Thursday, October 27, 2011

In theory


A house is a poorly built boat; a boat is a poorly built canoe; but everyone loves a big woody which throws the theory right out the window - click here

I think I'm feeling better, bits and pieces are where they should be; light paddle pending this weekend... gitty up!

The Capt'n

Rituals as they are

Camp cruisers
A creature of habit a ritual of sorts, my mornings coffee in hand, I find myself deep into blue water myth and lore chasing down small sailing and paddling craft; You may not know this but I am into small boats of any kind, sailboats are always on my mind; what's wrong with me?
.
As I was pining for more information on SOS's blog about his custom one off build, I ventured over to the Duckwork's site and looked through the classified ads and came across this beauty. A Core Sound 17 with all the fixings - Now I wont be throwing any coin down anytime soon, but a man can dream can't he?

The Capt'n

Tuesday, October 25, 2011

it's a wrap...

The Wisconsin River kicking up her heels, giving the group a "how bout an a what fer"; this is an amazing picture by Sandy, I've never seen it this rough on the river before.

The Players: Jack, Paula, Sandy, Koa, Brian, Bob, Michael and Mike

What a wild and crazy week, high winds, intrigue and adventure! Thanks for coming over to Wisconsin for a play date, it was most enjoyable. ~ see ya on the water.

The Capt'n

Sunday, October 23, 2011

day 7


Surprise surprise, Beverley make the trek over from Michigan to do the meet and great / shuttle at Wyalusing. ~ Mystery exposed!!

Our journey back took us to some outstanding dining at "why did we stop here here" Wisconsin's finest and brightest restaurant.

The trip took its toll on a couple of participants; the homemade southern pecan pie and carrot cake took a major hit when returning to Casa Weber's; It was "exitous fastous" as gear was sorted and the boys headed back to Michigan. Mike D stayed back to give company to Beverly and will leave on Sunday, Paula will stay through Sunday as well.

Stand by as everyone sorts through their pictures and stories, there should be some classics for sure!

Big shout out to Rick and Bonnie who put on a great arrival party and even allowed Michigan to beat Wisconsin in what was an outstanding football game.

Saturday, October 22, 2011

day 7

Shuttle Boy at the ready - wing ladies ~ Boo and mystery guest

Saddle up were burning daylight; it's that time - click here

day 6

Photo op overlooking the river basin from Wyalusing State Park; now can you guys move back just a little further. Now somewhere below Paula and Sandy are making there way to the Park. They laid over on the Wisconsin waiting for a day like this before turning south on the Mississippi river to the park. Hey hey my my; Keep your paddle in the water - click here

day 6

Where eagles and paddlers dare; the Wisconsin and Mississippi river basins have an abundance of adventure and wildlife.

day 6

Now this is river country, good living; a far cry from a weeks worth of wave and wind bashing; to the victors go the spoils.

day 6

Lazy day on the river watching the barges pass by; good time to study charts in the afternoon glow.

day 6

Mississippi Channel Marker in the fore ground bluffs in the back; you don't want to be caught on the outside of this marker when a barge slips through.

day 6

Good time to be on shore (when one of those pesky barges comes by) they can take you out quicker then a 57 chevy run-a-muck in a homecoming parade.

day 6

By God we have a toes up situation; now this is life on the Mississippi; half wondering if Mike is smoking a corncob pipe. No banjo music until you get South of St. Louis.

day 6

This is what Wisconsin looks like from Iowa looking over the Mississippi river, Sea Wind Canoe optional.

day 6

For all you would be river pilots, this is what a dashboard looks like in a Sea Wind; weathered and tattered, lots of bumps and scratches, each one tells a story.

Friday, October 21, 2011

day 6


29 degrees.

Sandy dared Paula to stick her tongue on to a frost encrusted paddle; like an episode out of the Christmas Story when the kid is dared to stick his tongue to the flag pole!! Nice one Sandy!!

day 6


Got a message from Sandy that the girls stayed put and relaxed yesterday while the boys paddled the mighty Mississip. The plan is to meet up with them today at some point. Weather looks stellar for the last couple of days. Wyalusing WI click here

day 6

Just kick'n around the backwaters today, made their way to the boat ramp at Wyalusing State Park. I assume the boys are stealth camping cause they are not in the campground; Sandy and Paula are still on the Wisconsin section as far as I know. Today should be a great day on the river, what a great way to end the trip.

day 6

Mike Smith SPOT - click here
Mike Doty SPOT - click here
Bob Bradford SPOT - click here

day 6

A shot of Jack Bob and Michael; my God, put some pants on that boy!!

day 6

Working their way up to Praire du Chien (upper Mississippi river valley, nothing like it) I left them a message that there were a couple of neat pubs to stop at for lunch river right.

day 6

The girls lounge around camp as the boys paddle down to the confluence of the Mississippi and Wisconsin rivers; hard to pass up a good campfire hot coffee and great conversation; at least the boys could have done is leave you the tarp!

day 6

Paddling the bluffs

day 6

Bob points out that its around 2000 miles that way, the start of the Everglades Challenge.

day 6

The boys make their way down to the Mississippi; still a little color left in them trees

Thursday, October 20, 2011

day 5

My O My; ~My chair, My Sea Wind... What? MY PANTS! ... Sweet Judy!!

day 5

Notice Bob at the ready, multiple paddles with in reach; ah ha, BUSTED!! Bob puts on some pants...finally; hey I don't even want to know what is in the 5 gallon bucket!

Mike Smith SPOT - click here
Mike Doty SPOT - click here
Bob Bradford SPOT - click here

day 5


Wyalusing, WI Weather Forecast

3:26 PM CDT WED OCT 19 2011

TONIGHT - Mostly cloudy. Lows in the upper 30s. North winds 15 to 20 mph. Gusts around 30 mph after midnight.

THURSDAY - Mostly cloudy. Breezy. Highs in the upper 40s. North winds 15 to 20 mph with gusts around 30 mph.

THURSDAY NIGHT - Mostly clear. Areas of frost through the night. Lows around 30. Northwest winds 5 to 10 mph.

FRIDAY - Sunny. Widespread frost in the morning. Highs in the mid 50s. West winds 5 to 10 mph.

FRIDAY NIGHT - Partly cloudy. Lows in the upper 30s. Southwest winds around 5 mph.

SATURDAY - Mostly sunny. Highs around 60.



Wednesday, October 19, 2011

day 4

Wyalusing State Park about 15 miles out; a 1.5 mile hike up hill to the campground where hot showers await ~ what ever will they do. They could make landfall tomorrow, cash it all in and move to the city or spend another night out on the river; any takers?

day 4

We haven't seen pictures of Jack or Michael in a while; I hope they haven't resorted to cannibalism? What's cook'n shortbread?

day 4

Well the beer ran out, so nothing but the "Pickled Bologna" and brine water to guide them, the boys are all in for two more days on the river. I hope that's not a glass jar!!

day 4

Sandy and Paula aren't buying it; hats jackets and long pants. It is blowing 35 mph out of the North, 40 degrees and that's being generous. Hang on to your muffin!

day 4

No surrender! Bob refuses to give way to autumn; clinging to the last rays of hope keeps his shorts on!!

How to get there



Maps
  1. Prairie Du Sac to Mazomanie
  2. Mazomanie to Arena
  3. Arena to Spring Green
  4. Spring Green to Lone Rock (Otter Creek)
  5. Lone Rock (Otter Creek) to Avoca (Buena Vista)
  6. Avoca (Buena Vista) to Muscoda
  7. Muscoda to Blue River
  8. Blue River to Boscobel
  9. Boscobel to Woodman
  10. Woodman to Wauzeka
  11. Wauzeka to Bridgeport
  12. Bridgeport to Wyalusing

day 4

It will be interesting to see if they lay over at this camp site, being in striking distance of Wyalusing and the weather being iffy. Looks like they stopped relatively early yesterday and set up a solid camp with a lot of options. Tentative pick-up is Saturday at 11:00am ( or when I mosey on over there) Here is the play by play:

Mike Smith SPOT - click here
Mike Doty SPOT - click here
Bob Bradford SPOT - click here

Tuesday, October 18, 2011

day 3

Mike Doty heads to solid ground, looks like he has had enough of the sand for today.

day 3

Oh yea, the tribe settles in for a late afternoon fire; Now as the story was told to me, Bob took over fire starting honors, leaving Mike S. to dream of fires past.

day 3

Thank Godness we have a supervisor for this government firewood project! "By God we'll put people to work in America"

day 3

Right out of the book Tom Sawyer, instead of painting the fence they got poor Jack humping firewood.

day 3


After a big day of paddling, Paula drops to her knees to kiss the ground, "Land, O thank the Lord land"

day 3

Frost on the tent


Mike Smith: SPOT - click here
Mike Doty: SPOT - click here
Bob Bradford: SPOT - click here

day 3

Morning Camp Fire Report:

Mike and Bob called this morning, lots of laughter around a raging morning fire; Paula (Nevada girl) a tad chilly, the boys can't pry her out of her tent and sleeping bag! Bob's sporting a tank-top Bermuda shorts and marachee sandals - They look to be on the water by 8:45am
Follow along with SPOT - click here

day 3

Here is an overview of the wind and velocity for today; almost in the thick of it, keep it moving if you can!

Cold air dropping in, gonna be in the 40's today; brisk to say the least when it has been in the high 50's.

Then the rain comes, just to add a little heartache to the drama of wind and cold; I still want to be out there. If it gets really crappy they may lay over in Muscuda with all the amenities a Wisconsin town can bring.

click to enlarge

Chance for replenishing ice cream and coffee; opportunity to restock if necessary. It's nice they will be doing this section during the day and will be camping in a more remote area tonight as long as they keep moving forward. This is the section where hwy 60 is the closest to the river and sometimes you get road noise. Nothing like the Missouri River where you have a train go by every 15 minutes.

An O Dark 30 moment

Sandy sent a pic of the sunrise over the Wisconsin river; a true O dark 30 moment for sure; almost like your there, almost.

On the River

All Smiles on the Wisconsin River; Jack doing his impression of Eminem out of 9 mile with his hoody up.

BFF

The Fun Meter is at MAX as it should be on an adventure like this; though wind and waves have been on the menu for the first two days, we can only hope the weather man is wrong with the pending rain.

Monday, October 17, 2011

day 2

It appears Bob didn't get the memo that it is October in Wisconsin; Dawning shorts and water shoes Bob prepares for the Wisconsin River.

The day was full of ups and downs, up one wave down the other; another day of find Doty as he ventured off. (tisk tisk)

Sandy reports they pushed from shore just a little passed 900am; Mike S. reports that they are having a great time but lots of wind.

A quick check of the SPOT puts the motley crew in the heart of canoe country; dang missing it!!

Follow along - click here

day 1

"Sandy Paula depart - Koa wants to go too"

After getting word back to Sandy that the group was on opposite ends of the same island (go figure), the plan was to find shelter from the wind; Sandy reports they found a great spot with south east exposure to catch the morning sun; they are setting camp for the night.

River levels look good after poor reporting from calls to "river spotters", which in turn made for a good current; good current and wind coming from the west is a recipe for big waves. Sandy reports big waves, big as she has seen on the river, lots of whitecaps; Welcome to the Wisconsin River.

The Capt'n

Sunday, October 16, 2011

Like Herding Cats

Received a call from Sandy, appears the group got separated in the high winds and waves; After a quick check of the SPOT, I acertained that they were on opposite ends of the same island. Bob and Mike D in (Red) and Jack, Mike S, Paula and Sandy in (Blue).

Wind is coming out of the West, waves stacking up pretty high; Stay together, meow...