Planning Is Almost As Fun

Last night I laid out all of my topographic maps on the floor to study each for the possibility that one… just one of them… included geographic details for the Brule Lake area in the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness Area of Minnesota. Soon it became apparent that most of my wilderness paddling time has been enjoyed in a more westerly direction - outside of the Ely area. Not one of my maps provided details on Brule Lake - more to the east. It was time to visit Crawdaddy Outdoors in Waverly to add another map to my collection.

When I start thinking about a wilderness trip - paddling or backpacking - I tend to find the planning process almost as much fun as the actual investment of muscle energy. Researching, map-reading, and route making are fun for me. Finding and transferring GPS points is a great use of time. I really enjoy the prep portion of a wild adventure.

Planning for a wilderness trip involves a number of important details:

• Access or entry points

• Distances…

How I Must Have Looked

This past Sunday evening I explained how four of us attempted to capture an injured sandhill crane in a wet, cattail-thick swampy area during the dark of night. We were not successful, but agreed to watch for the bird.

Here we are, two days later, and two of us saw the bird today. One of us was smart about their observation. Me… maybe not so much.

Seeing the bird walking with its left wing dangling was troubling. Between the pain of the trauma and likely the infection the bird is exposed to in the mucky conditions, the bird can hardly be comfortable. I want mercy for the bird - either through capture and rehab or timely euthanasia if that is the best option.

As we were going to do the other night (capture), I was hoping to capture the crane today. Consider if you will a person running in an attempt to catch a four and a half foot tall bird that is…

The Limits of Brotherly Love

Due to preventable circumstances I am looking at a third shoulder surgery in the next weeks or so. I had a hunch cutting and slicing might be coming again, but was hoping to not hear those words. When my orthopedic surgeon said them, I became frustrated, angry, and disappointed. That this entire process was preventable irritates me almost beyond limits. That my paddling this spring and summer may be in jeopardy is so very disappointing.

For some time my other brother Darrell and I have been planning a canoe trip to a new lake (to us) in the Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness area. Unless we plan to only hike, paddling canoes will be necessary. Such an activity will be difficult, at best, with my arm in a sling. Knowing I may have serious limitations, I gave Brother Darrell a call to advise him of my situation. Without hesitation Brother Darrell agreed to paddle my sorry carcass in the BWCA if that was needed. What a guy! What a friend! Our trip remained on the calendar and the day started looking up.

As we discussed things, I reminded Brother Darrell that if I was lame, not only…

Nail-biting Action

Several days ago a buddy called to tell me that Segment C of Sweet Marsh - the pool across the road from the dam - had enough water to paddle for an hour or more. Such news made me cautiously excited since Marten’s Lake (Segment B), where I used to paddle on a near-daily basis, is drawn down. Today I checked out the report.

My buddy’s report was accurate. Yes, if I wanted to stay in the channel along the dike, I could paddle for a better part of the afternoon to go from the ramp to Highway 93. What I learned today, on the water, was the paddling was maybe not what I was looking for. Allow me to explain.

Shared Joy

Over the past day and half Kristy and I enjoyed time with both of our kids and their families. We played, we joked, and we just made the best of our time together. What a joy!

Yesterday I took the four oldest grandkids to a park about 4 blocks away. As we walked to the park our almost always happy granddaughter, without any hesitation or prompting, began walking and clicking her heals as we headed to the park. She was completely relaxed, clearly happy, and a treat to spend time with. The three grandsons with me were great fun too as they did young boy conversation while they bounced a basketball down the sidewalk.

Part of the fun of our time together, at least for me, came when I noticed

“Pre” Was Key

As I approached our driveway today I noticed this American kestrel grasping a power line and intently watching my approach. From my experience, kestrels have been skittish at best and almost elusive most times I attempt to photograph them. Since I expected the bird would take fight, and since I was just fine with having a different view (without a power line) of the interesting little bird, I opted to record the kestrel in flight. Choosing that type of image and actually doing it are two different things. I had my work cut out for me.

Before I moved closer to our driveway I executed the three “Pre” steps. I pre-exposed (adding enough exposure compensation to address the lighting conditions without over exposing the bird). I pre-focused in the area where I expected the bird would fly. By using back-button focus and pre-focusing, I did not lose time shooting as the camera searched for sharpness. I then pre-positioned. I made an educated guess on the presumed direction of travel and was correct. When I moved forward ever so slightly, the kestrel followed the anticipated flight path and I recorded my images.

This may sound easier than it was. It worked and I am pleased.

Not Missing Film

Between meetings today I stopped at George Wyth State Park to look around. From my truck I did not expect to see too much at close range, and that was what happened - nothing too close. I won’t complain though since I was treated to several wildlife observations that allowed for more distant imaging.

In the old days of film I would…

Mushrooms Get Me Going

For some the title of today’s post might raise eyebrows. So, before I go any further, allow me to explain what the headline meant.

No, I do not abuse mushrooms for any sort of psychedelic effect. I will enjoy a meal of golden oyster or morel mushrooms and I like mushrooms on pizza, but that is as far as any internal mushroom use goes. For that matter I don’t even know how…

On Perch…Almost

While driving in the northern part of the county on Highway 63, a dark hawk on perch on a fence post caught my attention. By the time I had crossed the rumble strips along the edge of the road, the noises…

Two Pretties, Wildlife in Snow, and Macro Studies

Our weather today qualified as pretty in two ways. The first pretty was that it was pretty cruddy. Wind, snow, wind, rain, ice, and wind - all made for a pretty cruddy day. Still, if you were able to get out and look around, our ordinary landscape did look pretty (the second pretty).

Following is a sampling of pictures from my drive in the pretty cruddy conditions.

“All Were Common”

Where I was at today there was not much activity due to ice forming during the cold overnight hours. Few birds were moving around and of those I did see, all were common.

Think about that…

Maybe Again?
Decades ago my daughter and I had an opportunity to assist with collecting, banding, sexing, and returning young peregrine falcons to their hack box. Since then I have had an interest in the not so common birds.

Today, while at the Great Healing Place to the North, we checked the peregrine falcon camera as we always do. There she was, the female “Hattie” who was…

Now I Know

Already last year, when I saw a new bald eagle nest constructed in our area, I wondered if the original nest about a mile away was still being used. With this nesting season underway and an obvious lack of activity at the first nest (at least from my observations), I thought it might be time to take a look.

Tonight I did a very slow approach toward the nest to take a peek. From high up I could see…

Blessing in Disguise

Last weekend many family and friends of Kristy’s aunt said goodbye. Jolyn’s struggles ended - her pain, her illness, her uncertainty with where her life was going - those unknowns are done. Hard questions were answered with some degree of dignity.

Death is an interesting part of life. Grief and sorrow dominate thoughts. Maybe there are questions or doubting, sometimes anger, sometimes laughs, and plenty of tears. Emotions run the gamut in our minds.

As is common at death, loved ones of the deceased are often inundated with plants. Many times more flowers and plants are shared than there is room after the services. Soon the gifts are shared among those close.

The flowers at a funeral may be a blessing in disguise…

Pretend Dalmatian?

This afternoon Layla and I went for a walk at Alcock Park in Frederika. As we returned to the truck, the tones went off for a field fire only a mile or two away. Knowing the fire departments are often shorthanded, especially during the work day, I drove to the scene and started…

All By Kristy

Something magic is happening in our house!

In the past, live vegetation, greenery, plants had at best a 50/50 chance of survival. Often I think the odds were not in their favor. I can’t explain why, but we just did not…

Where It All Began

Today’s very strong winds were too much for me to go paddling. I can tolerate plenty, but why should I fight the wind gusts we had today? Paddling would not have been fun, so why do it?

Although I did not go out on the water, I did think about it. My mind wandered back to where it all began. Why and when did I start paddling?

I would have to do some serious paperwork digging to know for sure when my first canoe trip in a canoe that I owned occurred. According to my photo database records, the date was as early as October of 1991. That outing would have been in an aluminum canoe - the first I owned - and I still own - on the Wapsipinicon River. How ironic… I learned on the Wapsipinicon River and still find the Wapsie to be my favorite paddling destination.

Since my beginning days on the water I transitioned from canoe…

Seen Today Before the Wind

I saw/photographed these early this morning, before the wind really got wound up. All were at Sweet Marsh, near Tripoli.

Quiet in the Timber

or a few precious minutes today I roamed a timber in search of spring wildflowers. My outing was successful for very early bloomers, but still missing from my search were hepaticas, spring beauties, and anemones. It is still early, so I will be patient.

Blooming in all of its subdued glory were

By Air, By Water - Multitasking

Today was another special day for 2024. Yesterday I put my dock in the river. That meant today I could put my Old Town Pack canoe on the water.

Yes, i could paddle the Pack without the dock in. But, to avoid scuffing it up, I prefer to enter and leave the canoe from the dock. Low water levels can make that challenging, but so far I have not fallen in. More importantly, new scuff marks are not being added to the canoe!

While on the water I added a task to my outing. For some time I have been thinking about photographing paddlers on the water using my drone. Since I was paddling alone, selfie pics were my only option.

I am happy to report my…