Sunday, November 28, 2010

Woo Hoo!!

What a great day to be out on the water, temps soared to 47 degrees. Icing starting to melt in the warmth of the sun.
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Sunset on Sunday evening; not many more of these days left before the snow flies. Lot of snow north of us; it's hit or miss in southern Wisconsin.
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Koa along for the ride, digging the comfy therma-rest pad. She was a bit put out yesterday being left behind when I took out the kayak. Woo Hoo Koa!!
.Ice filling in by the the three sisters boat houses; the red headed step sister, left in the trees. Not many boat houses left on the lake the ones that are our grandfathered in.
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The Capt'n

Saturday, November 27, 2010

Ice on the pond

Like flipping a switch, we have ice on the pond; low of 14 last night, maybe 21 when I put in this afternoon. Paddled the Azul kayak all snug and warm.
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This is a shout out for SandyBottom who is in her first week of training for the Everglades Challenge; I paddled a kayak in her honor. OK actually it was brisk and choppy and being all tucked in and toasty seemed appealing.
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The chop pushing up the break-wall leaves a frost like icing; almost dumped it horsing around with the camera; the wave reflection makes for inconsistent wave patterns.
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Ice creeping up some low hanging branches makes for some interesting images; ice can really tear up the shoreline, hence everyone pulling their piers out before the lake freezes over. We're close, the lake is cold enough to freeze over if the wind would die down.
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With the sun low to the horizon lots of glare on the water; really nice in the sun, but get in the shadows and it feels like winter.
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The Goose Pond is iced over; so much for going around the Island. Back to the main end of the lake for some open water.
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The Capt'n

Monday, November 22, 2010



Thanks Lynn for bringing this one to my attention!! We all have had days like this, on and off the water!!

Saturday, November 20, 2010

Journey on the Wild Coast – The Movie!



From June 2007 to June 2008, Hig and Erin traveled 4000 miles from Seattle to the Aleutian Islands - solely by human power. This unprecedented expedition took them along the northern edge of the Pacific Ocean - through some of the most rugged terrain in the world - by foot, packraft, and skis.

Their year-long un-supported journey took them through all the seasons - from the Puget Sound to the Bering Sea.

A case for the inflatable watercraft.

Monday, November 15, 2010

Big Water



A man has to know his limitations - hence my Perception Pirouette S hanging in the garage.

young...again

If you are surfing the web; click here open another browser and let the music flow. Headphones ear-buds lava lamp are crucial to the experience. Now back to the paddle simulator.

Tuesday, November 9, 2010

A memory without anywhere to stay.

Taken with my cell phone camera I walked the trail around Aztalan State Park; Erie feeling dropping into the river valley were 1000 years ago an Indian nation just disappeared - vanishes leaving unsolved mysteries; Your mind begins to play games in the wanning light.
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I felt a little uneasy walking around tonight.
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Koa stops looking down trail, I couldn't make anything out in the darkness. Koa drops down ears alert eyes focused. "*hit!" My heart begins to pound, I drop down. I certainly don't need to come upon some hunters illegally hunting on state park land. Why would they, then why wouldn't they, I did see a truck down by the Drumlin Trail head.
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Koa sits up as if there is someone approaching ears perked fur up on her back, tail begins to wag, but I see not hear not; squinting I strain to make something out. I feel a warm easy breeze and it passes, Koa turns as to follow the breeze, I call out her name - she does not respond, she trots off as to be with someone, but there is nothing there.
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I bushwhack a short section link up with the trail and head towards the jeep, screw this I thought, this is one freakish moment my pace quickens. I arrive at the jeep, a lone eagle feather under the wiper blade awaits my arrival, Koa laying in the tall grass. Sweet Judy, I awake it's only a dream - click here
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The Capt'n

Monday, November 8, 2010

Rural Legends

Out of the mist and on to Rock Lake legends are made; Ghosting out on to the water Chris "solo freak" Ransom arrives in high style sporting a We C1, silly ole bear. "Looks kinda tippy to me, where's your jacket?

As luck would have it wind pumping out of the South pushing chop into the sea wall, Chris goes for a swim in about 3 feet of water. Not completely soaked but made for a bone chilling paddle; at 29 degrees - these things never happen at the end of the paddle always just as your setting off. Chris ponders, "I wonder if I should change out clothes, naw I'll paddle and keep warm"

A case for proper gear for sure; cotton t shirt and blue jeans did not help the situation, we paddled on into the wind to catch the break from the windward shore line.

About 10 minutes into the paddle I was digging into my day bag pulling out gloves and a windbreaker and heat packs; an hour in to the paddle we were thinking warm toasty coffee shop and double mocha espressos. Chris was trying to man up and discount his splash, turning down the heat packs but taking the jacket and gloves... Too little too late, time to get off the water.

70+ degrees in the coffee shop and 4 coffees later his shivering subsided; Chris was never in any real danger an expert in harsh conditions; holds the world's record in 24 hour cross country skiing, somewhere around 200 miles.

Chris is actually the person that gave the Capt'n the Capt'n of the O dark 30 "handle" back in the day when I first got into paddling more then just child's play - Ah when the student becomes the master.

Known for my pre-dawn morning paddles - "Ah what secret pleasures does an early morning paddle bring to the Captain of the O Dark 30" - Solo Freak

The Capt'n

Sunday, November 7, 2010

A Pirate she be


Arr Mattie
The Pirate's Grog
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The word grog refers to a variety of alcoholic beverages. The word originally referred to a drink made with water or "small beer" (a weak beer) and rum, which was introduced into the Royal Navy by British Vice Admiral Edward Vernon on 21 August 1740.
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Modern versions of the drink are often made with hot or boiling water, and sometimes include lemon juice, lime juice, cinnamon or sugar to improve the taste.
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More information shows water and rum mixed together was often called Grog. A dram (a small amount) of rum was often added to a sailor's water ration. A proper grog often included lime juice to help to stave off scurvy and a measure of cane sugar to help kill the bitterness of the water.
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The sailors rum ration was added to the water for a more important reason than just killing the taste of the water. The rum was added to water to prevent hoarding of the rum ration. By adding the rum to the water, the alcohol would be diluted and lessen the chance of the sailor becoming drunk.
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In addition, the rum rations was given to sailors to help them keep their spine during battle. A little rum helped to steady the nerves of the gun crews.
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Despite the rationing of rum, sailors would often find ways to have a stash of illegal alcohol aboard ship. It may have been smuggled liquors from a shore leave or made from an illegal still stashed somewhere on the ship. Alcohol always remained a problem aboard ship.
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Pirate Grog Recipe
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Add approximately one ounce of fine rum (the rum used in the Royal Navy was an exceptional quality alcohol) to tin or glass of water (7 to 9 oz.)

A more complex recipe
1 (oz) of Rum
the juice of half a lime
one or two teaspoons of cane sugar
and fill the rest of your tin or mug with water.
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When it was made on board ship it was usually made in a large barrel called the grog tub and then rationed out to the sailors. Grog gets its name from Old Grogram, the nick name of British Rear Admiral Edward Vernon who order his sailors rum ration diluted to prevent hoarding and drunkenness.
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Many claim to make a traditional Navy grog recipe, there are only several accepted forms. The Royal Navy's grog recipe includes lemon juice, water, rum, and cinnamon.
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A commonly-found recipe in the Caribbean includes water, light rum, grapefruit juice, orange juice, pineapple juice, cinnamon, and honey. - Yep that's what we had on Tobacco Caye, Belize
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Up here in the great nort'woods Pabst Blue Ribbon Beer mixed with Schlitz Beer - We give you Schlipabst
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Now with the news that Pabst Brewing Company is for sale again; Conan O’Brien took a shot at Pabst, Old Milwaukee and Schlitz during his comedy bit last night. Here’s what he said:
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“The brewery that makes Pabst Blue Ribbon, Old Milwaukee and Schlitz is up for sale. However, the new owner must promise to uphold the brewery’s proud tradition of only brewing beer that tastes like ass.” -Conan O’Brien
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Conan is no longer an honorary member of our hot wing club; which regularly serves the stable of three, PBR Old Mil. and a real gut wrencher Schlitz on Monday and Thursday wing nights.
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We Kruger paddlers have another name, "Glacier Sipp'n Water" - It's all good and tastes the same after 4 or 5!

Pops in the house!

While waiting for the gathering of the Weber Clan, I found myself with some free time this afternoon so I dropped in for a quick paddle up the Oconomowoc River. Glass like conditions, the warm sun in the cool air, gorgeous.
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As I pulled from the drive way my neighbors were busy as leaf cutter ants squaring away their yards; picking up sticks and raking leaves, sounds like poor time management to me. What times dinner?
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Grandpa (My dad Mike) and the girls (Emily and Marissa) arrive; Pops arrives straight from the Northwoods where he got a massive 10 point buck (He's out from California for deer hunting), The girls road tripped in from Shorewood, rare occasion Emily no work on the weekend and Marissa finally over a nasty cold to make it out. Love it when a plan comes together.
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Nothing like family; did I mention my neighbors raked all day and I played. - The Capt'n

Yes Pure Genius


The building of the birch bark canoe that would travel 3000 plus miles across Canada and the U.S.; Makes you wonder what you did with your summer.
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A Paddling Expedition for Sustainability Education across the continent; The route and more information can be found by clicking here.

Yes Pure Genius

Friday, November 5, 2010

Pure Genius

What we have here is a potential entry for the EC 2011; all the comforts of home, she's a beauty! There is no off switch for genius.

Thursday, November 4, 2010

Follow Those Dreams My Chitlands

"Who would have thought?" - [pure genius]
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So if you wake up with the sunrise, and all your dreams are still as new; Happiness is what you need so bad girl, the answer lies with you.
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A world without dreamers is a world lost - The Capt'n

Monday, November 1, 2010

Bones in the sand

Every once in awhile you get the opportunity to engage what I call keeping it real; People doing it right, their way.
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If you have not visited Ground Truth Trekking, I encourage you to do so; They put the A+ into sustainable A+dventure.
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As a prelude, they trek pac boat ski and wander the great areas of Alaska and beyond. Want more... AS A COMPARISON: I took the dog for a 30 minute walk, got a little chill as my coffee was cooling off. Could have used gloves.
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Photos of shipwrecks - click here
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The Capt'n