In the year of our Lord two thousand and nine I went camping with a friend. There was a lake near my parent's house with a small island that I thought would make for a perfect campsite. The only boat we had was a canoe and the only way to launch it was to walk over a hill with chest-high grass and push out amongst thick reeds and mud. Our sweat was flowing freely by the time we reached the water. We nearly tipped the canoe--full of gear and supplies--multiple times while trying to launch in t...

In the year of our Lord two thousand and nine I went camping with a friend. There was a lake near my parent's house with a small island that I thought would make for a perfect campsite. The only boat we had was a canoe and the only way to launch it was to walk over a hill with chest-high grass and push out amongst thick reeds and mud. Our sweat was flowing freely by the time we reached the water. We nearly tipped the canoe--full of gear and supplies--multiple times while trying to launch in t...