Fall Ball

I try and make as many club events as I can, for the most part I do pretty well. The "Fall Ball" is an annual paddling event put together by SKOAC members, and has been well attended in years past. This year it took place on Sand Island in the Apostles, it's an easy 3 mile crossing so most people can make the trip. Then there are the sea caves on the North side of the island only a short paddle from the group camping areas. You need to have calm conditions to get into the caves for some exploring.

I think the first part of our group that made it up on Friday had the opportunity to check them out, but by the time Chris, Lori, and I made it up, the wind and waves had gotten to the point that it was fun playing outside the caves, but getting into them was a bad idea. By the time we made it back to camp to set up tents, it started to rain ... I think it pretty much rained the whole rest of the day and into the night. Now my good friend and fellow blogger Dave has stated "there's no such thing as bad weather, just crummy gear", There is some truth to that! But camping in the rain is just that ... camping in the rain. Even though the weather was doing its best to dampen every ones spirits, you can see in the top photo plenty of happy faces. Of course a lamb on a spit, plenty of great food, some wine, and a huge tarp sure helped!

Now if you paddle the Solstice GT Titan like paul ... you can bring the lamb on a spit, plenty of creature comforts, and the largest tent I've every seen brought to the islands in a kayak! I did walk past his kayak before the crossing back and there was nothing tied to the top of the deck!

New Boat

An older skin on frame kayak was donated to Qajaq USA for the Traditional Paddlers Gathering silent auction last weekend, after walking by it a number of times I just couldn't resist trying it on for size ... just in case it might fit. Well, it turned out to be a perfect fit. I had paddled a number of SOF kayaks at the Gathering by then, and was sceptical I would fit in any boat other than one that was made for me. I put my bid in on the boat and by the end of the night, I was the proud owner of my first skin on frame kayak. Sunday morning was a real treat discovering the way it handles on the water. It has a few leaks, and is in need of recovering, but it is a perfect fit. I couldn't be happier with it. It's still plenty safe for a while yet, but this Winter will be a good time to do the recovering, Ceconite will probably be my covering of choice since my day job is an aircraft tech. I does roll nice!

Traditional Paddlers Gathering

A weekend in Northern Minnesota at the "Traditional Paddlers Gathering", put together this year by Alex and Chris from the "Northern Lights Qajaq Society" was for me, an outstanding learning experience with some great instructors, and a weekend meeting many new people, and getting together again with some good friends. My goal this weekend was to come out with a better understanding of the balance brace and recovery techniques ... I came home with that and much more! I didn't get a chance to work with all of the mentors this weekend, but working with Dan Segal, and Will Bigelow on the balance brace really put some things together for me. I was able to do a somewhat decent balance brace by the end of the weekend. Will also spent some time with me on Sunday working on my forward recovery rolls, something I thought I had a good handle on really improved with his help.

Now what I didn't expect while trying some of the different SOF kayaks over the weekend was how different they can feel rolling ... the not so subtle difference between a "plank" roller, and a "log" roller. Alex had me try a kayak he describes as a "plank" roller ... I felt like I was cheating! In no time at all Alex had me doing hand rolls, behind the head rolls, spine rolls, and an effortless balance brace. I don't think I'll be able to repeat those in the Nordkapp. But I can honestly say I was doing some ok hand rolls ... Thanks Alex!

The harpoon contest put together by Jeff Bjorgo was a hoot! I made it to the finals, but didn't place, to see a bunch of kayaks chasing and throwing harpoons at a blown up 6 foot long orca towed by Jeff was quite a sight!

I didn't get a chance to work with Cheri and Turner like I had hoped, there where just to many good mentors there to work with them all. I'll have to make it a point to get out East soon and try again.

Windbound

First time this Summer we had to spend a day holed up on an island because of the wind. Ron S and I went up to the Apostles for the weekend to check out some Islands. I hadn't been to Michigan Island yet, or the Northeast side of Stocton ... this wasn't the weekend to be on the lake, much less go exploring unknown bays. We had checked weather before we left and knew there would be small craft warnings, but the forecast could be wrong ... one just never knows for sure. Cold fronts usually bring strong winds, and wind shifts. This one was no exception. As soon as we passed Basswood Island towards Hermit we knew the lake would keep us entertained. The winds were from the South ... how much fetch could the lake have along the South Shore? The crossing from Hermit to Stocton proved to be the most interesting with 3 to 4 foot following seas. Perfect surfing waves! The Nordkapp has proven to be a solid performer in conditions, I never once felt anything but complete confidence throughout all of the crossings. After the great surfing waves we got into the reflection stuff that was bouncing off the rocks on Stocton, kind of gives you that washing machine effect. We ended up ducking into Quarry bay that night, hoping for better conditions the next day. The winds grew stronger ... waves grew bigger ... we decided to hang out at Quarry bay for the weekend, and do some hiking.

I paddled back solo on Sunday through some fun conditions. The crossing between Stocton and Hermit is pretty exposed to the Northwest, exactly were the the winds were coming from. Ron stayed up for a couple extra days to hit a couple more islands. Wish I could've stayed longer, but I've been burning up vacation time this year at an alarming rate!

The Gunflint Trail

Note to self: Never just head up to the North Shore on a Friday afternoon thinking you will find an open campsite ... you WILL end up some miles inland and hopefully get your tent set up before dark. The Gunflint, and the BWCA is a great alternative to the North Shore.

Great Taste of the Midwest

The Madison Homebrewers & Tasters Guild puts on a great event every year, the annual "Great Tastes of the Midwest" went off with out a hitch. 5,000 people showed up at Olin-Turville Park in Madison Wisconsin this last weekend, to taste some of the best beer in the Midwest. Dave, Chris, along with two more fellow beer aficionados and I met up with our Madison friends for the weekend to take part in the weekend festivities. Shuttle bus's from different points in Madison brought everyone together, and the gate opened at 1 pm Saturday afternoon. Within a 1/2 hour everyone was inside, and milling about the different tents and sampling well over 100 different brews. The real draw here I thought was the "Real Ale Tent", all cask conditioned in the centuries old traditions of the UK. Afterwards a stop at Jamerica, a great little Jamaican style diner on Madison's East side for a great end to the day. My favorite selection ... the Bells Two Hearted from the Cask Ale.

Two Harbors Weekend

The Two Harbors Kayak Festival has been an event I've made it to every years starting in 2003. In '04 I did the 18 mile race in 3hrs 42 min, so all though I am 4 years older, I still did the race it 3 hrs 26 min. It certainly isn't close to the top competition, but what the heck. I'm all right with it! Chris E and I did sort of a team effort by hanging together throughout the race, I think at times I was pushing him, and I know there were times he pushed me harder than I would've done alone. Now, speaking of the competition .. I get placed in the early 50's age group, these guys are some of the strongest paddlers that show for the race .. what the heck is with that! On another note, Gail Green from Living Adventures would have beaten her '04 time, but she stopped to do a rescue for a guy in a surfski. He started bonking and capsized, couldn't get back on. She had to stay with him for a while until he got his wits back about him ... she missed her old time of 2hrs 58 min by only 4 minutes. But if you know Gail .. that's her. Grant and Gail are two of the best ambassadors to kayaking we have here in the Midwest.

When I first started going to the festival in '03, I didn't know many people in this sport. It was a solo adventure for me. I'd show up, get a campsite at Burlington Bay, and just hang out, meet people, it was sort of my beginning in kayaking. In 5 short years I've met so many great people, now we cram as many tents as we can on 4 campsites!