And What's Not To Love About This Video?

Found this on YouTube. I have Oceana Falls on my list of places to paddle.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=yZHX3PIhcW4&mode=related&search=

Merry Christmas Everyone!

Wishing everyones Christmas the best!
Nora

Christmas Eve Donut Surfing

Caleb spinning it up on Donut!

New Link's

I've added two new links on the side bar. One is for Steve Stratman's web site. He has some great guide books and some unique goodies to purchase. A very creative person!
The other link is for my friend Ron's blog. I've known Ron since my first year sea kayaking. He has some pretty good adventures sea kayaking. I keep trying to get him to cross over to the wild side. Someday??? Maybe???

Vermillion

Looks like it was an early Christmas present from above. The Verm was up with the rain and the features were formed nice for this level. Easy fun play! Bryan, Caleb, Dennis and I were taking advantage of it today. The level should hold thru the 25th...I'm guessing.

Roll, Roll. Roll, your boat.

Hey, I got a back deck roll tonight. Even my off side felt good. Ben got a back deck roll on also and Marie learned her roll tonight. Everyone at the pool tonight was working hard on techniques. Good night at the pool!

Book Report

Not much going on in the "fun" world. I've been doing a little reading...OK I always do a lot of reading. One of my all time favorite books has been The Power Of One by Bryce Courtenay. I found this paperback used someplace. I have read it several times over. Bryce Courtenay has a talent of developing characters that will evoke an emotional response from you. Whether it is love, hate, disgust, fondness, pity...You will be tied to the people portrayed in his books. The Power of One is about a child who grows up in pre WWII South Africa and trains to be the welter weight champion of the world. Just an incredible story. I just finished reading the sequel Tandia. Just as good as the first book and it does leave it open at the end for a third. These books are very raw and brutal in honest portrayal of human nature yet the theme thru out is of righteousness and honor. The hardest part is getting these books. Courtenay being an Australian writer, very few librarys have them and I had to order Tandia from another. You can purchase them on line but they are shipped from Australia and it costs about $14 shipping. I have been lucky and found a few in the USA on ebay. Well worth the read!

Zorongo Flamenco

Dance has always been a part of who I am. Zorongo Flamenco is absolutely my favorite dance troupe. Each year they put on a world class performance at the Southern Theater. This year it'll be March 1-4, 2007. I posted last year about the dance and it was incredible. A story about the Spanish inquisition and the parallels in today's society told thru dance. If you get a chance go and see them. I'll be up there on the 2nd. I also have to mention Pedro Cortes Jr. He'll be the guitarist as he is every year. If you are into guitar he's fanatstic and a must see!

Lutsen

I have never been skiing at Lutsen yet. I did have plans to split a cottage the weekend of the 16th but my friend made other plans. Since I have a diabetic pug I need to stay at a place that allows doggers. There is just one place close that does. Nice cottages, cobblestone fireplaces and, right on the cross country ski trail. Right now I can't afford a trip up on my own but if anyone is free that weekend and wants to split a cottage and maybe gas riding up, let me know. If not the weekend of the 16th maybe later this season get a crew going up. BTW the cottages are only 24 miles from the 121 mile marker (sweet!) and they are right on Lake Superior. Anyone I know want to head up there?

Great Job Shane!

Shane passed his entry test for pharmacy school in the top ten! Hard work pays off and I know he's worked very hard! Guarantees him any school in the country! He's looking at Fargo, UM MPLS, and Duluth. I'm hoping for Duluth!

Am I old yet???

Nope...I don't think so. Fifty seems to be a mile stone in a person's life. A lot of years have flowed by. The saying "over the hill" comes to mind but as I look at it, I am standing on top of the hill. Looking back it's been a climb for sure. A path no one can ever return to yet it's a time to savor what you brought up the hill with you. I'm not talking monetary, but of love, children, friends, experience, health, understanding, and peace of soul. What ever you arrive at the top of the hill with, is what will direct your path on the way down.
Looking out from the top I see nothing but opportunity. So much yet to explore and do and see. The sun is shining brightly thru the rainbow left by the storm.
Where do I see myself when I'm sixty? I see myself with pure white hair sitting in an art fair on the North Shore selling my favorite nature photos. I have always sought out new things to learn. I plan to learn how to fly small airplanes. I'm looking forward to getting more experienced in kayaking. Maybe trying kiting. Getting my surf on. Finding time to get back into doing pottery and other art. Panning for gold in Colorado. Finding that diamond in Arkansaw. Maybe do some writing. Travel...alot! From Alaska to Maine and down to Mexico and beyond. Including Hawaii and Down Under.
Fifty is going to be alright!

Birthday Verm Paddle

My birthday present came on the wind this week. The total rain fall for this storm was just under an inch and enough to push the Vermilion up enough to paddle. The temperature was a balmy 21 degrees. Can you "Spot" the ice sickles? Brian, Bryan, Caleb, Dennis, and Spot came down to paddle the Verm with me today to help celebrate my 50th birthday. My actual birthday is Thursday but we had to catch the water when it flows. Everthing was in enough to have some decent play. We just had to watch for ice forming on our gear. (Iced paddles are a bummer) We spent an hour and a half paddling and when we got out had to chip and pry our way out of our frozen gear. Carolyn joined us in the parking lot and we all chugged a brewski and then headed for the Green Mill. Thanks everyone! I had a great time! Good friends, good river and turtle cheesecake! Anyone want to paddle tomorrow? (not kidding...I'll be down there sometime...can't waste water ya know) Thursday morning update...way below zero windchills this morning...think I'll wax my skis instead of paddling. It was sweet while it lasted.

The Verm

This photo of the Vermilion doesn't do it justice. I seal launched at the put in and just before paddling out I looked down river from me. There was a fog settled into the river bottom which gave the Verm a mystic feeling. Soft and beautiful. It felt so good to be back on the Verm after months of no water.

Donut today.

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

Kinnikinic River

Seven of us ran the Kinnikinic River in River Falls today. Always a beautiful paddle any time of the year. Spot and Caleb tore up the good stern squirt spots...brrrrrr!

Power Yoga!

With no moisture forcast for the next 10 days I'm glad I renewed my membership at the YMCA. I tried the Power Yoga class tonight. This being my first Yoga class I didn't know quite what to expect but it was great! Alot of the stretches were the same as in Karate so I had an advantage there. It felt great and for an alternative workout to paddling...it works. This week I was off work due to being sick. As it turned out my blood pressure went thru the roof. So much that the clinic wanted me front and center within 2 hours of my calling. I really feel it's due to lack of paddling. Anyway I need to increase the workouts and find more ways of paddling. Time to slap the sea kayak in the Mississippi!

For the deer hunters...

Here are the three girls that hang around my back yard. They sit half way up my hill and I can watch them from my window. You'll have to click to enlarge the photo to see them. They blend really nice. There are a few good sized bucks in the neighborhood but they hardly are seen this far down the hill.

A couple of beaver shots for you..

Waves were gone when Brian and I got up to Lake Superior so we went hiking and agate picking for the day. For the first time I actually found an Amethyst crystal on the beach! Pretty cool!

The Beach (Inn) at Herbster Wisconsin

With the winds from the Northwest this weekend Brian and I figured the best place to find waves to surf would be on the South Shore. Looking for a place to stay that took dogs I found the Beach Inn in Herbster, Wisconsin. What a great little place to stay. Just across the road from Lake Superior we had easy access to a huge long sandy beach with plenty of waves rolling in. Even though the waves weren't all that large this weekend they were still lots of fun. It didn't take Brian and I very long to figure out that the rip tides were a fast fun way to return out beyond the waves. Staying at the Beach Inn, we were extremely spoiled by being able to gear up in a nice warm cabin. The hot shower after was a great way to warm up after three hours in the water. Meyers beach is just 14 miles up the road from Herbster...another great place to find waves on a Northwest wind. We had also brought our sea kayaks with just in case the waves didn't come. They never left the rack on my truck even though there are some great places like the Sea Caves and Barks Bay to explore. One more note is that there is a city campground right on the beach also. Looked like a nice place. We had a great weekend!

Snow? Already!

With the sightings of snow I bought my ski pass and am ready for the slopes! I noticed this year Welch is offering a college pass. Full time season pass for $99. Just have to show your college ID everytime. Just wanted to put this out there for my college friends. Pray for wind, rain, and now snow...those calm sunny days can be frustrating ;-)

German Apple Cake

Here's the recipe for that cake I brought with to Lake Superior. I'm going to give the original recipe and I'll add how I changed it. I never follow recipes completly by the letter...so here it is. Enjoy!
3 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup vegetable oil..I used canola
1 tsp real vanilla extract

2 cups all purpose flour
2 tsp cinnamon...I also added 1 tsp nutmeg
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

4 cups chopped peeled tart apples..I used almost 5 cups of Haralsons
3/4 cups chopped pecans or walnuts..I used 1 1/2 cup walnuts

Directions: Peel and chop the apples and soak them in a bowl of cold water with a splash of lemon juice added. Set that aside. In a large mixing bowl, beat the eggs, sugar, oil, and vanilla. In another bowl combine the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, and salt. Add to egg mixture and mix well. Here I found the mixture to be very thick so I beat another egg and added about 2 tablespoons oil. Drain the apples well. Fold in apples and nuts. Pour into a greased 13x9x2 in. pan. Bake at 350 for 55-60 min. or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Frosting:
1 pkg. cream cheese, softened...I used 1 and 1/2 pkgs
2 tsp butter...I used about 2 tablespoons.
2 c. powdered sugar...I didn't measure. I just kept adding until it was the thickness I wanted.
Directions: Beat cream cheese and butter together and then add powdered sugar. Refrigerate the left overs.

A Tale Of Two Stoneys

Brian and I went up to the North Shore today to check out some surf. When we got to Stoney the lake was off the hook! A north wind was driving the waves and they were almost 7ft and breaking everywhere. We hooked up with Roger and Billy and some others that were out. I tried to paddle out but the surf was too aggressive for me today and both times I was thrown back to the rocks. Not "fun" for me today but the gentlemen out there had a blast! I still love being up on the North Shore. I wouldn't have wanted to be anyplace else today.