thanks, Diane.
11. Keith's neighbor is an interesting guy who I'd like to camp with.
12. Keith and Seedtick took us for a m-i-l-e-s long trip on a pontoon boat. I saw a lot more cypress swamp; it all looked alike to this North Woods boy - way too soggy for a taboggan.
13. My First Needs water purifier turned that bayou gunk into sweet water.
14. It is enjoyable, paddling distant waters and camping on far away shores.