*** Day 5 ***

As usual, Jake was up with the son and had coffee and breakfast ready for his mother by the time she stumbled out of the tent an hour later.

"We"re in the back-country now mom," said Jake over breakfast. "Now we get to relax and enjoy the peace and quiet."

Still sore from the first 2 days of paddling, Amber almost cheered at the news.

"So, you"re going to paddle me around while I work on my tan?" she asked her son.

"Sure will," Jake answered, "it"s your vacation too."

By 9:30 they had packed up the camp and were shoving off into the waters. The...