Yesterday did not turn out as desired. I went swimminh, but I had not intended to be in the water. Quite frankly, I am lucky to have escape without serious injury. Let’s set the scene …

• Beautiful day in northern Minnesota
• Fall folliage nearing its peak
• Taking pontoon boat for last cruise

I had hired a service to pull my pontoon out of the lake, and was due to meet them in about one hour at the Northstar Lake boat launch. I found a juvenile Common Loon which was still demanding to be fed by its parent. I was actually quite surprised that the youngster was not out on its own given the date, September 27th. Normally the parents have forced the juveniles to leave by this late date … no more free food. In the sequence of four photographs you can see the youngster swimming around the parent and literally pecking away at its neck feathers. Give me food! Feed me!

After the photo session I headed for the boat launch. I met the service (well known to me and reliable), and we put my pontoon on the trailer. Slowly, at less than 2 mph, we started to pull the boat up the ramp and out of the water where we would then prep it for the short drive to my cabin for its winter rest. I was still in the boat, which is not uncommon. Suddenly the pontoon rolled and threw me into the lake. I hit hard in 4 inches of water. On the way down my side either hit the pontoon or rocks on the bottom of the lake. My first fear was the pontoon boat would continue its roll, and topple over me, but thankfully it came to a stop on its side as I cowered in the 4 inches on water (all took place in about 4 seconds).

I finally managed to get up and scramble away from the boat … drenched, and now quickly getting cold in the brisk wind and 50F temperature. I also started to shake both from being wet and cold, and now realizing that having only bruised ribs was a very lucky outcome. The result could have been much, much worse if the boat had continued its roll and had continued  down on top of me.

The obvious question is why did the pontoon roll? While we are not certain, the belief is the motor had rested a bit on the trailer and the pontoon was not truly cradled. Regardless, in addition to me … my phone and Canon Sx70 also both went swimming. My phone seems to have recovered, the the camera shows no signs of life. I used the rice technique to try and get the water out. I don’t believe my camera was submeged for more than a few seconds, but for those folks who follow my evaluation of this camera, it would appear its weather resistance is not strong … albeit this is not a normal test. I plan on replacing the camera with an identical model.

There is more tales of woe from yesterday, but those stories are for another day. The quick version is I needed to pay for something in the small town near my cabin, but had no money or credit cards (wallets and its contents were drying at my cabin). Thankfully in small town America one’s word and reputation count for something, and I was able to get the products I needed upon giving a verbal promise to pay.