It seems like just a couple of weeks ago that I was gushing about bare feet, warm water and lazy picnic lunches on the beach. Well it's time to move on.

    The colder water now echoes the honking of the Canada Geese and other migratory waterfowl as they assemble for the yearly fall exodus. I often wish that I could follow them in my Campanoe as they slowly make their long journey down the Mississippi River.

    The magical call of the sandhill crane can be heard from great distances and if you look carefully you can see them circling high in the warm afternoon sky as they get a free ride on the uplifting thermals. They climb on locked wings until they are almost out of sight and then they are gone.

    Long cool nights have been whispering to the trees to prepare for change. White birch is one of the first to heed the call and their leaves are already starting to yellow and spin to the water in the dry breeze. Some of the maples are challengers in the beauty contest with a show stealing crimson display. Oak trees are more stubborn and will resist until a frost prods them on.

    There is no better place to witness this transformation than the Wisconsin Dells. Kim and I always eagerly look forward to spending some early fall days on the water here. The mobs of tourists who flock here in summer for all the amusement rides and activities have vanished and as you can see from these photos, we have the whole place to ourselves except for an occasional tour boat or fisherman.

    All the annoying buzzing distractions of mosquitoes, jet skis and water skiing boats have also gone and the only sounds that intrude on our solitude are from our own giggles as we take in the sights from our quiet Campanoe.

    Most of the time the wind cooperates and I can sail up or down the narrow scenic canyons. It's also fun to paddle up some of the small side channels where most boats don't dare go because of shallow sandbars and underwater debris.

    All of the shoreline here is private property and posted with no trespassing signs to preserve the natural beauty, but remember that the water belongs to everyone. So if you want to spend the night , bring an anchor, a portapottie, the cots and a good warm sleeping bag.

    During this years Dells outing Kim and I remembered how difficult it was for us to make this trip before we had our Campanoe. We had 3 little kids and a 20'x 8' flat bottom houseboat that we towed with a pickup. The boat wasn't that heavy but it still was awful to tow and launch. By the time it was in the water, we were drained. Our first time there the outboard quit and we were stranded in the narrows. The wakes of the big tour boats pushed us against the rocks and the kids were scared and crying until I got it running. Then at the landing we burned out our clutch trying to pull it up the steep, slippery landing. It took a length of chain and a 4WD truck to get us out. Not exactly relaxing.

    Now it's a very different experience. We can tow it easily with our little Honda and fold it to 4' wide for long trips. If our outboard quits at a critical moment we grab our paddles or tip the bimini forward to sail. If the landing is difficult we can carry it to the car. Everything we have learned is designed into Campanoe.