Epic Northern lights at hour 35 of the drive

A highlight trip for me in 2016, a trip that was years in the making, uncertain from the outset but once we set off was better than all of my dreams.  I wanted to try and put the trip into words but there aren't enough adjectives in the dictionary. I decided to just publish my highlight reel photos as a kind of essay on the journey.  The gallery is in roughly chronological order, somewhat.  Through the course of 12 days I took over 3000 images and whittled them down to this set of just over 100 of my favourites.  Hopefully I will be able to write something down about it eventually but for now enjoy these images, let me know if you love them or hate them.  Prints available? Maybe someday...

The trip was supported in part by Ottawa Kayak School/Wilderness Tours who helped us with gear, a vehicle and getting out there.  Thanks for the help!

Pre-trip planning before leaving Uncertainty Satellite image inspection Optimism on the never ending drive 27 hours driving, finally in Manitoba. Still 10 hours driving to go. Food prep Liquor prep Second epic sunset of the drive there sunset stoke LP Rivest Pensive at the Put in Prepping the boats Prepping the motors Prepping the food Rigging Boats packed, ready to leave Cross lake, Manitoba. Boat fortress Send off meal from the People of Cross Lake Smile Rowing out Tom Paterson horsing around at the last bridge we will see for two weeks Dane Jackson Trolling Crossing some flat water lakes Joel Kowalski Casting Kalob Grady taking a shift on the helm White Mud falls Bren Orton heading out for a scout Looking for a portage Scouting at Eve's falls Lining the boats at Eve's falls Lining the boats at Eve's falls 2 Lining the boats at Eve's falls 3 Camp 2. Dane getting his morning oats untitled-06425 Kalob Grady practicing with the shotgun incase of Moose attack Benny Marr practicing good foot health Dirty Feet Huge Pelicans, everywhere Launching thew drone (for almost the last time) LP getting his first sight of Dream Wave First raft descent of Dream wave rapid Bren Orton Heading down Dream wave rapid, first or second? Hal Monkan modelling Bren Orton catching air Benn Marr getting his first taste of Dream Wave air Kalob Grady catching his first surf Benny Marr describing the wave Dane Jackson throwing this first aerial Benny Marr launching Benny Marr getting inverted Dane Jackson Dropping in Kalob Grady getting hang time Parking the rafts The loading bay Sunset over the loading bay Dane Jackson taking it all in First sunset at paradise camp First Campfire at Dream camp First alternate spot campfire at dream camp Tom Paterson Front flip at Dream WaveInterested in Human Flight? Enjoy swimming? Yea I have a guy you can call about that. @freestyleriverboarding on custom @earthveins boards. That and some wild gymnastics abilities, sick swimming skills, and a seemingly fealess attitude that I still do not understand. // #travel #adventure #explore #fly #igers #instadaily #instawow #instagood #riverboarding #sonya6000 #freestyle Kalob and Dane stoked after build a huge driftwood fire for two hours Paradise Camp. Benny and David's tent Fresh fish untitled-08342 Delicious fillets Tea time with Ben Marr When David Jackson is finished filleting David Jackson chiffon up another tea Dane through the wood Hal and Benny Yoga time Dane soaring Dane paddling out for another surf Tom throwing down as Benny watches on Benny throwing down as Tom watches on Bren Orton rallying for another surf Kalob Grady with a dreamy pan am Tom Paterson Can Can 1 Tom Paterson Can Can 2 Bren Orton STOKED! A big crowd in the stands Joel Kowalski watching his dream [wave] come true LP Dialling it in Early morning sun at Dream Wave 1 Early morning sun at Dream Wave 2 untitled-08920 Joel getting his fish on Rod hands Bren grabbing that sunset light shot. #nophotoshop Bren Orton laying out a fatty Stern Tap! Benny Marr upside down again Paddling back in Joel Kowalski getting a ride in Hal's broke Tom grilling Benny on ideas for his next trick Kalob Grady Creek boat airscrew Tom Paterson in beast mode Paddling with Dolphins 1 Paddling with Dolphins 2 untitled-09328 Defying gravity Moon rise Sun set at paradise camp Sport Shooting Faint northern lights at paradise camp Another of many campfires medium northern lights over 'Boogie Board Bay' Ben Marr flying at the last morning at Dream Wave untitled-09626 Hal Monkman throwing HUGE at the last morning of Dream WaveEver wondered about how to fly? I know some people you can talk to about it. This is Hal (OFTEN mistaken for @bennymrr ) he can fly. #fly #travel #adventure #explore #Manitoba #ManiFLOWba #igers #instadaily #instagood #instawow #picoftheday #fun #smile Packing up to leave Joel Kowalski ready to peel out Not even the biggest waves Decompressing at the Air Cadet hut in Cross Lake, MB Joel explaining where we went to an elder of the community The same elder explaining to LP why more people should come to Cross Lake A friendly bear we saw on the drive home One of MANY gas stops 40hr drive home life LP Rivest throwing down as the fire rages Joel hiking back up for his next ride Dane getting aerial Moody skies at dream wave Benny Marr in flight again Hal Monkan showing his signature Left Pan Am untitled-08193 Party surfing Tom on his way up for another lap Dream Wave stoke Kalob Grady sending a big Flip Turn Prepping some good eats