spring redux

"look deep into nature and then you will understand everything better." -- albert einstein

with changing weather i'm conflicted in describing spring as either marvelous or disastrous.  one minute it is warm and sunny and the next cold and rainy and windy.  redux can be defined as: a 2-part x-files series, something brought back or restored, an aircraft adhesive, a weight loss drug (taken off the market), or an extended director's cut of apocalypse now.  kayaking often is all of the above in one way or another.  i'm packing my kayaks today to head to IN to work for a week.  prairie creek reservoir is calling.

creature comforts

"the present moment is a powerful goddess." -- goethe

saturday's four hours paddling on the lake, with cool drizzly weather, was refreshing but hardly a good day for this creature at the west beach.  we met ten paddlers from the cedar falls area who were camping at hickory ridge for the weekend.  although they got a bit wet i heard they enjoyed the primitive experience and would return now as "seamen first class" in the red rock armada.

zombie takeover

the tap takeover at dsm's zombie burger spilled over to our house saturday night and i had to get tough and tell tae to tuck in his shirt!

right whale

"voyages, travel, and change of place impart vigor." -- seneca

i never quite figured out why the right whale isn't a proper name with capitalized R but my cousin in cape cod flies whale watch to keep track of them.  they id them by markings and each has a name: bob, jim, bill, sally... this creature was sighted at the knoxville pool a week ago and wasn't spouting or grazing for krill.  last weekend's paddle was a solo run from whitebreast ramp to hwy 14 in the rain and wind.  the headwind turned into a nice following run back to the van though and even if wet it was an enjoyable addition to a week of swimming.

so long FLR

"...remember the days we harmonized till dawn?" -- simon & garfunkel, so long frank lloyd wright

 the stockman house was a flw designed prairie style home in mason city.

a respite weekend took us to the park inn in mason city, clearlake, and charles city.  the only remaining restored frank lloyd wright hotel was an interesting stay in mc and a sunny paddle on clear lake a nice stress reducer.  on the way home we stopped at the whitewater park in chuck city but the water level was a bit low for long boats.  it makes me want to finally get a playboat and hit the rapids. 

exploring our own neighborhood (iowa) has been enlightening.  there always is so much close to home you never seem to have found before.

bottoms up

"no human being, however great, or powerful, was ever as free as a fish." -- john ruskin, the two paths

last night's pool session was enjoyable teaching basic kayak skills and rescues.  not having had to do self-rescue for years made me wonder if i still could save myself if needed.  a three hour paddle yesterday in moderate winds was a pleasant trip with friends to the west beach and then solo to a warm sun drenched cove beach for a break.  now back to yard work...