IDW Weekend

Back home late last night after a good weekend at Living Adventures on Lake Superior, Gail Green, Grant Herman, and Mark Carlson gave one of the best training weekends I've had in a very long time. I brought my camera along to take some pictures throughout the weekend, but found myself to busy to take pictures. While on the lake, I needed to be a student ... not a photographer. I personally did learn a lot, and have my work cut out for the summer to be ready for the fall ICE certification. The weekend was not all work ... after a late finish on Sunday night, we returned to the cabin to find Dave O and Kathy with a nice fire built, a couple of beers waiting, along with a porketta roast cooking on the grill ... was a nice finish to a busy day. It was a great weekend spent with Jill, Chris, all the other trainees and all the folks at Living Adventures.

Windy Weekend

Another cold and windy weekend. This was to be the "Spring Fling" for SKOAC, one of the local kayaking clubs here in the Twin Cities. I think most folks checked the weather and bailed, probably a good choice ... A few folks showed up, Sarah, Rich, Chris, Courtney, Herb, Lee, Holly, and myself, all made the trip ... in the end only Chris, Courtney, Holly, and I spent Saturday night camped at Tettegouche State Park in the hopes the 25kt winds, and 4-6ft waves would calm down and give us a Sunday morning paddle. It was not to be. I awoke at 5am, checked out the tent flaps only to see more wind, waves, and this time it was snowing! I don't think the temp got above 35F the whole weekend. I did get some hiking in, and spent Sunday afternoon bummin around the North Shore ... would I go again knowing what the weekend had in store? ... absolutely!

Gone Paddling

The lake looks busy again this weekend ... maybe I'll bring my hiking shoe's.

SATURDAY...N WIND 20 TO 25 KT BACKING NE IN THE AFTERNOON. ACHANCE OF SHOWERS AND THUNDERSTORMS. WAVES 4 TO 6 FT BUILDING TO5 TO 7 FT IN THE AFTERNOON. A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED..SATURDAY NIGHT...NE WIND 15 TO 20 KT INCREASING TO 20 TO 25 KTAFTER MIDNIGHT. PARTLY CLOUDY. WAVES 4 TO 6 FT.

Yuk!!

Why there is an algae bloom this early in the season is disturbing, I've not seen it like this until late in the summer. I took these pictures last Wednesday on Lake Independence, I didn't put the boat in the water that day ... in fact I haven't been back since. I only hope all the folks with their chemically treated lawns around the lake appreciate the green crap in the water as much as I do.

St Croix River

Headed up to Taylors Falls this weekend. Met Jill, and Elaine, after they had launched at Oceola, paddled up river to a campground on the Minnesota side. After finding the campgrounds full up for the weekend, and some missguided wanderings looking for some campsites, we went over to the Wisconsin side of Interstate State Park, got a campsite for the night. With a plan to paddle from Taylors Falls down to William O'Brian Landing, we headed out down river to find headwinds, and whitecaps all the way ... after a stop at Oceola for lunch we decided to cut the trip short and hit some of the backwaters for some exploring. We still managed almost 11 miles for the day, and had some good paddling.

Windy Weekend

Great weekend of paddling the South Shore of Lake Superior, when heading for a weekend of paddling with forecast winds, and waves in the 20kt, 3-5 ft range, a paddling partner is a good idea. A paddling partner who knows the all the safe harbors, and launches, is even a better idea! Dave O, and I spent the long weekend sticking our noses in a variety of conditions, from placid backwaters, to wind and waves. Friday we launched at Bayfield, paddled across to Madeline Island, then across the shallows to Long Island, the intended destination was the home of one of Dave good friends along the South Shore. The crossing between Madeline and Long got interesting with confused seas from the waves and winds coming from between the islands, all along Dave was trying his hand at some fishing. Somewhere along the way he decided that catching a fish might not be such a great thing in 2-4 ft reflection waves, so he stowed the fishing gear, and we made it to Long Island intact. After some lunch, and a nice break we headed to Daves friends home, this time the reflection waves were replaced with more evenly spaced 2-4ft following seas, much more manageable, but certainly not relaxing. We found our intended landing spot full of clapotis, and crashing waves ... not good. So we continued on to Washburn, and found a rocky, but manageable landing at the Memorial Campground.

A great weekend of paddling, pushing the envolope a little, and meeting some really great people. Also some of the best sauna's on the South Shore!

Gone Paddling!

Gone to the lake for a long weekend. Hmm .. looks like it might get bumpy.

.TONIGHT...NE WIND 15 TO 20 KT EARLY...DECREASING TO 10 TO 15 KT.MOSTLY CLEAR. WAVES 2 TO 4 FT..THURSDAY...NE WIND 15 TO 20 KT. MOSTLY SUNNY. WAVES 2 TO 4 FTBUILDING TO 3 TO 5 FT IN THE AFTERNOON. A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY MAYBE NEEDED..THURSDAY NIGHT...NE WIND AROUND 15 KT. MOSTLY CLEAR. WAVES 3 TO5 FT. A SMALL CRAFT ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED..FRIDAY...E WIND AROUND 20 KT. PARTLY CLOUDY IN THE MORNING...BECOMING MOSTLY SUNNY. WAVES 3 TO 5 FT BUILDING 4 TO 6 FT. A SMALLCRAFT ADVISORY MAY BE NEEDED.