the uncarved block

going Zollo

2012-01-27T17:18:00.003-06:00

tae's birthday celebration included his own choice for entertainment. dave zollo of wellman graced the stage at peace tree for the evening and with chinese and a blonde fatale we honky tonked our way into tae's 29th year.

change of venue

2012-01-22T11:36:00.009-06:00

"what lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." -- ralph waldo emerson

a recent bone density test verified a top 3% spine/u/e value, but a middle of the road pelvis/hip/leg recording. cross training is easier now that nature has provided at least a bit of cover for woodland/prairie trails. a visit to the krumm conservation trails with stripbuilder found me chasing along through the woods for a couple hours yesterday. unfortunately warming temps will demand a return to the river, although i have missed the water.

starved rock at sunrise

2012-01-18T17:33:00.005-06:00

hiking the canyons at starved rock was tricky with icy paths and flowing water but the view was worthy of the time and effort.

the lodge at starved rock state park as seen from an early morning hike to the top. after xc skiing every morning in plymouth indiana at swan lake golf resort, during a ctp, the trip up the steep slopes was easy.

on thin ice

2012-01-09T12:06:00.003-06:00

first full moon of the year and still paddling on red rock.
http://s103.photobucket.com/albums/m149/JoPears5/Red%20Rock%20January%207%202012/?action=view&current=028.mp4 credit to John Pearson for a video of what we saw.

last evening stripbuilder and i launched from cordova on what will probably be the last time on red rock this winter. the ice was forming as we paddled and an open channel across the lake to elk rock connected with a channel across to the mile long bridge (with 50' of thin ice to break through). once into the open area east of the mile long bridge we made a quick run to as close to the bridge as possible, but on the way back our connection was again iced over and the ice was thickening by the minute. we got out in the middle of what was originally thin ice, which was now 1/2" thick and difficult to break through. with some chopping and pushing my boat broke through and created another opening to elk rock's open water and then back across the lake to the ramp. as we paddled across the water was skimming with ice and threatening to close up, but we made it back just in time to see a beautiful full moon cresting the clouds in the eastern sky. on one of the most beautiful nights of calm clear water ever on red rock, with beautiful reflections and purple clouds and a wonderful sunset, i had left my camera at home. once again, no more 3x5's but the lasting memory of a time of peace and tranquility.

on to valparaiso

2012-01-04T17:50:00.002-06:00

the lighthouse on cape horn (island named after schouten's home, hoorn netherlands) must have been the biggest rush of a lifetime for kayaker Freya Hoffmeister this week, as she paddled around the southernmost tip of south america. i revel in other's adventures and dream of what might have been were i to have lived in sailing times past. she now continues on her journey to valparaiso, chile and the end of her first 1/3 of the circumnavigation. gehen sie mit Gott Freya!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zzuWh1Fcn0

a new day

2012-01-02T13:48:00.006-06:00

"on earth there is no heaven, but there are pieces of it." -- jules renard

paddling on new year's eve with friends included wind and waves and a great workout. the wind yesterday, on new year's day, was a bit excessive and against my best judgment i stayed home. if a lone paddler, freya hoffmeister, can paddle around cape horn in high winds and waves a mere fraction of that must be possible here. so now it's off to the lake again to meet a new day.des moines, from a helicopter, was a blur of lights but so peaceful on a holiday evening. you'd think that after taking pictures from a rocking kayak i'd be able to hold still but it wasn't to be on our 1/2 hour excursion to see the "jolly holiday lights". maybe the results were better anyway. happy new year to anyone out there and may this be the best year yet... but remember...

"nothing great was every achieved without enthusiasm" -- ralph waldo emerson, "circles"

end of the tunnel

2011-12-27T15:39:00.003-06:00

"The thing about a hero, is even when it doesn't look like there's a light at the end of the tunnel, he's going to keep digging, he's going to keep trying to do right and make up for what's gone before, just because that's who he is." --Joss Whedon

with the year rushing to a close time on the lake is still enjoyable and warm temps let me paddle both Christmas day and yesterday. a second tunnel is now large enough to slide through, carved out of the sandstone like the north side of devil's island in the apostles on lake superior. if you are paddling and the lake shoreline looks calm though watch closely because it is probably ice and the unaware paddler will end up stuck in the middle... i know.

it's tough trying to be a hero, but maybe with a lot more work... sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel is the headlamp of a train...

Christmas day

2011-12-26T12:11:00.007-06:00

"we are nearer to spring than we were in september, i heard a bird sing in the dark of december." -- oliver herford, "i heard a bird sing"

today is the first day of kwanzaa and boxing day in canada and the UK. just being on the lake on Christmas day is reason to celebrate, but spending time with family and friends the most special.

virtue

2011-12-23T18:01:00.002-06:00

"assume a virtue if you have it not." -- william shakespeare

patience has never been my best virtue and it dates back to early Christmas experiences. my father would put up a sheet of plywood over the hallway entrance and secure it against curious eyes. an orange and a set of lincoln logs was enough to satiate a year's expectations. as we got older new ping pong balls and new flourescent lights over the table would insure many evenings of competition. now, warm socks are the most welcome gift. the thoughts of loved ones far exceed any present under a tree.

dreams of the future

2011-12-21T17:36:00.005-06:00

"i like the dreams of the future better than the history of the past." -- thomas jefferson

i unfortunately remember this 1 cent stamp as a time when you could value things according to the amount of work you created. starting out as an 8 year old shining shoes, then delivering papers, and selling greeting cards and cleaning supplies, and baling hay and walking beans, and working at a myriad of short term jobs before finally a career makes me wonder what unemployment really is about. right now the unemployment rate has dropped to recent lows and shows promise of a brighter future. who will take credit? those that are resting on their laurels or those that have vision? it will be an interesting "new year" perhaps. meanwhile our representatives have gone home job undone... with a looming 27% cut in medicare physician payments many seniors/disabled will find medical care unavailable.

delirious burning blue

2011-12-15T18:22:00.003-06:00

"all that we see or seem, is but a dream within a dream." --edgar allan poe, "a dream within a dream."

up, up the long delirious burning blue... where neither lark, or even eagle flew..... flying to va to see family is the only gift i need this year...... and besides, i'll only get lumps of coal in my stocking anyway..

under the sun

2011-12-12T18:40:00.002-06:00

"there is nothing new under the sun." -- proverbs

while in avegno we found that the sun was delayed in presenting due to the mountains to the east and disappeared very quickly due to the steep rise to the west. now back on red rock lake under a full moon last night i expected to paddle with plenty of light, without worry, but the shoreline was frozen and after dark at 6:30pm carrying back out through the mud wasn't appealing. i paddled back down to the dam, carried up the access to the highway and then had to walk the half mile around to my van. paddling, lifting/carrying, and hiking all combined into an evenings workout made for a productive two hours.

where you are

2011-12-07T10:11:00.005-06:00

"do what you can, with what you have, where you are." -- theodore roosevelt

the village of avegno di flouri, on the maggia river above locarno, switzerland had houses in what they call the "commune" or close set arrangement. the roofs were covered with hewn granite tiles that have weathered long years. the tolling of the church bells enlivened my morning energy to hike farther up the ridges along the stations of the cross. the prayerful nature of the solitude was so peaceful and tranquil, yet brought back an appreciation for time together with others.

beauty

2011-11-29T17:33:00.003-06:00

" beauty is not caused. it is." -- emily dickinson

farther sail!

2011-11-25T08:32:00.006-06:00

O my brave soul! O farther, farther, sail! -- Walt Whitman, " Passage to India"

returning from europe leaves time to drift back to idyllic times on peaceful shores, thinking about all the places i haven't been..... and where i'd still like to go if possible. unfortuately, with a trip too short to rent a kayak, i had to just imagine gliding quietly along silent waters taking in the unimaginably beautiful surroundings. this church sitting on an island in lake bled, slovenia as seen from grad bled castle has to be one of the most serene communes with a higher power that created all the amazing sites we saw on our journey.

coming out of the dolomite mountains from cortina, italy we first caught site of lake garda, above riva del garda, and it absolutely took my breath away. like some norwegian fjord, tucked in between steep mountains diving into the water, the lake takes one back to the days of summer villas carved out of the cliffsides and accessible only by watercraft. i'm ready to retire to this stunningly beautiful place.

beginnings

2011-11-02T11:27:00.004-05:00

"i had myself a desire to return to the place of the very beginning whence i had, as i have said, renewed my age." -- joshua slocum

leaving tomorrow for switzerland and on to klagenfurt, austria is a trip back to 1967. oh for the carefree days of swimming in crystal clear lakes, climbing mountains and exploring.. but that requires remaking of mistakes and lessons since learned. guess i'll just enjoy the memories. every morning while there i would run up this mountain past the stations of the cross and through the park about 4 miles. then after breakfast i'd ride my bike to the strandbad to play waterpolo and swim all day. it was tough to be an exchange student.

scream

2011-10-30T11:47:00.005-05:00

"one's own self is well hidden from one's own self, of all mines of treasure, one's own is the last to be dug up." -- friedrich wilhelm nietzsche

with only a few days left before leaving for switzerland i had to give my "rogue wave" to stripbuilder for repainting and repair. a season of rough use and hundreds of miles has taken it's toll. repainting the graphite bottom and weathered top, and fixing the cowling crack, reminds me it is time to also continue getting back in shape physically and mentally and set a new course for the upcoming year. but occasionally it is just time to "scream" and let go of old emotional dings and cracks.

rudderless

2011-10-23T10:38:00.004-05:00

with changing weather we once again don warmer clothing and keep paddling. back in my own boat an aerobic 3 hour trip feels rejuvenating even with the promise of fewer days on the water. hopefully i'll find a boat when we get to switzerland next month. lago maggiore is beautiful beyond description and possibly bled, slovenia will offer the same if we get there.

"fortunate indeed, is the man who takes exactly the right measure of himself, and holds a just balance between what he can acquire and what he can use." -- anonymous

dreams

2011-10-18T14:43:00.002-05:00

"hold fast to dreams, for if dreams die life is a broken-winged bird, that cannot fly." -- langston hughes

mr140

2011-10-17T15:19:00.006-05:00

what should have been the mr340 was shortened for us by orthopaedic complications - mine. not every goal we set is achievable, not every dream we have comes true, not every problem has to be insurmountable, not everything is understandable. my son, TA, had a t-shirt while swimming that read, "failure - when your best just isn't good enough." i guess i did my best for 18 hours and 140 miles but that was well short of the requisite 340 miles. we finished at 0230 at glasgow, mo. stripbuilder gave us every advantage with a beautiful tandem boat, experience and energy but intense training just wasn't enough for my half of our combined 125 years age. fog, headwinds and rain made for an interesting trip and seeing the many different types of craft and paddlers was exciting. a SUP paddler actually made the distance and was only a few hours behind us into our last checkpoint. although the disappointment was evident, getting into the best shape possible was a definite success. now back to more dreams...

even someone's partner, wilson, made it farther than me...

beauty revisited

2011-10-04T13:46:00.002-05:00

everything has beauty, but not everyone sees it. -- confucius
revisiting this trip from davenport south allowed me to see familar landmarks from a past journey. sometimes the trip is easier when we recognize where we are in relationship to the final destination.

river miles

2011-10-03T14:27:00.005-05:00

"nature without an effort surpasses art." -- latin proverb
paddling from davenport to muscatine on the mississippi yesterday i met a man paddling a canoe who came from rockford, illinois on the rock river. he was making about 30 miles/day in a plastic rec boat with a "bicycle bugger" tucked in behind him to carry his gear. he had a sign on board that invoked the words peace and God and he told me he was out of money until his disability check arrived on wednesday. he declined my assistance and said he was losing weight on ramen noodles and oatmeal so much lighter than his original 285#. i figure that by louisiana he should be down to playing weight. he doesn't like "gators" or snakes so doubt if he'll get much past arkansas. i felt like huck finn as i paddled down "the mighty" on a beautiful day.

appointed rounds

2011-09-30T12:54:00.003-05:00

"we are mothers and fathers. and sons and daughters. who every day go about our lives with duty, honor and pride. and neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night, nor the winds of change, nor a nation challenged, will stay us from the swift completion of our appointed rounds. ever." -- mailman's creed yesterday paddling in the waves of 25 mph winds and stronger gusts on red rock i kept repeating a paraphrased creed for paddlers, " ... the paddler from his/her appointed rounds.

age of gold

2011-09-27T12:53:00.005-05:00

"time will run back, and fetch the age of gold." -- john milton, hymn

stripbuilder leaves tomorrow for the NC challenge's 100 mile race. i hope that his 20 yr. younger partner doesn't spoil him for our tandem race as "team geritol". i prefer to refer to our team as "lewis & clark kent". my g'g'grandmother was a clark related to wm. clark so this race has more meaning. now if i could have even a fraction of his fortitude.

a swinging time

2011-09-26T11:23:00.004-05:00

revisiting times past with bro took us to the eighth tee at pine knolls.. now if i could just find that slice somewhere in the rough. i've been out of the fairway most of my life i'm afraid. always looking for a challenge.

dark beginnings hopefully end in the light but today's run in the tandem from cordova to the dam and back terminated with wind and chilly dark weather. the two hour trip was a shakedown cruise for stripbuilder's NC challenge friday. 100 miles in less than 24 hours? the kiosk overlooking elk rock is well placed to see what is possible on red rock.

to arrive

2011-09-16T14:55:00.002-05:00

i love to travel, but hate to arrive... -- Albert Einstein

solitude revisited

2011-09-13T10:42:00.003-05:00

paddling everyday now expands the opportunity to revisit quiet moments. sunrises, sunsets, full moons, wind, waves and solitude.

the great misfortune - to be incapable of solitude. -- jean de la bruyére

in memorium

2011-09-11T18:18:00.001-05:00

“War would end if the dead could return.” -- Stanley Baldwin

blackhawk down the river

2011-09-09T13:33:00.005-05:00

last sunday's run from howell station below the dam to ottumwa was on a beautiful but windy day. the 8 hour trip included low water, suddenly appearing sandbars, and about 50,000 paddle strokes. solitude on the river ended at blackhawk access in ottumwa.

will the grand ol' party's deregulations increase this tragedy observed on more shorelines of the dsm? planting wall to wall will increase personal wealth but be loss for generations to come. this soil will soon be new land in louisiana i'm afraid.

native petroglyphs remind us that there were paddlers around here long before we called ourselves explorers and discoverers.

maiden voyage

2011-09-03T15:38:00.008-05:00

stripbuilder's 23' tandem baidarka is almost finished and we took it out on rock creek for a trial run. now the only questions are, "can i keep his stroke cadence and can he tolerate me for 340 miles?"

"I simply believe that some part of the human Self or Soul is not subject to the laws of space and time." -- Carl Jung

rock & roll

2011-09-01T10:48:00.003-05:00

last weekend our continuing trip took us from denison to storm lake and on to okoboji. life continues to be an adventure even for this rather wooden explorer.

the old roller coaster and ferris wheel at arnold's park, as seen from the water, reminded me of a high school weekend with bands at the "rooftop ballroom". a trip to the rock & roll hall of fame and museum there afterwards was nostalgic too. long live rock & roll!! now if i could apply that to my kayaking.. i can rock, but not roll well enough...

migration

2011-09-01T10:40:00.003-05:00

in a trip down the lake stripbuilder and i revisited the "indian tree" or "peace tree" west of the mile long bridge. winter weather and flooding have sculpted the top off and shortened the stump considerably. one lone creature claimed this resting point even as we drew near. we all are migrating somewhere.... in our own manner.... in our own timeline.

more for loess

2011-09-01T10:26:00.005-05:00

last weekend we ventured west to the loess hills parkway from council bluffs north and then on to denison and a nice B&B. the rolling hills and view of the receding flooded valley were spectacular and much better than my limited photography, but the serenity was special.

the sloughing hillsides resembled the terraced mountains of peru in minature. the term for this is commonly known as "catsteps" or terracettes. it is fascinating to see what nature has created in the millions of years past. our lives are like catsteps in that they seem forever, but are minute particles of loess making up the vast reaches of geography.

"in our leisure we reveal what kind of people we are." -- ovid

lazy days

2011-08-22T12:20:00.002-05:00

"neither will the wave which has passed be called back; nor can the hour which has gone by return." -- ovid, ars amatoria
with warm water/air the time to play on the lake brought out all the "young" people and left us old paddlers to plod along. lazy, hazy, crazy days of summer.... getting ready for a 340 mile race in october will require some serious training so guess i'll keep my head down and my paddle in the water.

last days of summer

2011-08-18T08:45:00.006-05:00

with days cooling to fall these young adventurers made the most of a beautiful day, playing in the sand and swimming for hours. a last run off the whitebreast dock washed away the thoughts of obligations to come.

"the swallows are making them ready to fly, wheeling out on a windy sky: goodbye, summer, goodbye, goodbye. --george john whyte-melville, "goodbye, summer"

the great affair

2011-08-16T10:52:00.005-05:00

"i travel not to go anywhere, but to go. i travel for travel's sake. the great affair is to move." -- robert louis stevenson

a beautiful late summer night w/ a waning moon allowed us a record 2.75 hr. run from elk rock to the dam and back. the lake is at permanent pool and i made my first trip through the sea cave tunnel along the cliffs. with days headed to winter taking advantage of cool nights is a luxury once again.

access 16

2011-08-03T08:37:00.003-05:00

a warm early morning at hickory ridge brought g'son jordan and me to the newly signed water trail access 16. although needing more poles and lines removed the wilderness camp is shaping up to be a great destination for paddlers. unfortunately the access was under a foot of mud left from flood level waters and the dnr didn't heed advice on a straight in ramp. at least it is now "properly marked."

great artists

2011-07-26T16:09:00.005-05:00

"No great artist ever sees things as they really are. If he did, he would cease to be an artist." Oscar Wilde

colour

2011-07-25T13:11:00.003-05:00

i still miss my old kodachrome slides -- they had such nice bright colors, but mama they took my kodachrome away..
"the purest and most thoughtful minds are those which love colour the most." -- john ruskin, "the stones of venice"

weather or not

2011-07-22T17:02:00.007-05:00

there is really no such thing as "bad weather," only different kinds of "good weather." -- John Ruskin

the heat during the balloon fest last weekend has continued this week, but is simply called "weather". with so many wonderful experiences possible it doesn't really matter if it is rain or shine....

different directions

2011-07-19T12:06:00.004-05:00

sometimes when you are floating along it's hard to know which direction to go.... focus, must focus..."you can't depend on your eyes when your imagination is out of focus." -- Mark Twain

up, up, and away

2011-07-18T17:50:00.011-05:00

with unusual summer heat it was refreshing to take to the skies, even if it was next to a propane burner.

copiloting a hot air balloon has always been on my bucket list so last weekend i was able to check off another wish. the offer to ride along on the "clair skies" at the red rock balloon fest was a dream come true. rising up from a farmer's hayfield early in the morning with hazy skies was a bit surreal, but a third place finish out of 23 brought us back to reality. i'm ready to go again, but still found time to kayak to painted rocks last night with a slight breeze and calm water.

dock of the bay

2011-07-11T13:11:00.004-05:00

tae recently purchased a preamp so he could play our old 33 1/3's, but alas, my old otis redding album didn't include "dock of the bay." last night's view from marina cove bay had flood water to the top of the ramp.

pictures can't reproduce (at least with my pentax) the beauty of last night's fiery orb of orange and gold sunlight reflected off a calm lake. the peacefulness of the evening and the coolness of the water was a welcome respite to a hot humid afternoon at the farm.

getting their goat

2011-07-11T13:06:00.003-05:00

a trip to bluegate farm for homemade goatcheese ice cream gave us the op to see a baby goat and all the wonderful organic gardens.

standing tall

2011-07-08T17:32:00.008-05:00

a 15 mile day paddling from kennedy st. to the dam and back included a chance to see stripbuilder's new standup paddle board (sup) in action. unfortunately my balance and old knees precluded a long trip up competine creek to hickory ridge.

the sky is that beautiful old parchment in which the sun and moon keep their diary. -- alfred kreymborg, "old manuscript"

no respect

2011-07-05T11:44:00.004-05:00

with a grand opening for hickory ridge wilderness camp coming up soon, a visit to the ramp there witnessed the encroachment of flotsam and weeds covering up the dnr's best efforts. no matter how hard we work to make things manageable nature has her own agenda.

a day in june

2011-06-28T15:42:00.006-05:00

And what is so rare as a day in June?

Then, if ever, come perfect days;

Then Heaven tries the earth if it be in tune,

And over it softly her warm ear lays:

Whether we look, or whether we listen,

We hear life murmur, or see it glisten.
-- james russell lowell

this is taken from "the vision of sir launfel," a tale about a knight's search for the Holy Grail.

with abating winds last evening i paddled for two hours on brush creek and still had time to challenge the waves on the big lake with an excursion to painted rock. heaven doesn't exist inside this office i know..

a taste for the beautiful is most cultivated out of doors. -- henry david thoreau, walden

blossom and grow

2011-06-22T17:22:00.003-05:00

"time is generally the best doctor" -- ovid

a favorite song about my old home ðsterreich, "edelweiss", ended with "you look happy to meet me." i love this time of the year when my favorite tree not only blossoms but is so wonderfully fragrant. it is amazing that we go through so many transformations and still come up smelling great at least once each cycle.

backwaters

2011-06-21T14:53:00.007-05:00

sunday am the backwaters of Red Rock Lake were placid with a gentle breeze on the return trip from the stickel bridge. there are so many places to explore now and so little time. today is the longest day of the year and we are now headed for drysuit weather again...
like all great travellers, i have seen more than i remember, and remember more than i have seen. --benjamin disraeli

fullest extent

2011-06-16T14:16:00.004-05:00

why make something attractive and then pull the rug out from under someone? kinetic structures should move and people will always want to touch what they shouldn't..

they must often change, who would be constant in happiness or wisdom. -- confucious

dog tired

2011-06-14T18:40:00.005-05:00

this lovable character did his part for a cure but used up his energy..

"one ought every day at least, to hear a little song, read a good poem, see a fine picture, and if it were possible, to speak a few reasonable words" -- goethe

arch madness

2011-06-14T17:15:00.007-05:00

last weekend's trip to st. louis included a trip to the top of the arch and a different view of things around us.

even in a race for the cure it seems like we are standing still..

rings of the tree

2011-06-06T13:05:00.003-05:00

this tree i see each morning reminds me that we all have a time to blossom and shine, and a day to lose our leaves...

adopt the pace of nature, her secret is patience. --ralph waldo emerson

life saving

2011-06-06T12:58:00.003-05:00

some days when the wind is blowing and the waves are high it is more life "saving" than "ending" to paddle.

what is so rare as a day in june? then, if ever, come perfect days.

--james russell lowell, " the vision of sir launfel"

clear waters

2011-05-27T17:35:00.004-05:00

it was so refreshing to once again be able to see the bottom of a lake while paddling. getting to the bottom of things can be difficult in cloudy conditions.

dry dock

2011-05-25T16:07:00.011-05:00

last weekend's anniversary trip to door county, wisconsin afforded a morning trip around horseshoe island beyond ephraim bay. after the fog burned off the sun was a welcome visitor. i made sure that i wouldn't lose my way the next time there by constructing a "goldsworthy" cairn that hopefully will stand at least the summer traffic.

to hold, as twere, the mirror up to nature.

--william shakespeare, hamlet

hard is the heart that loved naught in may.

-- geoffrey chaucer, 'the romance of the rose'

emeralds lost

2011-05-17T08:24:00.006-05:00

without a comprehensive program in ireland next week we'll have to find verdant green in some other remote part of this world. waiting on a trip to switzerland in november will have to suffice. alas, too, yesterday with three hours on the lake in brilliant sunlight i forgot my camera. no more 3 x 5's this week.

a broad margin of leisure is as beautiful in a man's life as a book.

--henry david thoreau

35 years

2011-05-15T18:24:00.002-05:00

it doesn't seem like 35 years i've been working in this town, but the spider mum and recognition from the hospital made it official. i feel like the last dinosaur waiting for the next meteorite to strike.. the years teach much which the days never know. -- ralph waldo emerson, "experience"

hooked

2011-05-11T19:19:00.000-05:00

joyous we too launch out on trackless seas. -- walt whitman, "passage to india"

our passion for the water seems to be expanding with the addition of new converts. here rich has recruited another disciple who is ready for his own boat; another addition to the red rock armada.

bin laden caves

2011-05-03T11:28:00.006-05:00

doc always told me that bin laden's cave was on the elk rock shoreline but i'm almost sure this one at eagle rock was a possibility too. my trip from hwy 14 to elk rock ranger's station on a beautiful sunday evening ended with a beautiful sunset and nw winds/waves. we should never exult in the taking of life, but we have to admit that he won't be missed much. also, why is it that the republican station (fox) called him Usama and the democratic one (msnbc) called him Osama? (using "beautiful" twice qualifies me as an AI judge!)

kites rise against the wind - not with it. -- winston churchill

the green fuse

2011-04-29T12:34:00.005-05:00

The force that through the green fuse drives the flower

Drives my green age; that blasts the roots of trees

Is my destroyer.

And I am dumb to tell the crooked rose

My youth is bent by the same wintry fever.

The force that drives the water through the rocks

Drives my red blood; that dries the mouthing streams

Turns mine to wax.

And I am dumb to mouth unto my veins

How at the mountain spring the same mouth sucks.

The hand that whirls the water in the pool

Stirs the quicksand; that ropes the blowing wind

Hauls my shroud sail.

And I am dumb to tell the hanging man

How of my clay is made the hangman's lime.

The lips of time leech to the fountain head;

Love drips and gathers, but the fallen blood

Shall calm her sores.

And I am dumb to tell a weather's wind

How time has ticked a heaven round the stars.

And I am dumb to tell the lover's tomb

How at my sheet goes the same crooked worm.

--Dylan Thomas

Do not go gentle into that good night.

Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

written in stone

2011-04-25T19:53:00.006-05:00

a peaceful evening on the lake took us past the red sandstone cordova cliffs, festooned with serviceberry blossoms and one person's attempt to change the world. everything we do has a ripple effect, just like the waves pushed by the wind...

one may understand the cosmos, but never the ego, the self is more distant than any star.

-g.k. chesterton, "the logic of elfland"

on stage

2011-04-20T16:33:00.003-05:00

lately we've been looking at area HS auditoriums to get ideas for a new one for knoxville's hs. there are so many different designs and features. if only we had a lottery winner in town with a philanthropic bent.

"she took off to find the footlights, i took off to find the sky." -- harry chapin

wall to wall

2011-04-14T15:31:00.003-05:00

with so much media lately about lost soil from farming too close to waterways i found myself in indiana surveying a contributing tile system that drained a cattle feed lot. the pasture ran right up to the creek which is a major feeder of prairie creek reservoir, a water source for the city of muncie. while paddling from red rock dam to keokuk on the des moines river we saw many fields that abutted the shores and the erosion was disturbing, not to mention the pollution. with corn prices so high farmers are planting wall to wall....... is ethanol production worth it?

full circle

2011-04-13T17:09:00.003-05:00

on a recent trip to indiana for a comprehensive program i chanced to paddle each morning and with high water found a passage under the road "up a creek". it reminded me of one of my first pictures taken in klagenfurt, austria along a canal. i wish all my slides were on disc but i also wish all my memories were cataloged and cross referenced too. my "computer" of a mind is an early apple iie.

reflections

2011-04-05T12:58:00.004-05:00

even shadows have reflections...

"the world is but a canvas to our imagination" --Henry David Thoreau

wayfinding

2011-03-22T18:36:00.006-05:00

hickory ridge is now accessible by water with campsites in place and trail constructed. two trips over from whitebreast ramp allowed me to imagine what it will be when open for campers this summer. stripbuilder and i paddled for four hours yesterday and checked out the construction at the cordova access. this 15 miles was the most i've paddled this year...

lumine

2011-03-16T17:21:00.002-05:00

"a lumine motus" i am moved by the light.

solitude

2011-03-16T12:47:00.007-05:00

monday night i paddled from elk rock to the west beach for the first time and the indian tree stood sentinel over a lake still ~6' below permanent pool.

in solitude, when we are least alone.

-- lord byron, "childe harold"

breaking through

2011-03-14T09:13:00.007-05:00

the temp drops with the sun now and the twilight time of winter is coming up against full spring. paddling the north shore of red rock lake, with a north wind, insured an almost clear path in the sheet ice, from cordova to the marina. i love this time of year when the tinkling of the almost crystalline crumb-ice and the bright sunlight refracted in the angles makes you want to never leave.

pursue some path, however narrow and crooked, in which you can "paddle" with love and reverence. - henry david thoreau (with obvious substitution)

serenas

2011-03-10T16:26:00.003-06:00

"i count only the hours that are serene."

"Horas non numero nísí serenas." - maurice maeterlinck, measure of the hours

ice, ice, baby

2011-03-09T08:12:00.006-06:00

a sunday afternoon with ice breaking up on red rock provided us a welcome return to bluewater (brown-green?). stripbuilder and i got caught in a whiteout crossing back to elk rock from cordova. the weather here can change on a dime and always provides excitement.

a welcome guest

2011-03-04T16:09:00.008-06:00

"beauty is everywhere a welcome guest" - goethe

the museum of modern art in boulder, co was next to the beautiful dushanbe teahouse, designed and created by their sister-city in tajikistan. the last pic was thousands of pieces of bicycle tires put together on the walls and in this one to form a tunnel with backlighting.

sunrise ranch

2011-03-02T17:48:00.008-06:00

our recent trip was to loveland, co to preceptor an advanced cst class. time at the base of the mountains with morning walks and challenging work from 9am-midnight was complemented by great organic meals and a peaceful atmosphere. on one morning sojourn i was accompanied by about 80 elk and a small herd of cows looking for some bovine therapy.

on thursday it snowed 6 inches and the effects were spectacular creating a winter wonderland. it looked like an impressionist's painting. "things perfected by nature are better than those finished by art" - Cicero

reverie

2011-02-16T15:09:00.003-06:00

sit in reverie and watch the changing color of the waves that break upon the idle seashore of the mind. --henry wadsworth longfellow

glee club

2011-02-15T15:27:00.006-06:00

with winter weather subsiding i'm reminded there are those that really like the cold climate. i'm sure these residents of southern climes were gathered for an "icecapela" program.

st. valentine

2011-02-14T09:02:00.003-06:00

where else would someone want to be on valentine's day than next to some tropical atoll sipping on a cool drink...... or maybe paddling along with the dolphins. "valens" means "worthy, strong, or powerful" so gaining strength and worth could be a goal for the day. happy valentine's day!

double feature

2011-02-06T19:03:00.011-06:00

flowing water never goes bad... --chinese proverb

a snowy saturday afternoon turned into a double feature of sorts with a couple hours kayaking on the river and an hour of cutting trail xc skiing at whitebreast park's kuyper trail. the ramp at howell station was iced over so stripbuilder and i put in at the south tailwater below the dam, and by the time i changed for skiing the snow was sticky and more of a hike than a glide.

undiscovered

2011-01-31T09:12:00.004-06:00

a leisurely late afternoon paddle on the des moines river yesterday afforded me a chance to commune with the eagles, geese, and a pair of swans. nature continues to amaze me in all that she provides for our eyes to behold. i never tire of the solitude.

To myself I am only a child playing on the beach, while vast oceans of truth lie undiscovered before me. --Sir Isaac Newton

preserved from a past year

2011-01-03T17:09:00.003-06:00

nature does nothing uselessly. --Aristotle

(ornamental cabbage-Brassica oleracea)

tradition

2011-01-03T08:43:00.004-06:00

braving sub-zero temps has become a tradition on new year's day and this year didn't disappoint. a solo paddle with 20 mph winds out of the west kept the bare skin covered, but a turnaround on sunday brought out the northern contingent as stripbuilder joined me for a trip to the dollar bridge and back.

genius

2010-12-31T13:39:00.002-06:00

Nature is full of genius, full of divinity; so that not a snowflake escapes its fashioning hand. -- Henry David Thoreau

nature as artist

2010-12-28T08:25:00.006-06:00

i continually am amazed at how perfect Nature's artistry presents with every season. it is such a privilege to capture even a small part of what can be seen in everyday life. an early morning hoar frost covered everything as if to remind us that we are amateurs when it comes to tree decorating.

even spiders had their webs flocked for the festive season.

newbie

2010-12-26T15:30:00.003-06:00

with santa bringing TAE xc skis we took to the golf course for a cursory lesson and a chance to share the good snow. this is probably the best snow we've had for many a holiday and it was great to find activity even on old knees. afterwards, the swim spa was a welcome reward at 106 degrees F but i can't show those pics :)

happy trails

2010-12-20T15:24:00.006-06:00

our search for just the right Christmas tree was a journey of minute proportions in contrast to past years. on probably the best day of recent past we took a mere 10 minutes to find just the right, albeit skinny by past standards, tree. unfortunately the snow is disappearing and my xc skiis are waiting for an initial voyage, but there portends a promise of enjoyable time to come.

this sculpted tree was too big for our bay window, but might have been mixed in with bro mark's palm tree farm. perhaps it is a Hanukkah tree in the making.

pre lunar eclipse paddling

2010-12-20T15:08:00.005-06:00

my first trip this winter, to the dollar bridge and back w/ stripbuilder, skirted the ice shelfs on the river but the waxing gibbus moon was bright enough to keep us safe. it would be fun to be out for the lunar eclipse but cloudy skies would probably prevent that anyway. a new season of river rat pack will keep us singing warm songs i think.

any reef in a storm

2010-12-02T08:30:00.002-06:00

my last excursion on red rock w/ stripbuilder took us past an exposed tire reef off whitebreast. the western wind made for interesting paddling w/ a shoulder not quite dependable. recent ortho/mri results have revealed a biceps tendon that doesn't want to stay in the groove. it sounds a lot like my life right now - hard to find the right path without pain. downsizing is putting a strain on free time, but i'm cleared for more activity.... until the tendon snaps and i'm looking for a hobie w/ pedals. nature takes us in the direction we are supposed to go i guess, so i'll find the wind and drift along...

truth or consequences

2010-11-14T09:21:00.004-06:00

working in new mexico found us in a lovely house on the banks of the rio grande river but alas the water was too low to navigate. the picture window overlooking the water must have been extra clean for this dusty bird to leave its imprint - or was it an angel wanting in? you decide.

dog days of fall

2010-11-01T15:27:00.003-05:00

we're traveling again and the last days of fall are quickly fading in the rear view mirror. it's sad not to be on the water.

barn to run

2010-10-31T13:59:00.007-05:00

traveling the blue ridge parkway from va to tn was a fall treat with multi-colored foliage and beautiful vistas. then it was on to knoxville (tennessee that is) and fort loudon lake's impoundment next to ut's neyland stadium. i had to compete with the paddlewheel full of tourists.

the happenstance of finding lake barkley, the final stretch of the cumberland river in kentucky, and especially barkley state lodge was a welcome end to a tour including five new bodies of water to add to my bucket list. now if only this slap tear in my shoulder didn't portend an end to what has been a rewarding way of life

cygnet sure

2010-10-31T13:46:00.005-05:00

it was reassuring to not be a threat to someone new and this young swan left a feather behind for a souvenir. the placid waters of the charles reassures me that calliope is in good company.

connecticut's bantam lake is the state's largest natural lake and surrounding streams full of trout provide almost thoreau-like solitude (but man does not heal in isolation).

gull-able

2010-10-31T13:20:00.009-05:00

i have to account for the last trip before we leave on the next so including wildlife pictures from lake champlain, VT reminds me that i am the stranger on the water.

i'm glad they chained up this observer on the charles river (so no one would steal him). he was one of many sculptures adorning the banks of a rather classy river house.

the charles river canoe & kayak building at newton/auburndale, as seen from neighboring lily pads, was an easy access and the dammed up portion of the river made a leisurely, albeit misty, journey. a native american legend says that the water lily (nymphaea odorata) was once a star. it fell from the sky and, striking the water, it changed into a flower.

the circle

2010-10-20T19:34:00.006-05:00

The Circle Song

All my life's a circle;

Sunrise and sundown;

Moon rolls thru the nighttime;

Till the daybreak comes around.

All my life's a circle;

But I can't tell you why;

Season's spinning round again;

The years keep rollin' by.

It seems like I've been here before;

I can't remember when;
But I have this funny feeling;

That we'll all be together again.

No straight lines make up my life;

And all my roads have bends;

There's no clear-cut beginnings;

And so far no dead-ends.

Chorus:

I found you a thousand times;
I guess you done the same;

But then we lose each other;

It's like a children's game;

As I find you here again;

A thought runs through my mind;

Our love is like a circle;

Let's go 'round one more time.

Chorus:

one of my favorite songs of all time spoke to the changes in our lives. i have a passion for the changing seasons and traveling 4000 miles in two weeks didn't disappoint with contrasting colors spread from toronto/montreal to vt to boston to ct to va to the blue ridge parkway/boone, nc to knoxville, tn to lake barkley/kentucky lake to herman, mo to home. time with family and friends was a luxury with the iceland trip cancelled this year. now it's on to truth or consequences and more renewal of friendships. the years go by so quickly though.....

one if by land..

2010-09-30T16:26:00.003-05:00

we leave tonight for london, ON and then on to montreal, lake champlain, and ultimately to boston to see calliope & N. perhaps she'll leave a lantern on in the tower of the old north church so we'll know where to go... with side trips to the cape and connecticut we're on to virginia and time to catch up with the rest of the clan... and like fall weather .... it's time to leave...

newbies

2010-09-24T12:18:00.004-05:00

it is always interesting to see new people experience the joy of being out on the water, and for one who works around the lake doubly so. the weekend before last stripbuilder talked a corps ranger into venturing out with us to explore the lake before drawdown. right now all my pictures would be of mudflats and places that haven't been seen for several years..... guess i'll just go back to canada instead. we leave next week for montreal and a chance to paddle on lake champlain in vermont, on the way to calliope's and the charles river.

migration

2010-09-15T19:54:00.003-05:00

i've heard of birds migrating at this time of year but never alligators. this one was found in the chicago river and probably wouldn't survive a winter there any better than I could. now that calliope is in beantown she'll be safe from such creatures i hope. the seasons are changing here and autumn is rushing by. there was snow in yellowstone last weekend they tell me.

baidarka

2010-09-10T08:48:00.003-05:00

after hearing how stripbuilder smoked the missouri river in his sleek new boat i decided the new used baidarka p&h kayak might be a good alternative to my faithful "rogue wave". with new hatch covers and some seat modifications it may be ready for the ever shrinking lake.

lines of communication

2010-08-30T17:40:00.003-05:00

sending Jordan off to home wasn't any easier than watching his mother get on the plane after a visit. perhaps the lines, while wavy, won't be so long in the future.

hickory ridge wilderness camp was protected from flood waters by stands of poison ivy and debris, so i trust all is ok without looking...

apogee

2010-08-25T10:25:00.006-05:00

the full moon this month was the farthest away from the earth this year, at it's apogee. paddling with g'son Jordan, for the first time, was a pleasure and his skills will soon exceed mine with years to enjoy.

this young deer was one of many along the roadside at whitebreast park and not too fearful of those driving down the road.

oh canada

2010-08-18T19:26:00.007-05:00

on a trip to canada's lake huron for a wedding the water beckoned and with kayaks on board the van the stifling heat didn't deter.

paddling at bayfield, ON beach afforded a look at the wrecked barge along the shoreline.

an afternoon respite in st. joseph, MI didn't afford us lake michigan paddling, but later, on the way home, jse and i paddled on the kalamazoo river at saugatuck.