Guess what I saw on Da Verm today!!

I stopped at the Verm on my way home from work today. I picked up my boat and started towards the put in above Triple. Wellllll when I got to the trail turn off I noticed a very big snake...yes snake... sitting (yeah as if snakes actually sit) on the corner. He wasn't happy to see me and vice versa. Looking closer I'm thinking...Damn!! That's a rattlesnake! Well he crossed the trail in front of me and I had a good look. He stopped when he got into the grass on the other corner and I moved a little closer to get another look...not believing my own eyes. That's when his tail came up and started rattling. OK I backed off and debated with myself. How bad do I really want to paddle today? Well I crept a little closer to see where he'd gone and he must have either slithered into a nook there or really booked it someplace else...he was gone. I slowly followed the trail past and was REALLY carefull about every rock and craney on my way down. Put into the water...the Verm still has some speed so there's still some features to play on. But hey...I didn't stop until I got to Donut and then I checked out each rock on shore...coast was clear so I got my play in. I will have my camera tomorrow so if I see the critter again I will get pics.
On another note...It's Morel season. With the warm weather and rain today Tuesday would be a great day for hunting Morels. The rule of thumb is to look for them when the Lilacs bloom.
One more note...When I was carrying back up rain drops started to fall. The sound of rain drops hitting dry leaves sounded amazingly like that snakes rattle...yes I was spooked!

It's Been a Good Week!

Even though I started back on midnights Monday night I was still able to get 3 good days in paddling. Monday and Thursday on the Verm. Water is still moving fast so the surfing is still there. Friday was my only whole day off this week and I headed up to the Kettle to join Tom, Jack, Gerald and Jeremy for a park and play. More paddlers showed up and it turned out to be a beautiful day on the river. I am really looking forward to next week. I will be on day shift which means Verm every day on the way home. I am really praying for rain on Monday to boost the levels a bit! The best news is I am off the following weekend and will be headed out! Whoo Hoooo! Where? Maybe Papst A Palooza or ???

Kettle River Paddle Fest

The Kettle river Paddle Festival was this weekend and it was a great start to a yearly addition to paddling events. Friday turned out to be the most beautiful weather day for paddling and Graeme and I enjoyed having the river to ourselves. Come Friday night paddlers started rolling into the campsite. Some as far away as Roseau MN. Saturday started out with a bang...a couple of thunderstorms early. But, hey that only added to the level of the river. The big race started at one. I ran my Habitat for my third time paddling it and I just keep loving that boat more! Saturday night there was time spent at the bar. Great door prizes for everyone! It was topped off by the BEST fireworks show I have seen. It was uniquely intimate as it was especially for us paddlers and the locals that came out. Car alarms being set off by the fireworks just added to the ambience. Sunday we did a little hiking after breakfast. Checked out Spring Creek Falls. Then we hit the river. The rodeo was on Sunday and Nate and Mike were cartwheeling all day. Mellissa rocked as the only woman out there. I had to head out early so I packed the pugs and headed home. What a great weekend on the Kettle and a great time provided by The Kettle River Paddlers!

Monday Afternoon

Rocking on the Verm today. Donut was a superfast spin cycle. Nate, Drew and I played it up and then ran it again for fun. Warm beautiful day on the Verm. I'll be down there everyday after work this week...unless I play hooky from work and head north...hmmmm?!

Kettle

Couldn't have been a better day on the Kettle!

You can tell by my smile I'm back in my boat! The plan today was to play the first waves then change out to my new creek boat to get some time in it. I couldn't be happier with how my Habitat performed today! I absolutely love it!

Released!

Today I was released off of restrictions from my injury. I planned well for this day. Last night I stopped at Midwest Mtn and picked up a WS Habitat to try out today. It felt right the first time I sat in it at the store. When I first launched today my butt immediately loved the way it felt under me. I gave my hips a few shake a shakes to feel the balance and it felt good. I could even surf and spin a wave with it...little waves on Da Verm today. What I really liked about it was the edge. I could lean it way over on turns and feel solid. Since I didn't have much water to play with at the Verm I purposfully tried to hit features badly to see how it reacted...it breezed thru everything. It's going to take a little getting used to the extra length. I have more bootie in the back to think about. I realized that when I paddle my ZG I am aware of the exact length of my stern so when I throw it around I know exactly where it's going in the water. Anyway bring on the sissy creeks for starters..I'm ready now.
As for my injury they sent me home with a bug zapper (Tens unit) and a neck stretcher (cervial traction set) and said I'm good to go as long as I do my exercises.
SYOTR!

Cold Outside...Hey That's Cool with me...

My physical therapist said one more session next thursday and I should be done. Still a bit weak to paddle yet but with the exercises I should be able to next weekend. I'm not minding the cold out as it's freezing the run off and hopefully holding it until I can paddle. Rain is forcasted for next wed. and thursday...I'm looking at friday as my first day out paddling! It can't come soon enough as I am incredibley stoked to get started after last weekend!!!!!

New Link

I added the link to Team Midwest Mountaineering. Check out their new site. Looks great!

Two more Shirt Design's

One of my goals this year is to make up T Shirt design's for each river. Not nessesarily each river I paddle. Watching John, Ryan, Joerg, and Cliff run the Lester was AWESOME but I doubt I'll ever be able to run it. Anyway here's two more. Words go over the heart on the front and photo on the back.

Just another beautiful Monday...

I met Caleb down at the Verm today and gave my camera another try out. Weather was beautiful and the water was well over 300cfs. Yes I am getting impatient about not being able to paddle....soon! S Bend was the wave of the day and Graeme rocked it! Hopefully the next paddling photos you see on my blog will be with my butt firmly in my boat!

This is the backside of S Bend. Graeme in the hole.

There's a Feeling I Get...When I Look to the West. and My Spirit is Crying for Leaving...

As I drove away from the Lester River those words from a Led Zep song came into my mind. My spirit always longs to leave...I attribute it to the Gypsy in me. Today turned out to be just a fantastic day even though I didn't get to paddle I did get to try my new camera out. Bryan, Caleb and I headed north to the Knife river. They ran it and I hiked up river to catch them on the run. I need to apologise to Amy right now...I think I wrecked your husband by taking him to Stoney Point while it was going off...there was a glazed look in his eyes while watching the waves come in. I said my goodbyes to Caleb and Bryan there and went to see what the Lester looked like. I ran into the D-Town Crew and friends and was able to shoot them running the drops at a nice high level. What an absolutely beautiful day!