Every Labor Day weekend, my wife, Ann and I, camp at Sawbill Campground for the annual "Fish and Pick". This is an event started over 30 years ago by a group of people who liked to play music, camp and fish. The group has changed some but everyone is welcome to sit around the campfire at night and play an eclectic collection of tunes on acoustic instruments - guitars, bass, fiddle, mandolins, banjos, dobros, harmonica, accordian, percussion - pretty much anything that can be played in tune. Folks come from all over the state, mainly for about 3 - 4 days. We have a potluck supper every Saturday nite. Bill Hansen, former owner of Sawbill, has always sat in with his dobro. During the days, people relax, paddle fish, play music, hike. Each year, my wife and I take a paddle that lasts most of the day. This year we decided to head up into Cherokee, have a fire, roast our sandwiches and then return. We picked a good year as the water levels were high and we were able to paddle portage #576, from Ada to Skoop. Day was bright and sunny with just a breeze of wind. We have, in the past, brought our sea kayaks and taken the Sawbill/Alton/Kelso loop. But with facing the 4 longer portages leading into Cherokee, we opted for our Spirit II. Good choice! We had fun paddle, pretty unremarkable with the exception of being able to paddle the portage I mentioned earlier and paddle over the beaver dam in Cherokee Creek. We had lunch at the first campsite coming into Cherokee and then paddled back. A good day trip!
