Wet day on the Mississippi

Today I had to go to the dentist and have my 5 month old crown removed. After doing about an hour and half of full body isometric exercises in the dentist chair I decided to go paddle on the Mississippi River.

It was a gloomy, wet day to be on the river. The water level was about 4 or 5 inches below the high water mark of last year. I’m sure it’s going to go higher. There was more than one place where it felt like I was on a stationary paddle machine. I was doing a lot of strokes but not going anywhere too fast

I couldn’t believe all the branches and tree trunks floating down stream tonight. It was another evening of dodging the debris as I made my way upstream. I forgot to bring my camera to take some photos.

There were two places on the river where the mallards allowed me to paddle right next to them. I don’t recall that ever happening before.

I was out for 2 hours and five minutes. It rained on me for over an hour. The temperature at the start of my paddle was 54 degrees and when I finished it was 47 degrees.

By the time I got back to the landing I could feel my tongue and the right side of my mouth.

Chuck

Stillwater Minnesota at Night

Here are some photos from last Saturday, 03-21-09.

Nikki, I like the photos that you take of mannequins much better. These are missing their heads!
Chuck

Mississippi Point Park- Night Photography

The first photo was taken on 03-14-09 and the others were taken the next night, 03-15-09. Nikon D700, ISO 200, f/8, 251 sec., 60mm

Nikon D700, ISO 200, f/8, 30 sec., 48mm

Nikon D700, ISO 200, f/8, 121 sec., 62mm

Nikon D700, ISO 200, f/8, 251 sec., 60mm

Chuck Ryan

More paddling...

Saturday 03-21-09

One of the first things I did today was go to the Health Club. I did one hour on the LifeFitness Cross Trainer before going to the river to paddle.

As I began paddling upstream from the landing I saw a C-2 coming from the Rum River area by the park on the Anoka side of the river. The canoe continued across over to me. It was Al and Jeff DuBois. They said the rest of the group was going to meet up in 45 minutes. We exchanged pleasantries, then they went down stream and I continued up.

Yesterday I decided not to paddle because all of the ice flowing downstream. The water level is on the rise. Today there was ice coming downstream but it wouldn’t be a problem to maneuver around.

The air temperature was a little cool when I got on the water but after paddling a bit it wasn’t bad and it did warm up about 10 degrees.

I paddle up the “horse farm’ and it took me 1:55 to get up there. I paddled away from shore in the faster moving water. On the way back it only took me 45 minutes for a total of a two hour and forty minute paddling day.

Next it was to check out the paved trails on Elm Creek. Last week I cut my bike ride short because there was still too much snow on the trails. Today they were much better. There were a only few spots that still had snow on the them. It shouldn’t be too much longer before it’s all gone. Today’s bike ride lasted one hour and forty-five minutes.

Afterwards I decided to go to the bike shop to buy a new bicycle floor pump. I went to Erik’s Bike Shop in Maple Grove. I saw Bob there and said hi to him. Then it was over to Starbuck’s to pick up three pounds of Guatemala coffee plus a large cup to go.

On my way back home I decided I would get my camera gear and drive over to Stillwater to do some night photography. I used to live in Stillwater years ago and since I haven’t been there in a while I decided to go.

I got to Stillwater around 07:30 pm. I parked down by the St. Croix River. I was surprised that there was still ice on the river. I say I’m surprised because the Mississippi River has been open for some time. While I was taking some photos down by the river two ladies came by with their boyfriend’s and asked me to take a photo of them. They were down from Duluth celebrating one of the girls birthday.

I took a few photos of them even thought I wasn’t prepared to do so. Since I didn’t have my speedlights with me I had to use my on camera flash. Oh, well….

I got back home to Champlin around 11:00 pm.

Sunday 03-22-09

Today, was a windy day. The forecast was saying the wind was supposed to pick up even nmore later in the day. I decide to just head to the river and get my paddle in. I was at the river at 0853 am. The water had risen even more over since yesterday. There was more ice and other debris flowing downstream. I needed to meander a little more today. The temperature was 42 degrees today at the start but with the strong wind it felt much cooler. Today it took me 5 minutes longer to paddle the same distance as yesterday. (2:45). So far I have a total of 10 hours and fifty-five minutes of paddling.

I paddled back up to the “horse farm” and back. I didn’t see anyone else on the river today.

I’ll post some of my night photography shots from last week-end and yesterday later on.

Chuck

2009 Minnesota Marathon Canoe Racing Schedule

I used to be the racing director with the Minnesota Canoe Association in 2003 and 2004. When I was involved with the association I put together a race schedule. I did stop racing from 2004 and I returned to the sport in 2008.

I still get some information on the big canoe races and some of the smaller races around Minnesota. I have put together a list of races that I know about.

Here is a link to the schedule in google docs: http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dgzpj84_14cpjm6fcv

I'll also put this link in my links over on the right side of this page.

I had the day off work today and I headed down to the Mississippi River after going to the health club. I was going to paddle today, but there was quite a bit of ice flowing down stream. I stood on shore and watched the ice trying to convince myself to put the canoe in the water. The temperature was in the 40's. I decided there was too much ice to dodge and I really didn't feel like going swimming today, so I got back in my Suburban and headed back home.

Chuck

The 2009 Canoe Season Has Begun....

Well, the paddling season began for me on Saturday, 03-14-09. After going to the Health Club early in the morning, I drove down to Mississippi Point Park in Champlin on the Mississippi River. The skies were clear, but the temperature was 33 degrees. There was a strong southerly wind blowing, but I was sheltered by the shore line.

I was in my C-1 (Crozier J-193) and went upstream. There was snow along the shore lines, the ducks were quacking and the geese were making their noise. Yes, I get tired of listening to the geese.

I didn’t see any one else out paddling today. I enjoy the early season paddling because there aren’t any boats going up or down the river and there weren’t any jet-skis going in circles. I was only out for 1 hour and fifteen minutes.

Afterwards I went for a 3 hours walk with my camera to Elm Creek Park and worked on my Intermediate Photography assignment. While I was out walking I received a phone call from Krista Madison in Grand Rapids. She wanted to make sure I got her e-mail about paddling in Grand Rapids on April 4th and 5th. Al Rudquist invites everyone to come up and paddle for about 6 hours on Saturday and a lesser amount on Sunday.

When I got home I had another e-mail from Krista about the date for Al Rudquist and her about their new race this year.

” Hi Chuck,

Good to talk with you, I am not sure if you are still doing a race list but here are dates for you to add to your list if you don't have these yet:

June 27th: Blackwater Barge at Cohasset MNdavel@ci.cohasset.mn.us

July 11th: Al and Krista's Mystery Race

July 12th: Fun Paddle Mississippi River

Accommodations at Al and Krista'skristamatison@msn.com

July 1: The Canada Day Race, AtikokenAugust 8-9: Cross-Quetico Marathon Canoe RaceJames.Burns2@ontario.ca

Hope to see you in April!

Krista

“ We have decided to add a race to the 2009 Summer schedule. The Round Robin will run on even years and this new mystery race on odd years.It is.... Al and Krista's Mystery Race on July 11 with a fun paddle on July 12. Spread the word and plan to stay at our house if you would like.”Al and Krista

Here is the info on Al and Krista’s spring paddle:


Hi Canoe friends,

We are planning a Spring paddle weekend on April 4-5. For those of you that haven't come before, we usually do a 6-hour paddle down the Mississippi on Saturday and then a shorter 3-4 hour paddle on Sunday.

The idea is to get hours in the boat, and stay together - if some teams are faster they can circle back and get in extra mileage.

We have room for people to sleep overnight Friday and/or Sat. Let us know if you are coming so we can have an idea what to expect - thanks, hope to see you!

Krista and Al

22994 Kolp Road Grand Rapids, MN 55744 218-326-5735

During the evening I went down to Mississippi Point Park and did my night photography assignment. In fact, I have to go out tomorrow night and finish it.

Sunday, 03-15-09

I went to the Health Club again this morning. I did another one hour on the Life Fitness cross trainer. Afterwards I went home and changed into some paddling clothes.

When I got down to Mississippi Point Park at 1015 am I saw Io Harberts parked in the lot. I parked my Suburban where I normally do and Io drove over and parked next to me.

Io said the group was supposed to meet at 1030 am but some were calling her while we talked and said they were running late.

I prepared my C-1 for today’s paddle as a couple cars were pulling into the lot. It was another sunny day and the temperature at the start was in the upper 30’s. I went up stream for one hour and twenty five minutes before turning around. Eventually I came across the other paddlers. There were 5 C-2’s in the group. I think this was the first day for most of them so they decided to turn around and paddle back to the landing with me. I finished my day with two hours and 10 minutes of paddling.

Once I got home I changed into my cycling clothes and pumped up the tires on my Mt. Bike to hit the trails through Elm Creek Park. I didn’t go as far as I was planning to because there was still quite a bit of snow on many portions of the trail. I was just a couple days too early. Once I hit a road out of the park I decided just to ride back home. I was gone for 45 minutes. Since I haven’t done any cycling for a long time it was just as well that I ended early.

I'm going to stop here and go finish my night photography assignment.

Monday 03-16-09

I didn’t get home until 1000 pm last night so I didn’t get this post finished.

Well, it was 64 degrees when I got off work today. I went down to the Mississippi River in Champlin and paddled for 1 hour and fifty-five minutes. I got off the water at 07:40 pm. There were many warm and cold pockets on the Mississippi.

Chuck

Last macro class

I had my last macro class this past Saturday, 03-07-09, at Inbeaute Photography Studio with Karl Blomseth. http://www.inbeautephoto.com/classic/Workshop.htm
I enjoyed the classes. Actually, Karl plans to have a make-up class for a couple of people who had missed some classes so everyone that was in class was invited to attend. He hasn’t scheduled the day, but if I can make it I will attend.

Here are some photos from Saturday.

I also started my Intermediate Digital Photography class this past Thursday, 03-05-09. There are only two of us in this class. Rhea Pappas is our instructor. http://rheapappas.com/


Today, I went to a Minnesota Strobist Lighting 101 Seminar. http://www.flickr.com/groups/mnstrobist/discuss/72157614261418995/

Minnesota Flickr Strobist: http://www.flickr.com/groups/mnstrobist.

Chuck Ryan