Vermillion River Clean Up

Sunday September 23rd will be the Vermillion Clean Up. I'm the coordinator this year. Right now it's in the planning stages but I'm looking for ideas to make it a great time. The Vermillion has always been a special place for me. It's not so much the "gnar" water but the people that gather there. My memories are always of the wonderful people I've paddled with down there. It's the first to run in the spring and has been the birth place of many great paddlers in our community. Same as last year I'll bring my raft for the Garbage Barge to float the bikes down. With a little Blessing maybe we'll have water for our kayaks also!

Family Weekend Sunday

Yes that's my nephew Allen in the winners circle! Sunday was a day at the races! Allen is number 8 and Jesse is number 26. Allen has been racing for quite a few years now and this is Jesse's first year. Jesse had a bit of bad luck when in the second race his motor started smoking. He still kept up with the pack until it sparked a fire. All kinds of excitement! I really enjoy the races. I never went until Allen started racing...I never knew it could be so fun.

My sister in law Lynn...none of her socks match but they match her shirt???

Family Weekend Saturday

This weekend I went back to visit my relation in WI. It's been quite awhile since I was home...sorry...it won't happen again! Saturday My neice Sara, her fiance Jesse, and I rafted section 4 of the Wolf. Sara was pretty nervous and wasn't sure about this so we took the short run. Still lots of fun! By the end of the trip she was looking forward to doing all of section 4 in a raft. I had brought both of my kayaks hoping to start her and Jesse kayaking but we didn't have time. Rafting is a fun group activity but kayaking is much more fun...adrenalin kind of fun. The evening was spent with a great band at the campground, fireworks, and a little bit of dancing.

Barge Surfing??? What??

With the upcoming Two Harbors Kayak Festival I need to get in some sea kayaking. I took my creeker instead of my Seaward and hit the Mississippi. How was it?? A little scrapie...no kidding I found bottom a couple of times. I paddled down to this island just south of Red Wing where I know there is a good sand bar and the channel is narrow. This translates into some good wake when the huge yachts and speed boats go by. Well I waited...not a single boat. I did this last summer for the low times and it was pretty fun. No joy there today...just a beautiful evening on the water!

Paddlemania 07

With water this low you had to have been there for the party! Good to see everyone there...including Jim and Jesse from Wisconsin. Papst seemed to be a popular beer this weekend! Walking the line was the game of the night. Thanks Team Midwest Mtn for a great time and those were really nice drawing prizes. Peter did you have certain people in mind when you picked out the prizes? Everything was a perfect fit and everyone walked away with something nice! Good time!

PBR me...ASAP

I stopped at the liquor store today to buy some beer. Now I have a few favorites that I like. It kind of goes with the ambiance of the day or activity. Such as Summit Pale Ale after kayaking works great. Today I surprised myself by buying Papst. I asked my son when I got home if he wanted a beer and he said sure. Then he told me that this was the kind of beer he buys...hey...I'm only his Mom...I didn't know what he drank. He also copped to the fact that he "acquired" my PBR T shirt I got at Papstapalooza. I guess our Wisconsin roots are showing. Now I need to teach him to WW kayak.

The Vermillion Desert

Well I have come to face the fact that I live in the Vermillion Desert Region of Minnesota. A beautiful night of thunderstorms is now a thing of the past. Flash flood warnings gone in a blink. The Bible has a story where God wanted His people to move away from this river that...was in the middle of the desert...but they were too comfortable and liked it by that river. So God dried it up and forced them to move on...to where He wanted and it turned out to be a much better place. This story has gone thru my mind everytime I think of the Verm and yes it's been great "moving on" to other rivers and I have loved every minute of it. Now I have 5 days coming up in August..the 4th thru the 8th and I have no intention of staying home. I am playing with the idea of a long road trip with the destinations on my list so far being the Ottawa. If I went there I'd definately sign up for lessons. Colorado again. Sturgeon Falls if there is water. Closer to home there's the rivers up by Thunder Bay. I wish I could have made it up there this week but work comes first. There is also the Two Harbors Kayak Festival and I could dust off my sea kayak and head there. Anyway I'm putting it out there to see if there is any intrest in car pooling for a long drive or if someone has other suggestions for destinations. The only rule of traveling with me is destination yes...itinerary no. BTW I'll be home visiting the relatives on the weekend of the 28th of July if anyone wants to paddle the Wolf, Red or Menomonie.

Taylors Falls

Today I went up to Taylors Falls and met up with Alon. My goal was to continue working on my combat roll and play at the stern squirt spot. My roll has been OK...I get more than I miss but I still want it to be bomb proof (don't we all) and I know I need to better my form. Alon was a great help and at the end of the day I can tell my form had improved measurably in moving water. Thanks Alon!

Colorado 07

The first afternoon in Colorado was spent at the Salida Play Holes. The lower hole ended up being nothing but people from the Midwest. I ran Browns Canyon on Friday. It was great! Other than that I spent my time in Salida! Great to see all the people from the Minnesota out there! Jake is still the "Rock Star"! Lots of fun!

Larry from Texas!

Melissa on Zoom Flume!

Art on Zoom Flume!

Me running Zoom Flume!

Jeremiah running Zoom Flume!

Confidence

The strongest and the weakest thing on the river is confidence. At times it is so illusive to me and other times it's just there. I have seen really great paddlers have it taken away in an unfortunate moment. But the good news is that the moment can be like a cloud passing over the sun. Fleeting. For others it's a battle to keep. One of the things I like most about being with other paddlers is that once on the river there is no pretension. Honest feelings are the only thing that the river allows. You see and share the real emotions...the honest joys felt along with the doubts. No words are necessary...just a look, a nod or a gesture to communicate yet everything is said. Real trust and love between people is achieved this way.

Wausau on a Sunny Day!

Warm water and lots of sun! What a beautiful day to be out!

Our Rescue Swimmer Dan, Trying out the dark side! He did really well!