Trial Run

We are planning our annual or what we try to make annual trip to Kettle Falls later this summer.  We spend 4 days out on the boat on Rainy Lake fishing for walleye.  E went on his first trip when he was 10 months old.  He did very well, but he also wasn't very mobile and he was napping at least 2 times per day.  E and I didn't go last year, but we are planning a trip this year.

The question is, will E be happy for 4 days on a boat?  Will the adults be happy?  Of course, we don't spend the entire time on the boat, but we do spend the majority of each day out on the lake fishing.

We have always included E in everything that we enjoy.  He went to his first agility trial when he was 4 weeks old, went on a cruise at 6 months, fishing trip at 10 months, etc.  We are of the feeling that E grows through every experience and we want him to be well rounded and to experience as much of life as possible.

4 weeks old at his first agility trial

So we took a trial run this weekend to see how E will do on the boat this year.  We didn't spend the whole day on the boat, but we did spend a few hours.  E did very well.  He was a great listener, he didn't fall into the water, he didn't mind wearing his life jacket, he was really interested in fishing, he liked driving the boat and he was getting pretty good at casting.

Casting his line

Learning to drive the boat

We are still undecided but leaning towards bringing him with.  I think if we bring enough snacks, toys and things for him to do, everyone will have a good time.  The only unknown factor being the weather-hopefully it won't rain a lot or be too hot-that doesn't make anyone happy on a boat.

Happy Boy on the boat!