Lake Superior Park kayak trip

I'm back from another awesome expedition. This time to the remote, wild coast of Lake Superior. The official Park description:

Along the eastern shore of Lake Superior is a landscape like no other. A succession of massive headlands disappears into a shining expanse of water, forming a rugged coast that stretches farther than the eye can see. The world's largest fresh water lake - deep, cold, beautiful, myth-inspiring.

Gitche Gumee slept for most of our trip allowing us to get up close to the magnificient towering cliffs and spectacular pictographs. Here's a few shots, but of course, the photos don't do it justice. Most days we planned the headlands to avoid the afternoon winds, so the sun wasn't right for good pictures. I wish everyone could experience actually being there and witness the power of nature.

Click any photo to view larger.

checking out the pictographs on the rock

heading to the Devil's Warehouse where ancient scrolls were kept in a cave

Denis contemplating the Devil's Chair, where the giant supposedly rested after stepping over the lake

self portrait of the coast

Denis checking out one of many sea caves

my view from the tent couldn't be better. Cliffs aren't bad either

three cedars growing together from rock

Only a few moments of pure terror with some interesting crossings. And an unceremonious dumping and thorough pounding of one wet Terry under a rolling surf in the first three minutes of the trip. Yeah, welcome to Superior.

What grand adventures did you have this summer? Tell me about how the simple power of the outdoors filled you up.



Three days left

Thought I'd pass along this insider scoop. The 2011 Iditarod summer raffle has 2000 tickets to sell, and they've only sold half of them. And the draw is in three days! Good odds.

Do you want to help support Iditarod 2012? How about a chance to win one of two grand prize trucks. Check it out here.  

top ten childhood reads

I got the idea for this post from a great blog I've just discovered http://brokeandbookish.blogspot.com/
There's a weekly Top Ten Tuesday feature and I loved this topic.

Top Ten Childhood Reads:

1. Charlie and the Chocolate Factory by Ronald Dahl. I've lost track how many times I read this when I was young. Then I read it to my step daughters. Twice.

2. Tarzan of the Apes by Edgar Rice Burroughs. I've read every book in this series. Also the Pellucidar series. But this one is the classic. This is the cover I had too.

3. Red Sonja the Ring of Ikribu by David Smith and Richard Tierney. I found my original cover! Loved this!

4. The Black Stallion by Walter Farley. Who doesn't have this on their list?

5. Man from Atlantis by Richard Woodley. This I read in grade nine and it instantly grabbed my imagination. I didn't see the TV series though. I'm feeling a little old with some of these covers! Sheesh!

6. Hawkmistress by Marion Zimmer Bradley. Best. Book. Ever.

7. Island of the Blue Dolphins by Scott O'Dell. This isn't the origninal cover I have, but I couldn't find that image on line.

8. The Gandalara Cycle by Randall Garrett - a 6 book series. Anyone else read these? SOOOO good!

9. Sweet Valley High by Francine Pascal - okay. Just when you were thinking I'm one strange cat right? Yes, I did indeed read these as a tween.

10. Clan of the Cave Bear by Jean M. Auel. This was later highschool, but it began many years of a pre-history reading frenzy. Too bad it took so long for the rest of this amazing series.



So. Lay it on me. What are some of your top childhood reads?

Great recent reads

As you can see by the photos I've been posting, I've had a busy summer. But now that I'm home, I'm back to reading every spare moment. Here's a quick review of some great books:

DEAD RULES by Randy Russell

LOVE this book!Complex characters where no one is as they first seem. And loved the crazy humour - real left-field things that had me laughing out loud. Kept me surprised, entertained and frustrated throughout. 

Possession by Elana Johnson

Very creative! A whole new world for the reader to enjoy. Action junkies take note. And features a hard-core female mc.







Divergent by Veronica Roth
 
 

 
A wild, wild ride! Brilliant. Every page had tension. AMAZING READ!








BLOOD MAGIC by Tessa Gratton
 

Loved the romance bits of this story. Such great characters! Mystery, romance, magic and suspense all wrapped together. Creepy and addictive. I read this a while ago, but it has stuck in my head. A good sign!







Bestest. Ramadan. Ever. by Medeia Sherif

Great characters here. Especially Grandpa! I love to read books where I learn something new, and I must confess to not really knowing what Ramadan was. Funny and touching and brought me back to highschool and all the drama and problems of those tender years. Medeia is a contemporary Judy Blume!








Merle's Door: lessons from a free-thinking dog by Ted Kerasote (non-fiction)

Okay, as far as dog books go - this is a MUST READ! I feel changed.

Black Star Bright Dawn. by Scott O'Dell

Scott O'Dell. Need I say more? Great stuff here, of course. I bow down.

Watch for my next ELEVENSIES giveaway this fall where some of these books and more will be up for grabs.
What great books have you read recently?

Georgian Bay Adventure

The second part of our vacation included an epic 315 km paddle around Georgian Bay that took 8 days.



yes, that's my thumb. Hubby at Flowerpot Island.



When we crossed Lake Huron to South Bay Mouth, I was extremely nervous. For two hours until I calmed down, I gripped my paddle so hard that I injured myself. My fingers would hardly work for a day and half afterwards! But it felt great to have done it!

Excerpt of famous moment on trip. Bruce Penninsula. 8pm.

Hubby - Does that sound like a boat coming our way?

Me - Nope. We're all clear.

*strips down to bathe in the lake after 12 hours of paddling in the hot sun. Stands naked balancing on rocks and boulders in ankle-deep water.

Me - AAUUGH!! It's a boat. RIGHT THERE!!!

*sneaky boat moving very slowly appears around the corner 30 meters away.

Hubby - It's a TOUR boat! Full of tourists!!

Me - My shirt! For the love of all that is holy, throw me my shirt!!

*crouches awkwardly as the boat loaded with at least 50 people on the fly bridge, chugs along the shoreline for unobstructed, glorious view of the rock cliffs which we are camped on. And naked.

Hubby - They have cameras

Me - yes. I see that.

Hubby - they're waving.

*hubby waves back. The boat finally passes. We giggle for the rest of the evening. "Does that sound like a boat", becomes the phrase of the week.

Anyhoo,  here are a few more photos - but don't worry, all fully clothed. As usual, click on any photo to view larger.

5:45 am

flat calm day! My kayak just flying

look at the roots in the water!

checking out the charts during a snack break

Cove Island Lighthouse

surprised a family of otters. mom and two young.

Does anyone else have a vacation story to share?

Newfoundland Adventure

Back from vacation!



Hubby on Gros Morne Mountain



Highlights: 

• saw 28 moose
• hiked over 60 km
• heard a calf moose being eaten by a bear
• one day of sun in Newfoundland! Fog - wind - freezing cold nights in tent!
• trees on northern penninsula don't even have leaves yet!
• STUNNING, amazing place. Can't wait to go back
• paddled 315 km around Georgian Bay
• LOTS of sun
• got caught naked by a boat full of tourists



I hope to get back to blogging soon. In the mean time, here's a few photos of Newfoundland. Kayak photos to come next post.





Me and hubby having FUN