My Inukshuk experience

The People of the North used Inukshuk as a directional marker or a milestone.  I am making a milestone decision and am going to create my own Inukshuk on my property.  

The Inuit Inukshuk for additional information.

I'm going Kayaking in Minnesota!

Well, here it is, 31 July 2009, and I'm finally getting ready to drive to Minnesota to kayak near the Canadian Border.  Yes, I'm taking my Passport.   I planned to leave tomorrow, but I need another day and have it as a buffer, so I'm cool.  I'll drive to Tennessee on Sunday afternoon and stay with my son.  Then drive about 9 hours toward northern Minnesota and spend a night in a motel.

I went hunting for a new kayak . . . and ended up not buying one, but I heard from a salesman at Chesapeake Light Craft that Wilderness Systems is considering a 16 foot Pungo (they make a 14 foot one) . . . so I'll be using the Pungo Classic this trip.  It's only 12 feet long, but it tracks well and I'll have it loaded down with nine days worth of food.  Yes, 9 days.

I'm taking a Fishing Rod, getting a MN license for fish (and boat, required in MN for boats over 9 feet), and a fry pan, canola oil, lemon & pepper salt, bread crumbs . . . and probably going to use ramen noodles as my carbohydrate.  I found dried veggies at my grocery store.  Yes, Vegetable Chips!   I'm taking jerky, turkey and ham, two tuna steaks (in case the Walleye don't bite), and a Summer Sausage roll with crackers for lunch.  Lots of drink mixes.  Coffee bags and tea bags.  And Gorp coming out of my mind.  And my EGGS, hard boiled.  String Cheese and Bagels.  I should be eating well.  Probably end up bringing a lot back.  I bought another mug.  It's a 16 ouncer with handle that wraps around mug.

Stove is a canister style.  I hope one canister is enough.  We'll see.  YES, I'm bringing along my mini-Trangia stove which I'll use on those nights I'm not frying up my Walleye.  It uses alcohol and I'll have plenty enough with me.  May use the alcohol stove to heat my tea and coffee.  I'll bring something to drink with my fish . . . decant a bottle of white wine.

Tarp, Ground cloth, Sleeping bag, pad.  And you know how I don't mind sleeping on cement.  I'm using the pad as a defense inside my waterproof backpack to protect the pack.  Clothes . . . shorts and tops and "five fingers" vibram 'shoes' plus my BassPro water shoes, outfit to stop at the hotel with bar.  Thermies, fleece jacket and vest.  My famous "Red Head" rain hat.  My light nylon jacket and my rain anorack.   

I'll be fine . . . weather right now is dipping to just under 50* at night.  And it's raining during the day up in northern Minnesota.  

For some reason, I can't download my photos from my Sony 2 G memory card to Picassa.  SO, I will be going out and buying some Lithium AA batteries for my back up camera.  Thank the good Lord for a back up camera!  

Coming back home, I plan to stop in a few small towns in north central Minnesota.  Itasca to see where the Mississippi starts, Pipestone, and I'm still working on the trip home.  Putting the addresses in the GPS.

I'm car camping up but may stay in a motel.  Haven't located a CG on my route.  Definitely car camping back home.

Photos when I get back.  From my back up camera.

Back in about three weeks.

Dry Suits Are Expensive

I got to thinking about kayaking in the winter or in cold water and thought I might check prices and sizes of dry suits. I just got a jolting education about the actual cost of kayaking in the cold. Some dry suits, custom made, can run into a couple thousand dollars. My head is reeling.

Here are a couple of sites to explore:
Reed Chill Cheater
Palm Online
OS Systems
NRS

Considering that I dislike cold weather, maybe kayaking in cold water and cold weather isn't going to be a goal for me.

I haven't done what I need to in order to clear out my living area to be able to build my baidarka yet. It's still a goal. I'm also looking at building a Chesapeake Light Craft kayak. And I located one for sale, already made, for the cost of the kit. However, I'm not able at the present time to fork over the cash and drive to Florida to pick it up.

I mentioned to my daughter-in-law/love that need to become content with my Pungo original and forgo anything more elaborate right now. Contentment, my grandmother had it, I'm searching for it.

Happy New Year 2009

I came home the other day from visiting family and when I opened the door to my house, I thought . . . "It's as if I'm a brand new person." What is? The fact that as of 1 January 2009, I am DEBT FREE! I carry no unsecured debt into this New Year.

What a feeling of freedom! I could practically fly, I feel so light-hearted.

I looked at my "stuff" differently, too. After I am home "full time" (I'm helping a friend by running her kennel so she can have a vacation), I'm going to attack my house and do some "new year housecleaning."

Life as they say, is very good.

Blog Post Number One: 12 December 2008

What propels you?

That thought just came to me as I looked at a website related to paddling. What propels me? Not in any order, I answer my own question.

Music . . . I’m listening to Trans Siberian Orchestra right now. Wow, beautiful music and a soprano with perfect pitch.

Outdoors . . . hiking, paddling, walking the dogs, scenic viewpoints, car camping.

Sight seeing and Interesting Places . . . as I drive, I think about what the area looked like before we had Interstate Highways. I often think of taking off some time in the near future, driving on US Highways and State Highways and just traveling to see where they go. Like US 1, from Key West, Florida to Ft Kent, Maine. THAT would be a ride. I want to go to the Grand Canyon and to Alaska and to Saskatchewan and to the Black Hills. I want to stop at restaurants with parking lots full of cars and trucks, knowing that the “locals” know the best places to eat. I want to go back to Washington, D.C. to the Smithsonian and Arlington and the Capitol and the White House.

Family . . . I have been blessed with a wonderful family. I have known grandparents into my adult years. My parents are still alive. My brother and his family live in Maryland near our parents. I have two children and they have families of their own. I visit them frequently.

Friends . . . I have some great “gal pals” and some wonderful best friends forever.

My pets . . . Casey the Wonder-Dog, Chester the Cat, and Chloe the Collie-Flower. I can’t imagine life without them. They are sometimes trouble, but I love them just the same. Casey smiles like a clown, Chloe is goofy sometimes, and Chester thinks he’s a dog.

The Computer . . . it often propels me into my own inner-space and psyche as I learn some interesting facts about “me.” I have Fibromyalgia Syndrome, currently responding to medication. I recently researched “hoarding syndrome” and found that it is classed under OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder). Guilty. Really pegs what propelled me for years. I’ve learned a lot and am trying to give less sentimental value to some of the things I’ve been hoarding only because they have had such enormous sentimental value . . . and for no other reason. It’s not as easy as the telling.

I have two web blogs. Click on “view my complete profile” for more about me and my other blog. THIS blog will not become a soapbox for my political views . . . unless directly related to kayaking and kayak building. And I don’t see that happening any time soon if ever.

What propels me for 2009 is getting my house completely cleaned up and ready for me to build a baidarka, a sealskin boat used by Aleuts and southern Alaskan Eskimos. Also spelled bidarka, bidara and bidarkee. This blog will follow my progress in both house cleaning and kayak building with lots of links to kayak makers and kayak making.

So, I begin the great adventure!