Four girls. Two tents. No cellphones. A thunderstorm. One hundred and thirty hours of nonstop togetherness. This was what Julia Ruelle just1 .
"It was really2 ," said Julia Ruelle of her recent weeklong adventure to the Boundary WatersCanoe Area Wilderness with three childhood friends.
Earlier this year, Julia, having completed a3 for a brain tumor (肿瘤) in April, won a writing contest and was4 a free five-day camping adventure with up to three friends. Its aim is to get kids away from technology. She struggled to5 the final three — Anna Wander, Madeline Wilson and Julianna Torelli. No6 were allowed, so getting their agreement was a bit7 . Having a satellite phone and promising to check in twice during the week finally won their agreement.
The four girls arrived in Ely on June 10 for training. They8 the next day at 7:00 a.m., and quickly fit many things into their9 — getting up early every morning, going boating 10 , then having lunch at the campsites, followed by swinging, reading, talking, and napping.
"I love how you are separated from everything in your life, especially11 ," Anna said. Without her phone, she said, "I'm less12 about things." "We got along pretty well," said Madeline. "We were always talking before bed, about specific things and thoughts." "But we might sometimes have had13 ," Julianna added. No one was even hungry or homesick, but they were14 nervous one night as they waited out a thunderstorm.
After the adventure, Julia will continue to take physical examination every three months to make sure the tumor is gone. "Mental health can be15 so much in the Boundary Waters. It really helps to reconnect with yourself," said Julia.
