Annie’s Adventure to Lake Superior

Well Annie took my advise and started her own blog. If you click on the title you will go to her blog and tell her I sent you.

 

Tuesday, August 12, 2008

Kayaking in the Apostle Islands, Lake Superior, Wisconsin

I spent August 7th through the 11th in Wisconsin, kayaking in the Apostle Islands on Lake Superior. It was almost perfect! The only things missing were Wayne and Tiffany. If they had been with me it would have been absolutely perfect. I flew up on Thursday, rented a car in Duluth and drove 90 miles to Bayfield, WI. I lallygagged on my way stopping to have lunch at a roadside bar and grill. The cheeseburger was delicious, just not sure what part of the ‘cow?’ it was made from.

The countryside was beautiful and my route mostly followed the south shore of Lake Superior. I stopped at most of the wayside parks to take photos. I took over 500 shots and it was hard to decide just which ones to post here.

The weather was wonderful. It was like a warm winter weekend in Florida – clear sunny blue skies, crisp air and cool nights – Perfect Camping Weather!

Wildflowers were blooming everywhere. I didn’t get the names of all of them and I don’t have an Audubon book for Wisconsin, so just enjoy their beauty, I don’t know their names.

This one is called fire weed or horse tail.

I suppose this is a daisy.

On Friday morning I got up early and headed to Living Adventure to start my trip. We spent the morning learning to paddle and doing rescues before heading out for 3 days and 2 nights on the lake. Everything about the trip surpassed my expectations. Both guides had numerous certifications including ACA, wilderness first responder and food management. The kayaks were all nice fiberglass boats and we learned a lot about the flora, fauna and history of the area.

The scenery was amazing. It’s nice to go somewhere that looks so different from where you live. The beaches and springs of Florida are beautiful, but it sure is nice to see something different. Not only was the view beautiful, but the temperature was nice and it smells like Christmas up there with all the pine trees.

This is called Honeymoon Rock. It’s just off of Hermit Island. Our guide, Joe Ku, had so many interesting stories about the people and history of all of the islands. You’ll have to take a trip with him to hear them all. I highly recommend it. Let me know if you want to go. I definitely want to go back!

That’s me, squeaking through a crack in the cliff.

One of Joe’s interesting stories involves a black bear who I choose to call Brownie. Shortly before Joe arrived with his tour on Hermit Island a few weeks ago, a group had fed a brownie to this bear. They did it hoping to get the bear to go away. Unfortunately, Brownie took a liking to chocolate and was hanging around for some more. Joe got to dance around a tree with Brownie as his tour took off in the kayaks. Everyone (including Brownie) was OK, but now humans are not allowed on Hermit Island because Brownie will come looking for more nummies.

This is a Beaver Dam that was near our Saturday Night Campsite on Stockton Island.

This is our guide, Ben, exiting a small cave.

This is our guide, Joe, rolling a double sea kayak with a passenger – amazing!

I think these are mushrooms. I didn’t taste them to be sure

These guys showed up at our Friday Night Campsite on Oak Island right at sunset – perfect timing!

A groovy purple flower that was on the grounds of Living Adventure. Gail, the owner is an artist and her garden shows off her creative nature. An artist-paddler? Sound like anyone you know? It’s a good combination if you ask me!!!

A raspberry that was growing outside of my hotel room. There were berries everywhere. In fact, our campsite on Oak Island was in the middle of a berry patch. Joe said it was to keep the bears away. They would have to eat through all those berries to get to us

I think this is a Stargazer Lilly (from the grounds at Living Adventure).

Wisconsin seems to be a very eco-friendly state. There was a recycle bin next to every trash can. I was almost at the airport for my trip home when I pulled up behind this guy at a stop light. The bumper sticker says that it’s powered by bio-diesel. Rock On!

Until the next adventure, Take it easy,
Anne

Another Anne Adventure

I look at Anne’s pictures and can hardly believe this is where I call home. Such beauty in this world. Even this morning rain makes it seem cool and fresh. Enjoy your Sunday everyone.

 

Since I’m a computer jockey who sits on her butt all week, when the weekend comes I’m ready for some serious exercise. (And, Lucky-for-Me, my weekend starts on Friday!!!) Wayne gets plenty of exercise at his job, so we decided that it would be good for me to get in my "kayak marathon" on Fridays while he’s at work. So that’s what I did today. Now we can have a relaxing adventure tomorrow.

I had originally planned to paddle around Ft. DeSoto, but I’m really fond of Shell Key. I had pretty much decided to paddle around Shell Key before I got to my little launch place, but when I got there and noticed waves in the bayou and a decent wind, I decided for sure that the shorter route around Shell Key would be a better choice. So that’s what I did. I launched at about 10:30 am at high tide.

When I got to the north end of the island I got out of the boat for a little beach combing and wading. Flipper decided to join me.

A flock of Least Terns.

Great Egrets.

A White Ibis.

I think this is the remains of an airplane. This "feathered friend" lost his wings.

Well, I guess he had been warned.

The wind and waves were pretty rough. It wouldn’t have been a good day to fly an ultralight, but it was a fun day to be in a kayak!

It was, as usual, a gorgeous Florida day.

After a good workout and some nice beach time, I returned to my launch spot at around 2:45 pm at low tide. Notice the styrofoam cooler top I found floating in the bayou. The wind was pretty much at my back and I held that baby up in the wind and was able to sail with it.

Until next time….

Take it easy,

Anne

Up to the Spring WITH a Paddle!!!!

 

Friends – I have to introduce you to Anne. Anne has the greatest adventures kayaking down the Florida rivers and takes spectacular pictures. She just gave me permission to publish her works. So here is Anne on her last adventure. I can’t wait to share some of her past ones that I have stored. Enjoy!

I finally got to paddle up the Weeki Wachee to the spring and back. I’ve really been jonesing for a good paddling and I got one today. Since I already have Fridays off my boss gave me my July 4th holiday today and I got up early and was at Rogers Park by about 9:30. I like to paddle up the Weeki Wachee, it’s an excellent workout (though it was pretty easy in my bullet-fast sea kayak).

There was a little fog on the river in the morning.

Sign, sign, everywhere a sign….

Anyone caught having fun on this river will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law

By the way, there is no alcohol allowed on the river. As you may know, I pick up trash when I’m out there. Guess what kind of cans I found? Not a single soda can. ALL beer cans. No comment.

As long as I’m on a soap box, how come dogs aren’t allowed on the river? I clean up after my dog, which is more than I can say for the cretin who left a diaper on the bank. I didn’t pick up that trash. Sorry, no photo.

The spring, no vessels allowed!

A turtle. I bet he’s the one who drank all that beer!

I let my camera take all the risk looking up the hollow log. No bears in there!

Aquamarine spring water.

Oh, and since this lady had a calf with her, I bet she’s the one who left the diaper;-)

All that exercise made me a smart-alec. Thanks for listening to my tirade!

Take it easy,

Anne