10 days...

The Fourth of July celebration needs to end as there are only 10 days and counting to the big show - The MR340. Yikes! I have a lot to do.
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Been spending a lot of time on the lakes as the rivers in our area after the flooding are still pretty choked up and running above flood stage.

Spent this past Sunday out on one of Wisconsin's larger lakes, Lake Mendota. Met up with John and Steve from the Paddlin Shop. They went paddle sailing as I ground out the hours paddling in preparation for the MR340.
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John out for the day with his daughter Nora. Lov'n the Balogh BOSS with his 38sq ft. sail. There is a great read on John's Paddlin Shop website of paddle sailing at Voyagers.
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Steve takes to the water in his Windrider 16. Interesting ride I must say, but wow what an ordeal to assemble. It took us the better part of an hour with two of us rigging the boat. I needed a nap.

After a pretty full morning of O dark 30 paddling, I went down to the Student Union on Lake Mendota and met up with good friends James and Anna. It was really nice to sit back and watch all the activity out on the water. Hoofer's Sailing Club is based out of here. Fun to watch the newbies run into the dock as they attempt to get there certification to take out one of the club boats. Nothing like a couple of beers, a brat and a good dock ramming.

This week will be filled with sorting gear and making last minute preparations for the MR340. I'm going into the event pretty relaxed. My paddling has been consistent, but I can't say that I really have done any training.

Ready...Set... GO!! - The Capt'n

Going green

The Goose Pond is getting a little choked up with large clumps of algae forming. I can only assume this is from the large amounts of run off of very fertile farm lands with all the rain we've had.
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Completely chocked off not going around the Goose Island today.

Thick as guacamole! Pass the chips!

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Back to some open water. I was told not to come in contact with the algae...hmm? This has me a bit nervous as there is even algae forming in the open areas of Rock Lake. I've never seen it like this before. Quite a lot of small sunfish, blue gill washed up on the shore as well.

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This can't be good. - The Capt'n

Backyard Adventures!!

Despite the flooded conditions of our area and the cancellation of our week long paddling trips. Our Backyard Adventure Series continues on during the week. Vince up for a bit of kayaking! First time in a sea kayak... He did awesome!

The focus of our afternoon excursions is to allow a youth to develop an appreciation for the outdoors. Weekly youth come up with an adventure they would like to participate in. We develop an adventure log book to manage the ideas and a keepsake to reflect back on. A great resource when your teacher asks what you did on your summer break!

We do all sorts of outdoor activities right in our own backyard! The key is to share with a youth your own personal passions. The experience is so much better if everyone involved is enjoying what they are doing. Trying out a bit of tandem canoeing.



Vince is a 10 year old that signed on for adventure. He has the drive and the spirit to push the limits of his own comfort ability. A success in the making. Just finished a very windy paddle on Rock Lake.


We are out at Potholes and Prairie doing a very hot humid hike into a very mosquito infested swamp. But we hope to see lots of wildlife on our adventures



Candid shot of the adventurers! Had to make it quick, the bugs were out in full force! More bug spray!! If only we would have brought more!!



Water is so high that we came across this turtle crossing the trail. We looked for baby turtles making the crossing, but didn't see any. Just this very confident turtle that didn't budge as we passed.



Pretty much startled the daylights out of me when a snake crossed my path! Vince got a good laugh out of it. Then we came across this snake skinning moments later.

More adventure can be found at Peak Camp. The adventure is on! What are you doing with your summer vacation- The Capt'n

Changes

I got an e-mail from SandyBottom today which stirred some emotion. "What's happening?" she said with our mutual concern for the environment changes in weather, flooding droughts and wildfires happening across our country.

Then you get a morning like this with the breeze calm and the lake still. Paddle touches water and you are connected to all that is. You've just gone to paddle heaven.

Your cell phone rings - Reality encroaches - you need to make way to shore and start the "day" Monday that is. 100's of displaced people and families in Jefferson County alone. You're needed.

You come to the realization that you are one lucky son of a.... - The Capt'n

Cracked Manifold

The Cracked Pot

An elderly peasant in China had two large pots, each hung at the ends of
a pole which he carried across his neck. One of the pots had a crack in
it while the other was perfect. At the end of the long walk from the
stream to the house, the cracked pot arrived half full, while the intact
pot delivered its full volume of water. For two years this went on
daily; the bearer delivering only one and a half pots of water to his
house.

Of course, the perfect pot was proud of achieving its full potential,
but the poor cracked pot was ashamed of its imperfection, and miserable
that it was able to accomplish only half of what it had been made to do.

After two years of abject failure, it spoke to the water bearer one day
by the stream. "I am ashamed of myself, because this crack in my side
causes me to leak all the way back to your house."

The bearer said to the pot, "Did you notice that there are flowers on
your side of the path, but not on the other pot's side? That's because I
have always known about your flaw, so I planted flower seeds beside your
side of the path, and every day while we walk back, you water them."
"For two years I have been able to pick those beautiful flowers to
decorate the table. Without you, just the way you are, there would not
be this beauty to grace the house."

Each of us has his own peculiar flaws. But it's our cracks and flaws
that make our lives together so interesting and rewarding. We've just
got to take each person for what they are and look for the good in each
of them.

Trying to look at the positive of the cracked manifold on my Jeep on top of the 2K I have already put into it this week...



Well O.K. better then a truck payment! - The Capt'n

Flooding Jefferson, WI

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I can almost paddle to work; not good- The Capt'n

Let there be light

There are some rule changes for the MR340 this go-around. One is the mandatory life jacket rule at all times, the other is a complete set of navigation lights on your canoe or yak.
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I assume this is in response of last year's Huki outrigger debacle when Ann and Wayne where tagged by a barge in the early morning fog. Under a barge is not a good place to be. :-/

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Clunky bulb light system

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I ended up getting these nifty nav. lights that will have over a hundred hour burn before changing out batteries. (I need to stop playing with them before the race). So the configuration is green on the right side of the bow and red on the port side of the bow - then a white stern light. I also have rigged a spotting bow light for buoys and the reflective day markers (shows the deep water channel on the river)
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Mini high tech LED light system

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All high tech LED. No wires, battery packs or switches that will fail. Very bright, you can see them up to a mile away, so says the packaging and labelling.
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A smile will brighten your day too- The Capt'n