genius

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

nature as artist

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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..

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

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

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

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

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

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

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.

sailing away

a leisurely sail on red rock ended up taking the whole sunny breezy day.

this gauzy-winged hitchhiker joined us for a short time and then was off to parts unknown.

the wright stuff

water work at the CTP at oakwood was special this time with my favorite little indiana 7.75 year old doll-phin. it makes it all worth while to just see her smile. she's come so far in three years.

glenlloyd house in kankakee, illinois was one of frank lloyd wright's finest designs, partially due to the owner's wealth. unfortunately they lost their fortune and the house ended up, for a time, a restaurant and then a law office. it has been restored and placed in a protective foundation. it was on the kankakee river so a leisurely paddle that evening and a stay at the riverview b&b made for a lovely weekend.

where in iowa is TAE

Taylor is off on RAGBRAI for the week sagging for Ride Right Chairman, Dan McKay. Guess he isn't sacrificing too much enjoying the parties and food, and sharing the road with a pretty girl. let's see, they were in storm lake last night at the waterpark... and today?

dan, jim green, and brian duffy

times of change

what we cultivate in times of ease we gather as strength for times of change. --Buddha

Epitaph

Epitaph

When I die

Give what's left of me away

To children

And old men that wait to die.

And if you need to cry,

Cry for your brother

Walking the street beside you.

And when you need me,

Put your arms

Around anyone

And give them

What you need to give to me.

I want to leave you something,

Something better

Than words

Or sounds.

Look for me

In the people

I've known

Or loved,

And if you cannot give me away,

At least let me live on your eyes

And not on your mind.

You can love me most

By letting

Hands touch hands,

By letting

Bodies touch bodies,

And by letting go

Of children

That need to be free.

Love doesn't die,

People do.

So, when all that's left of me

Is love,

Give me away.

-----Merrit Malloy

into the light

on a beautiful summer weekend my father chose to get up and walk out of this troubled world... in 35 years of working with orthopaedic patients he is the first i've ever had code on me and leave. he was independent to the last, at 94 years young. may he rest in peace and continue to inspire.