The News.
August 3/08
Well we made it home and all is well. We're a little tired and trying to rest as much as we can. Later this week we are planning on uploading more pictures and more news as well. Thanks everyone who showed up to greet us at the marina.
July 7/08
Wow we have come a long way! We left Duluth on a wavy afternoon. Paddling in 4-7 foot waves We paddled to a beach and I was picked up by a small wave and crunched against a piece of drift wood and crunched my Kayak. We needed to pull out the fiberglass repair kit and do some patch work to the inside rear bulk head. It patched up great and off we went. We paddled North East to the Apostle Islands. Just before the Islands we encountered an elaborate section of sea caves. We were able to paddle into them for several hundred feet in some cases. Some caves went back so far that it was pitch black inside. This is one of the highlights so far. We did not go up into the Islands although I would \love to go back and experience them. You could easily do a 2 week trip in that area and I would recommend it to anyone!
After that we were going up the Keweenaw Peninsula. This I found was more challenging mentally because we paddled north east for 2 days then rounded the point then backtrack south west for 2 days. We knew there is a waterway that would take 3-4 days off our journey but we would be into a new lake system and that would feel like cheating if we left the lake. Along this journey I celebrated my 27 birthday, and we meet some very friendly people. One gentleman was out for a morning walk stumbled upon our tent and invited us in for breakfast, then continued to pack us a lunch and dinner and through in two cans of coke. This was a blessing for sure!
After this our sites were set on Marquette. We encountered some weather as we paddled into Marquette and were paddling in probably the biggest waves so far, most averaging 5-7 feet with some 8 footers in there. I was loving it. In Marquette we stocked up, had pizza, did laundry and, as a prize for going half way, slept in a hotel. After Marquette on July 1st, we wanted to try to do 100 km in a day w paddled along from just outside of Marquette to just past the painted rocks. We paddled between 95-100 km before it became too dark to continue, then pulled off and set up our tent in the dark.
On July 4 we stopped at Whitefish Point and camped for the night and enjoyed the fireworks from the all across the bay. The next morning we stopped in at the ship wreck museum and saw the bell of the S.S. Edmund Fitzgerald and many other interesting artifacts from ships that Superior claimed. Again this was a highlight and I would recommend it.
From there we paddled to Sault St. Marie Michigan, where we had some friends and could store our kayaks. Our Canadian host came across the border to pick us up and the local authorities were very interested in kayakers from Thunder Bay and drove out to the house in Sault Michigan and two officers searched the yard for kayaks and swarmed on the house looking for proof that we were there legally. As soon as I mentioned the name of the form they seemed to calm down and everything went smooth after that! We found it funny that on our last day in the U.S. we are being investigated. So now we are in Sault St. Marie and are planning to spend a few nights here, re-supply on food, maybe catch a movie and rest up before the long journey to Thunder Bay!
Your Hero,
Dave!
Well its good to be back in the motherland. We have made it back to Canada and are in Sault St. Marie. We are going to spend a day or two resting our weary muscles, and for me hopefully letting my badly peeling sunburnt nose heal a little. We are about 2 thirds done the trip. Forty days are under our belt and we have around 20 left. Our average distance paddled in a day is up too so that is nice. Maybe my body has finally gotten used to the fact that I am going to be doing over 20 000 paddle strokes a day. Dave and I figured it out and by the time we have finished this trip we will have done well over 1 million paddle strokes. That is a lot of paddling. With that much paddling I'm bound to loose at least a little weight eh? Actually I weighed myself today and I am down to 217 pounds and thats wearing clothes. So, I am basically wasting away. Some of you may remember that I (like an idiot) said to the news and newspaper that we planned on doing a day of 100 km (60 miles). Well we think we did it. One day we were on the water for 5:50 am and paddled until 11:30 pm and we covered well over 100 km of shoreline but in cutting out some bays and such we believe that actual paddle distance was approx. 100kms. It was interesting to see the sun rise and set from the seats of our kayaks. Just to prove it wasn't fluke we are thinking of trying again on the north shore, but we will see it takes a lot out of a person to paddle for 16 hours in a day.
-Karl-
June 11/2008
So we pulled in to Duluth on Monday June 9th. On Tuesday the rain came, and the 20 plus knot winds, and the 5-8 foot waves, then Wednesday came and there was no change in the weather. The forecast for tomorrow the lady on our weather radio said plan to stay inside. WE LIVE IN A TENT! So I am enjoying my time in Duluth. It is a nicer city than I remember. Karl and myself have been keeping warm by buying coffee and staying in an internet café, making friends with some locals and drinking more coffee than we can handle. Today we went to the YMCA to use the hot tub. We are both longing to get back on the water and are finding this down time hard. Hopefully we will be able to get paddling tomorrow or at the latest Friday!
Dave
March 2008,
Its already March, things are happening so fast. Dave and I have been looking at getting all our gear in order and trying to figure out all the small stuff that we will need. Its exciting to have Level 6 on board. They are an awesome company, also they are Canadian so I have a soft spot for them. I must say I have really been blessed with my wife's support of the trip. It isn't easy thinking about being away for ten weeks but she has been supportive and helpful in planning this trip. Oh man I am so excited and stoked soon very soon. Lets get paddling. Our tentative leave date is May 28th and I can't wait.
karl
January 2008,
Well we have just finished the first month of 2008 and we are now only 4 months away from heading out and doing something amazing. Its funny to think that a couple guys like Dave and I could be doing an expedition of this size, but I guess I do have a degree in camping. Well I guess the big news is that we now have kayaks, paddles and skirts. These aren't just any pieces of gear though they are the best. Current Designs, Aqua-bound and Seals sprayskirts are the brands that we will be using, and for good reason they are known for having the best, most dependable gear around. Well we hope you check them out and are staying connected with us. Thanks for everyone's support on our guestbook it is nice to know we have so many friends backing us. Cheers
karl
December 2007,
The ball is starting to roll and as things freeze up I find my mind drifting to thoughts of wide open lakes, and endless shores. I am practically drooling as I anticipate what next summer will bring for Dave and I. I guess the big news in our trip so far is that now we are on the world wide web and loving it.
karl
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