2009
April 13th
I
posted some photos to
Kodakgallery, that link
should come thru soon.
Nate Bill, Nate, Colin,
Lorena, Chris Geo, Dick
R. and myself went to
Dempster Beach on Sunday
afternoon for some fun.
Bill
met Colin and Lorena at
the garage to get
Colin’s beautiful wooden
boat out of storage then
rendezvoused at my
house, along with Nate
and me to then go get
all of our boats. As we
were loading, Colin
noticed that one boat
seemed kind of heavy.
Low and Behold, we
opened up the stern
hatch and there were the
remaining three coconuts
that had been
unaccounted for from our
return from FL in late
March!
We made the quick drive
over to the beach,
unloaded and got
dressed. As I was
walking back from
parking the car, I did
get some looks from
Evanston Easter
Frolickers that were
walking the beach and
gazing at my strange
attire.
With the super cold
temps, we decided just
to stay close by, play
in the waves, and Lorena
became resident
photographer using
Colin’s super nice
camera to take some
photos of us. I am sure
they are all flattering
photos as our
fashionable kayak gear
was all the rage.
Especially the neoprene
skullcaps. Talk about
some serious hat hair
afterwards. The warm
weather forecast was not
so warm. Highs were in
the 40’s but the wind
took any fun out of
that, with the wind
chill temps being in the
30’s.
It was a nice time to
practice getting hit
sideways by the waves,
there was one spot where
the waves were much over
my head, so I would go
that way, end up getting
the wave full in the
face then not being able
to see for about 5
seconds the water was
clinging to my
eyelashes. I am trying
to think it was not
freezing there!
We were all dressed
slightly different, and
everyone stayed warm on
the water, it was the
afterwards on the land,
standing around chatting
for about 30 minutes or
more that got everyone
pretty chilled. As soon
as you moved inland
about 40 feet, behind
some rocks, with no
wind, it felt balmy. On
the lake side of the
rocks – BRRRR! No one
had a good solution for
hands. Everyone had
really cold hands. I
went without gloves as I
don’t find the neo ones
help me, also Pogies are
great, but don’t work
well with the
Traditional paddle I use
from Betsie Bay, so I
figured I would just go
with bare hands, better
to feel the paddle with
and easier spray skirt
release. My hands were
a bit cold on the water,
when I came in on land
to hang with the gang,
standing there with the
wind on them and not
moving around, that is
when they started to
hurt, so up into my
jacket they went. They
did not feel so good til
I got into the car. We
need someone to design
Pogies with grips that
adjust so you can slide
them up and down the
paddle!
Chris and Dick came a
little later, Bill said
we had all started a bit
early, and they found
traffic coming from the
city to be bad with the
holiday. They brought
hot, Reilly coffee (the
best in the world) and
let us have some. Then
headed out to the point
by Northwestern and came
back. Lots of big lumps
out there with the wind
and that combined with
the cold, made it a
shorter trip. Geo has
swapped some of her
black bungees for pink
ones, super cool, want
to get some for my boat
too!
We loaded boats, came
back to my house to
change, then headed
straight to the Pita
Inn. Combos all around,
and the mint tea was
delicious. Colin and
Lorena, the dedicated
members that they are,
skipped the Pita Inn to
go hang Earth Day flyers
around town. Now that is
dedication!
Then it was back to my
house for blueberry pie
and goodbyes. What a
great trip. I had a
nice time with everyone,
great people, great
paddling partners!-
Cynthia G.
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2008
Winter spent in southern FL in the Everglades National Park
and the 10,000 Islands
This
photo was taken in February on Rabbit Key in the Everglades
National Park. White sandy beaches and beautiful sparkling
waters characterize this type of paddling. Temps in the
80's sure beat the snowy Chicago winters.
Shorebirds, sea shells, dolphins, and manatees are just some of
the wildlife that we saw along the way.
2007
Nov Backpacking Trip to the Porcupine Mountains

Ed, Chris K, Bill R, and Cynthia (along with Bad Dog) set off
t the Porcupine Mountains for a winter backpacking trip. Temps
were colder than expected, so we ended up getting a couple of
hotel rooms and enjoying the pool and hot tub along with some
great day hikes.
This was shot at the start of the Lake Superior Trail, we
were not able to drive any further into the park due to icy
covered roads.
April 22nd 2007 Earth Day 2007
120 participants
came to clean up by Canoe and Kayak!
2006
Dec 2006
Southwest Florida,
Kayaking the Everglades, Kayaking the 10,000 Islands, Estero Bay and
River, Gulf of Mexico, Big Cypress National Preserve
Nov 2006
Porcupine Mountains, Upper Peninsula, Michigan (Backpacking)
Oct 2006
Kayaking the
Mississippi River, Galena, Illinois (kayak, bed and breakfast,
hiking, shopping)
Rock Cut State Park, Rockford, Illinois (kayak, camp) -
members get engaged!
Sept 2006
Sleeping Bear Dunes, Empire, Michigan (kayak,camp)
August 2006
Kenai Peninsula, Alaska (kayak, camp)
July 2006
Rock Island, Door County Peninsula, Wisconsin
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