Happy Faces

Pumpkin Paddle 2008

The third annual SKOAC "Pumpkin Paddle" has officially come and gone, cold and wet fall camping was not the plan this year though. Our gracious hosts, Gary, Jeff, and Liz offered our small group the comforts of their cabin on Lake Vermilion this year. I'm sure we all agreed that after paddling most of the day Saturday, and the cold and wet weather we had coming this weekend, a warm cabin with a nice wood fired sauna to ease aching muscles, was really nice.

Fall Paddling

We still have some paddling time left here in the north land, but the days are getting shorter and getting out during the week after work is just about over. Last week we tried to get a "full moon" paddle in, and although the weather was nice, the clouds just wouldn't give us the moon. A bonfire with a couple beverages and some great food afterwards finished of a nice get together with Friends.

The weekend weather was about as perfect as you can get here this time of year. Saturday I had to make a last minute decision to bail on some projects I was working on and meet up with people on White Bear Lake for an afternoon paddle with another get together at another friends place. Some beers with Brats on the grill finished off another perfect fall Saturday. Sunday? Well I finally got to finish up my projects ... in spite of the perfect weather. It was a good thing no one called me for another paddle.

Jo

From the email I received.

ISK member Jo Hamilton died in the early morning of October 16 after a long illness. Many ISK members will remember Jo and her husband, Dave, from winter pool sessions, where Jo was a graceful figure who made complicated rolls appear simple and easy.
Jo and Dave were also the brains behind the first Traditional Paddlers Gatherings in Akeley. The Gatherings were established as an opportunity to learn and share skills related to native kayak techniques. But for those who attended, these events were characterized by the notes of graciousness, bounty and hospitality that Jo worked tirelessly to achieve. Anyone involved in the first years of this event would acknowledge that the largest share of credit for its success belonged to Jo.
Jo was an accomplished artist, whose pottery graces the homes of many members, as well as a dancer, avid yoga practitioner and motorcyclist. Driving with her around Akeley could provoke recollections that seemed surprising coming from a middle-aged woman. At one dangerous intersection she casually observed, "This is where I put my bike down under a lumber truck."

My deepest condolences to Dave and the Hamilton family.

What do you do on a Sunday night?

October has made its presence known here today, cool temps and some rain. So, what do you do? You do some laundry, and while your waiting for clothes to dry you work on guitar licks by jammin with Eric Clapton and Buddy Guy on a dvd.

Sean Morley

There's an attempt to make a Vancouver Island record circumnavigation by Sean Morley going on right now. I met Sean briefly at Canoecopia 2007 when I was checking out the new Valley boats. He was interviewed in Justines "This is the Sea II", and has some very impressive accomplishments! He's just about half way around ... check it out. By the way, he's using a Nordkapp for trip ... my kind of boat!