U.P. North Life

Time to Take Time!

2011-12-31T10:37:00.000-05:00

"Adopt the pace of nature: her secret is patience".

~Ralph Waldo Emerson

There is time – and that is often the hardest thing for me to acknowledge. There is time today.

Unfortunately, I am often too worried about returning on time, finishing on time, running out of time that

I forget it is time to take time.

Time to walk slower – to match my gait to the leisurely pace of those whose path crosses mine.

To enjoy the sunlight . . .

and the sound of the breeze rustling through the trees.

When it appears there is no more time,

that I have only a few days and then only a few hours,

and finally only a few minutes –

I need to remember there is still time.

There is always enough time if I remember that the time is now.

“Half our life is spent trying to find something to do with the time we have rushed through life trying to save.” - Will Rogers

Smooth Sledding . . . !

2011-12-27T09:30:00.000-05:00

Eyes wide with fright. Tears frozen on your cheeks. Fingers encased in woolen mitts frantically grasping at anything within reach – rungs, ropes or the friend your legs are precariously wrapped around.

You race at breakneck speed down the snow covered slope. The rush of frosty winter air whooshes past. Your screams are muffled by the scarf bound tightly round your neck and mouth. You are as close to flying as you can get. You are invincible as you plummet down the hill.

Tumbling off in a flurry of jumbled body parts you whoop and laugh all the way back to the top for one more amazing run.

You are . . .

SLEDDING!

Snow, snow, come on, snow!

2011-12-13T10:47:00.002-05:00

Here it is, ladies and gentlemen!

The original “Heikki Lunta Snow Dance Song!”

Now I’ll sing my song
To make the snow come down
And I’ll do my snow dance
Whoops! I almost lost my pants
I’ll holler and yell,
And really give it h#ll!

It’s Heikki’s snow dance song,
Heikki’s snow dance song

We gotta have some snow by the 4th of December
“Heikki Lunta, make it snow!”
say all the Range Club members
The races are only three weeks away
And if I don’t make it snow,
I’ll go back to making hay

It’s Heikki Lunta’s snow dance song,
Heikki Lunta’s snow dance song.

Snow, snow, snow!

Now I’ll dance some more,
And I’ll really know the score
How to make it snow,
Come on, man, go, go, go!

Don’t even slow down
till the snow starts falling down

It’s Heikki Lunta’s snow dance song,
Heikki Lunta’s snow dance song.

Snow, snow, come on, snow!

"The Heikki Lunta Snow Dance Song" Written by David Riutta

(P) 1970 WMPL Radio

Hancock, Michigan

And now for Da Yoopers Heikki Lunta
Snow Dance Song!

(Just want to make sure
all our bases are covered!)

A Thanksgiving Day Prayer . . .

2011-11-23T23:03:00.000-05:00

We return thanks to our mother, the earth, which sustains us.
We return thanks to the rivers and streams,which supply us with water.

We return thanks to all herbs,
which furnish medicines for the cure of our diseases.

We return thanks to the corn,
and to her sisters, the beans and squash, which give us life.

We return thanks to the bushes and trees, which provide us with fruit.

We return thanks to the wind,
which, moving the air, has banished diseases.

We return thanks to the moon and the stars,
which have given us their light when the sun was gone.

We return thanks to our grandfather He-no,
that he has protected his grandchildren from witches and reptiles,
and has given to us his rain.

We return thanks to the sun,
that he has looked upon the earth with a beneficent eye.

Lastly, we return thanks to the Great Spirit,
in whom is embodied all goodness,
and who directs all things for the good of his children.

~Iroquois Prayer from the 1800's

Twas the Night Before Deer Season . . .

2011-11-15T00:11:00.000-05:00

Twas the night before deer season, when all through the house
Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse.
The bowstrings where waxed and in their cases with care,
In hopes that deer season would soon be there.

The young hunters where nestled in their beds,
While visions of Big Bucks and Does danced in their heads.
And mamma in her ‘kerchief, all angry at dad,
Because of the time spent preparing his bag.

When morning came round, coffee so warm,
The hunters where wondering “Is it going to storm?”
Watching their videos getting all pumped,
Making sure their guts unload by taking a dump.

Getting in their camouflage, and all the hunting stuff,
Firing up their Scent Smokers and watching them puff.
Load up in the vehicles and off to the woods,
Hoping they remembered everything they should.

Arriving at the hunting grounds feeling like Christmas morning,
Hoping they give their prey no fair warning.
Some walking to stands and some to their blinds,
Can’t wait to leave all their worries behind.

As day slowly turns from the night,
The birds start to wake and begin to take flight.
They sing their songs that have sounds of beauty,
While the hunters are finishing their duty.

Waiting and watching anything that moves,
The hunters are slowly sliding into their groove.
Some will find success, and some will get skunked
To most it does not matter if they get punked.

The smell of autumn and the changing of leaves,
This is why a hunter lives and breathes.
For on the opening day of deer season,
To be in the woods is life’s reason!

Good luck to all who are venturing into the woods this season

God Bless and Be Safe!

Live LOCAL! Shop LOCAL! Support LOCAL!

2011-10-16T09:05:00.000-04:00

THINK!

Your local businesses give back more to the community.
More of your dollars stay in the community.
More jobs stay in the community.

Shop:

You can find anything you need locally.
You develop relationships locally.
You can find affordable prices in our community.

Buy:

For every $1 spent at local businesses, 45¢ is reinvested locally. Non-local purchases keep, at most, 15¢ in your local community.
Local businesses value, respect and appreciate your patronage.

More tax dollars go to schools and roads in your community.

Local:

Join the movement! Take the pledge to show your support: "I pledge to THINK first of my local economy, SHOP first at my local businesses, and BUY first from local companies who give back so much, in so many ways, to my community."

Holly Daze has one focus - to inspire you to do your holiday shopping locally by making it easy for you to find fabulous holiday gifts right here on the Island. Supporting local entrepreneurs as well as local artisans in the process.

Shopping locally is truly one of the best gifts you will give this holiday season - to yourself and to your neighbors. It will help connect you to the joy of the season found during Holly Daze when our businesses are decked out in their finery, and person-to-person, human good cheer abounds.

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does. ~William James

DRUMMOND ISLAND HOLLY DAZE

NOVEMBER 5, 2011

10AM - 4PM

Delicious Autumn!

2011-09-27T10:48:00.000-04:00

That smell.

It fills you with the tang of being up north in the fall.

It is earth and decomposition and sunshine and pureness in leaf shapes.

Golden yellows, soft roasted-looking reds, flaky brown ones, orange ones speckled with bits of brightness.

Bringing a handful to my face I close my eyes and see back to the trails I used to make in the yard as a child. Raked labyrinths leading nowhere and everywhere.

Inhaling I feel a shock of chilled air in my lungs. Exhaling I hear geese in the sky.

It is one of those perfect autumnal days which occur more frequently in memory than in life.

NOTE: DRUMMOND ISLAND FALL ON THE ISLAND FESTIVAL:

Every autumn, nature puts on a brilliant show of color on Drummond Island. From bight yellows to vibrant reds, the leaves transform the landscape,

showing off their rich and intense hues.

Every year people flock here to take in the fall foliage,

to catch a glimpse of nature's splendor.

Now they come not only for the colors - they come for the Festival too!

To learn more go to the official Festival website:

www.drummondislandfallfestival.com

The Fourth Day . . .

2011-08-25T10:01:00.010-04:00

The Great Circumnavigation Adventure!

With each sunrise we start anew!

Day four finds us rising to a beautiful sunrise and fog floating across the water, blocking even the Lighthouse from our view. We discuss the possibility of heading out using the emergency strobe lights I brought along for both of us - "just in case".

Just as we are discussing Plan B, the sun burns the fog off the lake and we are able to shove off.

With a stiff wind out of the west, southwest we decide to play! Heading out into the big water we are able to ride the waves all the way to the south shore of Espanore Island.

But kayaker BEWARE! Very few of Drummond's satellite islands are State owned. The majority - including Espanore - are privately owned. Meaning not accessible. Period.

And let's face it - would you want someone camping out in your front yard? I think not! So please, do be mindful of the rights of private property owners when exploring not only the waterways of Drummond Island, but Drummond itself.

We head back out into the big water and ride the waves once more to Gravel Island on the outskirts of Huron Bay. Ducking into a tiny bay we beach our kayaks on State owned land.

According to our original plan, this was to be the location for Camp #5. A full two days ahead of schedule due to amazing weather and winds we discover we can see our launch site off in the distance from here!

We are now faced with the toughest decision of our journey. Set-up camp or ride the winds home?

We opt for an extended break to enjoy the sun, scenery and serenity of this inlet just west of Warners Cove.

Lunch, exploring and making sure we continue to *Leave No Trace* fill our time on this beautiful, rocky shoreline.

With the wind and waves still calling we shove off and paddle out into the big water south of Traverse Point. If we go off shore far enough we know we can ride the surf all the way home.

Back at square one it is difficult to comprehend that we did it. That we circumnavigated the entire island. That we did it two full days ahead of schedule BUT never felt rushed. Never felt as though we were in a competition trying to prove our mettle.

The statistics:
Total time on the water paddling: 23 hours 35 minutes 03 seconds
Total time spent on voyage: 79 hours (3.5 days)
Total distance covered: 51 miles
Total time spent grinning ear-to-ear: On-going!

There is no rushing when paddling.

When you paddle you go at the pace of the water and that pace ties you into a flow that is older than life itself on this planet.

Acceptance of that pace, even for a day, changes us, reminds us of other rhythms beyond the sound of our own heartbeats.

- Candis L. Collick

The Reward . . .

2011-08-24T08:46:00.003-04:00

The Great Circumnavigation Adventure!

OMG! Who knew we were playing a Reward Challenge today!?

If you watch "Survivor" you know exactly what I am talking about. If you don't just know that my reference comes from the long running reality show called "Survivor". In Reward Challenges, the contestants compete for luxuries that are not essential for survival but make their lives easier and/or more enjoyable. Examples of rewards have included food, flint, matches, rain gear, and even short trips away from camp.

Our *reward* came in the form of a very unexpected, very exciting visit from Sturgeon Bay Charters Capt. Meade Gable -sent on a mission by David and Paula Bardsley of the DeTour Reef Lighthouse Preservation Society.

His task? To locate our camp, pick us up and whisk us off to the Light for our reward - which was to include a private tour, use of the modern *facilities* and a glass of wine to be sipped leisurely at the top of this impressive beacon.

To say we were GEEKED would be an understatement!

Not only were we treated to an amazing ride out to the Light BUT Capt. Meade had a cell phone fully charged and I was able to share this experience with my husband Barry! A conversation that did not have to be limited in its length for battery conservation. That, in and of itself, was a HUGE reward for me.

If you have never been to the Light PLEASE put it on your shortlist of *Must Dos*. Each time I go out I am overwhelmed. Majestically rising above the waters of the Saint Mary's the Light is an architectual wonder.

My previous trips have all been as a volunteer - either cleaning or serving cookies to visitors. Today we are the visitors being treated. Do you see the grin on my face that I can't wipe off?!

Rising 83' above water with its 63' tall Classic-Revival-style architecture, this Lighthouse has been a fixture in Michigan's Upper Peninsula since 1931. In January 1998, civic leaders from DeTour Village and Drummond Island, Michigan, met to form the DeTour Reef Light Preservation Society (DRLPS), a non-profit volunteer (501C3) organization. In 2003-2004 the Society restored the Light to its 1931 appearance and now offer day tours along with weekend stays.

We sip our wine. Goof for pictures - "Where have your Keens been"? And marvel at the Light in its present restored state. All too soon our reward comes to a close.

And we head back to our campsite - restored, renewed and REWARDED!

Back at camp I relax in my jammies on the beach to reflect on the events of the day. Settling in for the evening. Settling down from the events of the day.

"Happiness is excitement that has

found a settling down place.

But there is always a little corner that

keeps flapping around".

~E.L. Konigsburg

Want to learn more about the DeTour Reef Lighthouse?

Simply go to their website found at http://www.drlps.com/

The Third Day . . .

2011-08-23T10:13:00.018-04:00

The Great Circumnavigation Adventure!

Red sky at night, sailor's delight.
Red sky at morning, sailor take warning!

The common phrase "Red sky at morning" is a line from an ancient rhyme often repeated by seamen. The rhyme is a rule of thumb for weather forecasting, dating back over 2,000 years, based on the reddish glow of the morning or evening sky, caused by haze or clouds related to storms in the region.

We woke to the most the most amazingly beautiful red sky the morning of the 17th. We didn't need to hear the official forecast to know we were going to be in for a wee bit of a rough paddle in our attempt to get from Mare Island back to the Drummond shoreline.

We prepared a hearty breakfast, stacked rocks to form a cairn - letting others know there was *safe passage* in this location - and shoved off into gusting winds and waves cresting at 1 to 2 feet. Our first destination - Bow Island.

This was our toughest paddle of the trip - complicated by my "stupid" left arm deciding to show its true colors. Lupus is an insidious disease, attacking tissues randomly. Two years ago the large head of my left bicep unexplainably deteriorated rapidly. The diagnosis - inoperable, unrepairable damage. A completely severed tendon. Physical therapy has taught me to compensate for this injury by relying on the delt muscles in that arm. But the cold and hard paddle of the morning meant a left arm that was simply "angry".

Making Bow gave me time to work through the pain while exploring the Island's shoreline. There is a Geocache located here and hunting it helped me get mentally/physically prepared for our next leg of the trip - Bow Island to Dix Point.

With the storm clouds gathering we head to Dix and a chance to refit spray skirts, make sure everything is carabinered to our kayaks and prepare for the rain that is starting to fall. Our run through the DeTour Passage not only means plying the cresting waves brought by the storm but also rolling with freighter wakes as we cross into their territory. We are in for a fun ride!

Adventure is nothing more than bad planning. Despite all my planning there were two things I completely overlooked - checking the condition of my 6 year old rudder cables and packing a repair kit. Heading into the Passage my right rudder cable heaved a huge sigh and resigned its position as co-stabilizer against the wind and waves.

I head to shore, beach on private property - thank you whoever looked out and saw me attempting to rectify this inconvenience! With no tools aboard to make the necessary repair I make the decision to tie the rudder up and head back out. I will be paddling a *canoe* for the rest of our voyage!

Bright, shining rays of hope come in many forms. Today they took the form of Paul Strom standing on the ferry dock snapping photos as we approached. There was no time to stop and chit-chat BUT it was comforting to know he could get a message to my granddaughter letting her know we were spotted and safe. Just knowing my husband, Barry, would be reassured by Meagan meant the world to me at that moment. Thank you Paul.

The worst of the storm passes and we head to Barbed Point. It is 1:45pm and we are still one day ahead of schedule. We decide to call it a day.

We spread our gear out to dry, set-up camp and pump much needed water for our lunch/dinner.

Cooking potato soup, watching the freighters float by and recounting our day's adventures we have NO idea of the treat that is in store. It will be an OMG! sort of afternoon!

"When you come to the end of your rope,

tie a knot and hang on"

~Franklin D. Roosevelt

The Second Day . . .

2011-08-22T09:53:00.018-04:00

The Great Circumnavigation Adventure!

"The grand show is eternal. It is always sunrise somewhere; the dew is never dried all at once; a shower is forever falling; vapor is ever rising. Eternal sunrise, eternal dawn and gloaming, on sea and continents and islands, each in its turn, as the round earth rolls".

- John Muir

We wake to the most amazing sunrise and begin what would become a daily morning routine. Boil water, start breakfast, drink coffee, and leisurely go about our morning hygiene regimen. Each of us caught up in our own thoughts breaking the shared silence only to express the obvious - words like "stunning", "amazing", "blessed" and "content" punctuating our comments.

There is no need or desire to rush. A lone Loon floats by, her haunting call completing the scene.

Loons are unique and beautiful birds, yet sometimes they are tricky to identify. They hold their bodies lower in the water than most ducks, but one group of ducks—mergansers—swim low and are even shaped like loons. Cormorants also have a similar profile in the water - we often mistook nasty Cormorants for Loons on our voyage until right on top of them.

After making sure we had left *No Trace* we headed out, plotting a course close to the shore and heading north, northwest towards Fossil Ledges open to any and all possibilites for the day.

We were both surprised to discover the *Ledges* actually start miles before the State identified *Fossil Ledges* and dominate the shoreline, rising from dramatic drop offs easily visible from our low riding cockpits. The feeling of floating in mid-air was hard to dismiss and we purposely paddled the grey area between ledge and drop-off until reaching the official *Ledges*.

Our original plan called for making the Ledges our second campsite of the voyage. But the weather and wind have combined to bring us here just in time for lunch on our second day. We beach our kayaks, break out our lunch, wander the shoreline and SWIM! The water has never been warmer thanks to unusually high temps for most of the summer.

There is even time to goof for a portrait photo shoot!

Not wanting to waste such awesome paddling conditions we make the decision to continue further west. Thinking we will camp on State owned land in the area of Chippewa Point we set out to enjoy the sun and calm waters.

As we close on the Point we are greeted by an omen in the sky. My name clearly written out by the clouds. You can just make out the *C-a-n* here - we sat watching these fluffy alphabet letters float by without thinking to photograph them until they had almost disappeared! Coincidence or blessing from my father? My eyes stuing with tears and we decide to take a break on a small shoal to regroup.

Again we decide to travel further than planned. Who could resist the call of the water under these conditions?!

On entering Potagannissing Bay we find ourselves back in the hustle and bustle of boating society. The traffic coming and going to the North Channel is fierce on such a beautiful day. We are quickly and rudely awaken to the fact that not all vessel captains understand or honor the pecking order in the *Overtaken Vessel* rule as a southbound trawler not only cuts us off - threatening to swamp our cockpits - BUT sounds its horn and greets us with a single-finger wave as they pass under full throttle. WHOA!

We decide, after this experience, to get as far away from other humans as possible and push on to Mare Island.

We set up camp and enjoy appetizers while sitting on rocks in our tiny cove. Triscuits, cheese and wine have never tasted so good!

Later that night we sat and watched our campfire until each separate, dying ember wrought its ghost upon the island floor. The perfect end to a perfect day.

The First Day . . .

2011-08-21T11:05:00.040-04:00

The Great Circumnavigation Adventure!

“I travel not to go anywhere, but to go. I travel for travel’s sake. The great affair is to move.”

- Robert Stevenson

Traveling counterclockwise around the Island our first stop for lunch found us just southwest of Bass Cove in a tiny State owned bay. Here we regrouped, enjoyed a wee bit to eat and shared a good laugh over crossing into Canadian waters.

With full bellies we paddled along the shore heading to Shale Beach.

Located on the eastern shore the beach is very wide and about 2 miles in length. Paddling up to it the shoreline has a feel of rolling sand dunes made up of small pure white rounded shale stones. The water is crystal clear and you can easily view the floor of the lake where it immediately drops off to 60 feet just out from the water's edge.

Too beautiful to resist! We beach our kayaks and spend some time wandering.

I leave my heart on Shale Beach and we shove off, paddling along the shore with slow, steady strokes.

From this vantage point, Marble Head is nothing more than a rock outcropping high above us. Tucked into the trees of the shoreline we can't make it out from any of the other ledges lining this section of Drummond coastline.

But there is no mistaking Pilot Cove! The Cove has a landscape befitting of a postcard. It curls tightly and forms a brilliant blue water lagoon with a rocky beach and pine forest. The loons call at night and the deer invade the shoreline as the sun sets. I can’t imagine a prettier setting in all the Great Lakes. We paddle in and take a swim!

With all Pilot Cove has to offer why didn't we stay for the night? CARNIVOROUS BLACK FLIES! While mosquitoes might drill for lunch these black flies were strip mining for it! My botanical bug dope was simply a lure, enticing them in. Nella's DEET proved to have no effect what so ever. So without even toweling off we shoved off!

Pointing our kayaks northeast to a small strip of State owned land above Glen Cove.

Once beached we set-up camp, have a much needed hot meal and reflected on the events of our first day.

I am truly the MOST content woman in the world!

The Error . . .

2011-08-20T10:13:00.013-04:00

The Great Circumnavigation Adventure!

"I may not have gone where I intended to go, but I think I have ended up where I needed to be."

- Douglas Adams

If one sets out to navigate the waters surrounding Drummond you should always be mindful of the fact that perspective changes and what is familiar from land is not always so clearly recognized from the cockpit of a low riding kayak.

There are no excuses for what happened. And despite what others may think, I feel the events of the past 24 hours played a part in the scene that played out on the first leg of our voyage.

The stage had been set and our destiny sealed. We paddled to Canada. It was meant to be. The sirens of Wheeler Reef called and we didn't resist. They laid in wait singing song for song.

And we paddled on!

It was the first gust of the day that startled me awake. Had me call out to Nella that we were in the open waters of False DeTour Passage and closing fast on Wheeler Reef and Kichener Island!

No big deal! Really. To fear is one thing. To let fear grab you by the tail and swing you around is another. We simply regrouped and headed back towards Drummond and a point just north of Bass Cove.

Our adventure had begun!

The Launch . . .

2011-08-19T21:52:00.009-04:00

The Great Circumnavigation Adventure!

"Don't ask yourself what the world needs; ask yourself what makes you come alive. And then go and do that. Because what the world needs is people who have come alive."

- Howard Thurman

After all the planning, after all the conversations, after all the good-byes the only thing left to do was to shove off. And so we did. Into the bright sun and the clear, calm waters off Scammon Point.

Our plan was to navigate counterclockwise around the Island, stopping as the urge or need arose. Hoping to make our planned campsites along the way while there was still enough natural light to pitch a tent, cook a meal and enjoy the sunset.

They say adventure is nothing more than bad planning, and even though I had carefully plotted and laid out our intended itinerary great weather and bad planning lead to adventures we had never expected and thoroughly enjoyed!

It all started when I realized I had attached my map to the deck bag UPSIDE DOWN!

The Dedication . . .

2011-08-19T11:19:00.010-04:00

The Great Circumnavigation Adventure!

My Great Circumnavigation Adventure was dedicated to my father - who passed away the night before our launch @ 11:30PM. A strong, independent outdoorsman with a zest for life that he shared with all who knew him. His spirit was there with each paddle and at times I could hear him quoting lines from The Song of Hiawatha - one of his favorites.

In loving memory of my father

Lowell Wheeler Wilds

November 18, 1932 - August 14, 2011

The Song of Hiawatha by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

By the shores of Gitche Gumee,

By the shining Big-Sea-Water,

Stood the wigwam of Nokomis,

Daughter of the Moon, Nokomis.

Dark behind it rose the forest,

Rose the black and gloomy pine-trees,

Rose the firs with cones upon them;

Bright before it beat the water,

Beat the clear and sunny water,

Beat the shining Big-Sea-Water.

He didn't tell me how to live; he lived, and let me watch him do it. His love for life, his strong work ethic and his faith will live on through his children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. We are all stronger for having had him as our role model. Love you Dad!

The Plan . . .

2011-08-14T10:05:00.016-04:00

The Great Circumnavigation Adventure!

Plan your paddle. Paddle your Plan!

Friends have asked me to provide my paddle plan. I don't tend to write in list format unless I am making a list but I think in order to get through all the questions that have been asked this is the approach I will start with . . . who knows where I will end up!

Gear:

Barry and I are *gear freaks* and have spent our lives together adventuring. Plus we run an online outdoor adventure store. What we didn't have I borrowed from my oldest son or bought just for this trip. Space is an issue and so some of my camping gear wasn't suited for this voyage.

Purchases included a small Pelican case that I outfitted with an updated First Aid Kit, including a compact pill organizer for my daily chemo meds.

Another addition was a Voltaic Fuse Solar Charger for recharging my iPhone each night. No I am not intending to call or text all day, every day. The iPhone is being used for running my GPS tracking system. It will also be used for two daily text messages to my granddaughter relaying my location.

Because I need to limit iPhone usage to only those two activities I needed a camera I could rely on for photo journaling. My wonderful husband, Barry, bought me an early present for the trip. The Panasonic Lumix. Waterproof to 33 feet, dustproof, shockproof against a drop of up to 6 feet, and freezeproof down to -10°C. No more fuzzy iPhone photos! Love you Bear!

With the wind playing a HUGE factor in the success of this adventure I also purchased a Harmony Gripper Elite Spray Skirt. No point in getting soaked and/or swamped if I can avoid it! The skirt has proved to be a bonus and a negative. Bonus - I stay dry in wet weather. Negative - it eliminates the possibly of Chloe' riding along AND seriously restricts my movement in Solo Paddle Recovery maneuvers because of the built-in *hoop* system for greater leg room.

What am I paddling?

A Calypso 12. Designed specifically for women, with a lighter weight and lower cockpit walls. For full-day or overnight tours on calm water, or with a spary skirt on whitecaps. Sold by LLBean. Mine has the optional rudder system. I added a SeaLine Baja deck bag (borrowed) for additional storage.

Safety Gear:

PFD, Throw rope, Strobe beacon, air horn, whistle, iPhone WITH two extra external batteries, hand-held marine radio, flashlight, glow sticks, flare gun w/eight flares, Leatherman, folding saw, matches, lighter, compass, laminated maps, water purifier, duct tape, extra carabiners, First Aid Kit, sunblock. Lots of sunblock!

Safety Plan:

Plan your paddle and paddle your plan! When in doubt - head to shore!

Meals:

Dehydrated all the way! Space on a 12 foot kayak with only one dry well is a HUGE consideration. I have enough Enertia Trail Foods for 7 days (we expect the trip to last 5 to 6 days - it doesn't hurt to be over-prepared!). I will be cooking them via a JetBoil stove. Water will be supplied via a MSR Expedition Water Treatment system.

Health Concerns:

I had my monthly injections just before heading up here along with blood work to have a baseline for my doctor's to refer to. Based on those results I was given a *good to go* send off from every member of my team.

I take daily chemo drugs and have filled my 7-day organizer. I have an *emergency med* that I take if I feel a flare coming on. Trust me - I know the signs by now - and I have packed enough to handle any situation. Epi-pens and benadryl are also packed. As is an emergency supply of Altraban (a potent Rx antibiotic) and 7 Flextor patches for pain relief at night after a long day of paddling.

Advice:

I have relied heavily on the advice of my oldest son, Aaron. He is an international rep for Marmot, Keen, JetBoil, Camelbak and Vasque. He knows the gear world inside and out. And is also a very experienced kayaker. I have nothing but respect for his opinion(s). He has let me know that this adventure is more than do-able - even solo if need be. But also cautioned me to not do anything stupid!

Barry wishes he was going with me - first for the adventure! Second because he worries so. I have had many close calls over the years and he never takes a single day for granted that we are able to spend together. We have shared my plan and practice adventures daily. He is the stable, logical one in this marriage and told me to have fun BUT don't drown on him!

I have also sought the advice of Jay Bouwkamp - a dear friend who has completed this trip in a canoe. He had some harrowing experiences and I learned a lot about what not to do.

I can't thank Gerry & Betty Bailey enough for all the information they have shared. Gerry painstakingly plotted distances on a map for me, while Betty marked out all the remote State owned lands where a kayaker can easily beach to set-up camp. They also provided me with the Camp Registration Cards required by the DNR for camping on State owned lands.

LAUNCH DATE:

Really!

Final Thoughts:
I have learned that the richness of life is found in adventure. It develops self-reliance and independence. One's life then teems with excitement. There is stagnation only in security. In relying too heavily on one's comfort zone.

The Idea . . .

2011-08-13T18:53:00.008-04:00

The Great Circumnavigation Adventure!

Why?

Like so many advetures the idea rose spontaneously from being casually mentioned during a conversation over drinks with friends at Chuck's Place.

It quickly took on a life of its own.

Why set this particular goal? There is so much I have given up. So much I use to do I am not able to do now. I am a former adrenaline junkie who still needs a fix now and then. The doses are much smaller and they have to last me much longer. But once an addict, always an addict.

I have no fears about the trip. Not now anyway. And I don't think there will be along the way. You block your dreams when you allow your fears to grow bigger than your faith.

What do I fear? I fear sitting back and watching the world pass me by. I fear not feeling my heart beat. I don't fear dying. I fear being alive and not living.

This Great Circumnavigation Adventure is just another way to prove to myself that I am still alive. That I am still living!

"Life is either a great adventure or nothing".

~Helen Keller

A Sense of Wonder . . .

2011-05-09T10:00:00.000-04:00

A child’s world is fresh and new and beautiful, full of wonder and excitement. It is our misfortune, that as adults, most of us have lost this true instinct for what is beautiful and awe-inspiring.

“If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder,” Rachael Carson wrote, “he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy excitement and mystery of the world we live in.”

I was blessed to have the companionship of my Great-grandfather and later, after his death, the encouragement of my Great-grandmother to continue poking around on my own. It is this indestructible sense of wonder, this unfailing love of woods and water inherited from my Great-grandparents that has often sustained me in adulthood.

And it is this same inborn sense of wonder I hope to help my grandchildren keep alive. A sense of the beautiful, the excitement of the new and unknown, exploring nature by becoming receptive to what lies all around them, inspired by long lazy meanderings through the woods and along the waterways of Drummond Island.

“This I believe: That the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world." - John Steinbeck

Photos taken during a recent Great Adventure with Grandma on Drummond Island.

The children are my beautiful/handsome grandkids - Riley, Connor and Savannah.

Drummond in the Spring

2011-04-19T12:44:00.003-04:00

Family traditions counter alienation and confusion. They help us define who we are; they provide something steady, reliable and safe in a confusing world.

The following poem was written by my granddaughter, Madison Rain Baker, in response to an English class assignment this spring. My heart sang when I read it for the first time. Who knew our family traditions - centered around time spent on Drummond - would have such an impact? Strong enough that a young, gregarious teenager would feel compelled to capture those feelings in prose?

Drummond in Spring

Drummond Island is a friendly place.

Filled with different people

and different race.

Trees line the road like a trophy case.

Every day you meet a new face.

Surrounded by a big blue lake,

Sometimes I sit on the shore when there's too much to take.

We pull into the cabin and see the familiar image of the tan cabin with a green door.

Last time I left here I didn't want to go and I wanted more.

After we unpack we head down to the boat,

The red chipped paint sets a float.

We all sit down prepared for the cold sting

As our ears begin to ring.

This is Drummond Island in the spring

When the birds come out ready to sing.

by Madison Rain Baker

Change . . .

2011-01-26T23:11:00.007-05:00

*Written 4 years ago when Chloe' first stormed into my life . . .

Nothing is certain except change itself.

Sometimes change comes on four legs . . .

John Steinbeck once wrote that it is the nature of humans to complain about change. Change has a considerable psychological impact on the human mind. To the fearful it is threatening because it means that things may get worse. To the hopeful it is encouraging because things may get better. To the confident it is inspiring because the challenge exists to make things better. We all have big changes in our lives that are more or less a second chance.

Chloe’ wasn’t what I was looking for that day last August. I wasn’t even sure I was doing the right thing – looking for a puppy so soon after Katie’s passing. But there she was – bounding down the dry, dusty gravel hill on a farm outside of Kalamazoo. Her bright blue eyes full of piss and vinegar. Her round body barely keeping up with her chubby legs as clouds of dust rose up around her. She sprang onto my leg and into my heart in one full swoop – I never knew what hit me!

I had just gotten out of the hospital and was looking at a long, up-hill climb to regain my health and my life. The last thing I needed – everyone close to me advised – was a puppy. But I wanted – needed – my life to change. And it certainly did. Chloe’ landed in the middle of my struggle for normalcy like a heat-seeking missile.

Chloe’ is instinctive and dominant, in the way of all well-bred border collies – and explosive. You don’t simply coexist with her – as you can with most dogs – you have to react to her. Like all border collies, she needs work – and like it or not she will invent her own work if not given something productive to do. She somehow knows what annoys me the most and commences to have at it if left alone too long. Eating my zucchini plants is a current favorite “job”.

I have been around dogs enough to know that the problem with dogs is almost always the people who own them. Chloe’ and I are both impulsive, impatient, distractible, and restless. We are also both redheads of Scottish descent. Need I say more?

Recognizing early on that I needed help with Chloe’ – a far greater challenge than I had ever imagined – I started reading books. Books on training, books on border collie history, books on trick learning, books on recognizing “calming signals”. Our coffee table is piled high with dog books.

And then there are the classes. Puppy Head-Start was my very first introduction to the world of the American Kennel Association and its members. Dog People – but a totally different bred of dog people. These are not “pet dog” people. These are serious dog people. I have been told by more than one trainer that I don’t always take my “work” as a handler serious enough (Just when did I transition from being a dog lover to being a dog handler????).

At 11 months Chloe’ is well on her way to becoming a champion Agility Dog. At 52 years I am wise enough to know that I may be the only thing that stands in her way. But I am also confident because the challenge exists to make things better for both of us. I have had other big changes in my life that were more or less second chances – this time change just happened to arrive on four legs.

*Epilogue: We have survived each other! And I have learned so much more than I have taught.

Dogs may not be our whole lives. But they make our lives whole.

- Roger Caras

Snowstorms are a Good Thing!

2011-01-04T00:33:00.002-05:00

Wishing for MORE snow!

Life can be real with a snowmobile

There ain't no deal like a snowmobile

Footnote: For those of you not familiar with Stompin' Tom - he is most likely Canada's most prolific and well-known folk singer.

He was born Charles Thomas Connors (known as Tommy Messer) in Saint John, New Brunswick to the teenaged Isabel Connors and her boyfriend Thomas Sullivan. He was a cousin of New Brunswick fiddling sensation, Ned Landry. He spent a short time living with his mother in a low-security women's penitentiary before he was seized by Children's Aid Society and was later adopted by the Aylward family in Skinners Pond, Prince Edward Island.

At the age of 13 he left his adoptive family to hitchhike across Canada, a journey that consumed the next 13 years of his life as he travelled between various part-time jobs while writing songs on his guitar. At his last stop in Timmins, Ontario, which may also have been his big "break", he found himself a nickel short of a beer at the city's Maple Leaf Hotel. The bartender, Gaet Lepine, agreed to give Tom a beer if he would play a few songs. These few songs turned into a 13-month contract to play at the hotel, a weekly spot on the CKGB radio station in Timmins, eight 45-RPM recordings, and the end of the beginning for Tom Connors.

Be Safe Out There!

2010-12-17T10:04:00.001-05:00

There probably is no such thing as “safe” ice, but there are some guidelines anglers and snowmobilers should consider. In Northern Michigan, ice conditions can vary from lake to lake, bay to bay, pond to pond and river to river.

Before going onto a frozen lake, pond or river, it's important to take safety precautions to reduce the risk of falling through the ice. Remember you take a risk any time you go onto the ice. Anglers should always decide for themselves if it is safe to go out and walk on or drive a snowmobile on ice.

Knowing how to judge ice conditions will help you make more informed decisions while enjoying your outing. Ice thickness depends on several factors with the first and most obvious factor being location. The type of *water* also affects ice thickness; a shallow lake will freeze faster than a deep lake. Look for clear blue ice. New ice is stronger than old ice. Ice thickness is not consistent. Beware of ice around partially submerged objects such as trees, brush, embankments or structures. Ice will not form as quickly where water is shallow or where objects may absorb sunlight.

When ice fishing, it is always a good idea to drill test holes or use an ice chisel as you venture onto a lake to help judge the thickness and character of the ice. These “Test” holes should be at no more than 30 foot intervals.

You should also have a safety kit specific to ice fishing whenever you go. The items on this list will help prevent someone or something from falling through the ice. If you or someone else should fall through the ice, know how to use these tools to perform a self-rescue or assist in a rescue. The safety kit should include the following:

* Ice chisel or auger to check the ice thickness.

*Always carry ice picks or set of screw‐drivers that will float and are securely connected together with a piece nylon cord 24 to 30 inches in length. These picks should be carried allowing for quick and easy access so you can pull yourself out of the water and back onto the ice. “Pick‐of‐Life” ® is a product which is commercially available.

*50 feet of nylon rope with a large loop tied to each end.

*Wool blanket.

*Thermos of HOT liquids.

*A cell phone or portable CB to call for assistance.

Other considerations for a safe trip include:

The use of crampons, or cleats, for walking on ice are always a good idea in Northern Michigan. With the state’s powdery snow and wind, there is often no snow cover on ice. Blowing wind and snow actually polish ice to a glassy, slippery surface.

Attaching a long cord to sleds should make them easier to pull, and if someone falls through the ice, anglers can push their sled to them while holding onto the line.

Anglers should carry two picks—or spikes protruding from wooden hand holds—that will float and are securely connected together with a piece nylon cord 24 to 30 inches in length. These picks should be carried allowing for quick and easy access in case anglers need to pull their way out if they fall through the ice.

Ice fishermen should carry a portable flotation cushion. The cushion will add to their seating comfort and give them something to throw should someone fall through ice.

Anglers should keep their augers covered because the blades are sharp, and can easily cut them, their children or their dogs.

Ice fishermen should spray vegetable oil on their auger and snowshoes. That way, snow won't stick and anglers won't cut themselves cleaning off the snow.

Beware of ice covered with snow. Snow acts much like a blanket, insulating thin ice and preventing the formation of clear, blue ice. Snow can also hide cracked, weak and open water. Daily changes in temperature cause ice to expand and contract, creating cracks and possibly pressure ridges which can affect ice strength. Extreme caution should be exercised when approaching a pressure ridge. Ice may be unstable up to 20 feet from the ridge itself.Stay away from cracks, pressure ridges, slushy or darker areas that signify thinner ice.

Traveling on a snowmobile or ATV early or late in the season is an accident waiting to happen. Do not drive across ice at night or when it is snowing. You can easily become disoriented and end up in areas of the lake you never intended to be.

Have fun! But always remember to
*Be Safe Out There!*

For weekly updates on the ice and snow conditions surrounding Drummond Island, be sure to check out the Drummond Island MI Snow Report page on Facebook!

Shop local, shop local, shop local . . .

2010-10-24T09:53:00.002-04:00

Holly Daze has one focus - to inspire you to do your holiday shopping locally by making it easy for you to find fabulous holiday gifts right here on the Island. Supporting local entrepreneurs as well as local artisans in the process.

I have written on this subject several times because it is one I am passionate about. It is one of those catch phrases that we all think we understand - and do. But then we just can’t resist that One Click on the internet. It seems so easy and so cheap. And trust me - I am guilty of late night Surf Shopping too!

But with that click we send money streaming through cyber space out of our community to who knows where. Money that could have helped our neighbors pay their mortgage, our school buy supplies and our community remain robust and intact.

And really, what do we get with that click? Not the Made in Michigan, Made on the Island, gifts featured during Holly Daze. Not the handpicked merchandise featured by our shopkeepers. Not the personal insight of those that know us and the individuals we are shopping for.

And not the connection to the joy of the season found during Holly Daze when our businesses are decked out in their finery, and person-to-person, human good cheer abounds.

Shopping locally is truly one of the best gifts you will give this holiday season - to yourself and to your neighbors.

Act as if what you do makes a difference. It does. ~William James

Autumn Leaves . . .

2010-10-21T12:01:00.001-04:00

Eva Cassidy (February 2, 1963 – November 2, 1996) was an American vocalist known for her interpretations of jazz, blues, folk, gospel and pop classics.. Beautiful Eva died in 1996, from melanoma, the most deadly form of skin cancer. Her music was little-known during her 33 years of life, but today her soul-stirring voice is reaching people all over the world.

Delicious Autumn!

2010-10-20T10:24:00.005-04:00

That smell.

It fills you with the tang of being up north in the fall.

It is earth and decomposition and sunshine and pureness in leaf shapes.

Golden yellows, soft roasted-looking reds, flaky brown ones, orange ones speckled with bits of brightness.

Bringing a handful to my face I close my eyes and see back to the trails I used to make in the yard as a child. Raked labyrinths leading nowhere and everywhere.

Inhaling I feel a shock of chilled air in my lungs. Exhaling I hear geese in the sky.

It is one of those perfect autumnal days which occur more frequently in memory than in life.

NOTE: DRUMMOND ISLAND FALL ON THE ISLAND FESTIVAL:

Every autumn, nature puts on a brilliant show of color on Drummond Island. From bight yellows to vibrant reds, the leaves transform the landscape,

showing off their rich and intense hues.

Every year people flock here to take in the fall foliage,

to catch a glimpse of nature's splendor.

Now they come not only for the colors - they come for the Festival too!

To learn more go to the official Festival website: