A Little Kayaking Anyone?

On Saturday I met Dave and Carl. Two kayakers who are making a 1300-mile voyage around Lake Superior in their kayaks. Dave and Karl are from Thunder Bay, Ontario, Canada. They started on their journey May 28th in Thunder Bay, and expect the trip to take approximately two months of continuous, day-to-day paddling. You can learn more about their voyage and follow their progress at www.bigwater08.com.

I talked with Dave on the beach at Split Rock State Park campground, while his fellow paddler Karl had gone off to check on something near the campground. We chatted about their trip, preparations, kayaks, and of course, the weather. Dave was very enthusiastic about the trip thus far, despite some of the inclement weather. Gratefully, however, they had missed all the serious storms since their start, almost two weeks ago. Once Karl returned, I introduced myself and we all talked a little more. It seems Karl has been troubled by a stiff and sore neck, no doubt from all that paddling and the hard ground he’s not accustomed to sleeping on, eh!

I found myself quite envious of these guys who get to take the summer off to paddle around the largest freshwater lake in the world (by surface area).

Day Hill Trail

So, I’m back in Minnesota....

I drove up to the North Shore Friday. For me, it’s like going to church. I find peace, serenity, and good orderly direction in nature.

I first came up the the North Shore with my grandparents when I was a kid. I have so many fond memories of those days. When I see those roadside agate shops and log cabin souvenir stores, I can remember when I visited them for the first time with grandma and grandpa. Those memories are like going home for the holidays for me. Some of the scenery has changed, in the way of those roadside Highway 61 stores and cabins, but the land and the feel of the spirit is the same... just grand.

There’s a rock on the top of Day Hill Trail at Split Rock State Park that I take sanctuary in. I remember visiting Split Rock Lighthouse for the first time with my grandparents, but I don’t really remember if we made the hike to the top of the trail back then. There probably wasn’t even a trail back then, for all I know. I like to sit and take in the view of Split Rock Lighthouse to the north and the majesty of Lake Superior all around me. I can recall all those great memories from my childhood as I soak in the magic of the North Shore. I can feel god touch me and nurture my being as I breath away my troubles of the modern world.

At the top of Day Hill trail is a stone fireplace, just sitting there, all by its lonesome. The story goes, that Frank Day owned the land way back when. He was soon to wed his sweetheart, so he began building their new home. Not long after he had started building, the misses called the wedding off, for some unknown reason. Devastated, Frank halted the construction, and... no one really knows what happened after that. But, the fireplace still stands at the top of Day Hill trail, looking out over Lake Superior, as a testament to all the lonely hearts on the North Shore.