Another Kayaking Adventure: Under the Bridge to the Big Blue

I went kayaking again: no surprise there. 

This time I launched from Rice's Point.

There was a ship. It almost killed me(well not really since it was moving slower than a drifting milk jug.)

I cut across the bay and kayaked along Park Point. 

I wasn't sure if the lake was going to be rough, so I thought I'd check it out. Mostly I just wanted to kayak under the lift bridge. 

Over 1,000 ships from across the globe pass through this canal....plus my kayak. 

Through the canal I was ventured out into the Big Blue. 

On Wednesdays the yacht club has sailboat races, so I was followed out the canal by an entourage of sailboats. 

Also the tourists on the piers kept trying to talk to me. I hate tourists. 

Eventually it quickly got really dark and cloudy, so I headed back full speed. I didn't beat the rain which was fun. 

First Zenith City Kayaking Adventure!

On my two year anniversary of moving to Duluth a dream of mine came true: I brought a kayak to Duluth. I always have been fascinated with Duluth's waterways, but I was always restricted to many parts of the city due to my landlocked handicap. Fortunately I now have water transportation. My first adventure was to explore a part of the St. Louis River Estuary including Clough Island, Spirit Lake, and Spirit Island. 

I brought my kayak to the river via Tuska style. 

This was my route: starting at the top and moving counter-clockwise. Red means on water. Yellow means on land. 

I launched my kayak out of an old slip and started my adventure. 

One of the places I always wanted to explore was Clough Island. It is the largest island in the estuary. 

I landed on the island and continued on foot.

Fun Fact: Clough Island is actually Wisconsin. 

I followed a system of low used trails and came to a meadow. 

I didn't explore too long as I was barefoot and the meadow was thistle central. Also I realized how large  the island was and decided to come back another day. Later I found a nicer spot on the island to land which has a picnic table on a sandy beach. There's also I hear of ruins of an old farm on the other side of the island as well. 

I made sure to make a friend before launching. 

My next spot was in a widening of the river called "Spirit Lake." And at its center is "Manidoo-minis" or "Spirit Island" for the English speakers. My core fascination to this island has been its significance to the Anishinaabe. The Anishinaabe(or Ojibwe) were originally from the East Coast. An oracle of sorts told the Anishinaabe to move or be destroyed(as the Europeans were coming in around this time.) They migrated to different places slowing moving westward. Every time they landed somewhere a magis shell would rise out of the sand and tell them where to go next. Manidoo-minis was the sixth and second-last site of the migration until ending the migration at Madeline Island in Wisco. The "Spirit" name of the island, lake, and nearby hillside comes from the legend that you should read HERE. 

With this in mind I approached the island with caution. 

The geography of the island is strange. All sides of the crescent-shaped island are steep clay bluff, but on the tips are small lowlands great for getting access. 

I liked Spirit Island much more than Clough Island. Its much more grassy, easy to explore, and has great views on all sides. 

I eventually said "Gigawaabamin!" and called it a day.

I heading back by going on the other side of Clough Island which is separated by the mainland by a series of small islands and channels. 

I was able to return to the views of the city before sundown. 

Can You do me a Flavor?

Go to this link:

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10151924918973265&set=a.10151924918038265.1073741840.69221658264&type=3&permPage=1

And "Like" the photo on Facebook. Why you ask? So that I can win money.

Miigwech!

Amnicon Falls State Park

I haven't blogged in months. Here's a post, so you all know I'm not dead. My sister gave me a (Wisco) State Park sticker. I've always wanted to visit the state parks around the Twin Ports and now I can. So Courtney and I went to Amnicon Falls State Park which is only about ten miles from Superior. 

The upper Amnicon Falls.

The whole time I was like, "This stone is pretty."

We found a lifetime supply of clay, so we made heads. Courtney's on left and mine on right.

Eventually we came across a quarry...

...so we jumped in.

I did jump in the quarry via rope. It stung my hands, so I only did it once.

The stone from this quarry was used to build the Fairlawn Mansion in Superior. 

Afterward we found the meadow where the quarry's loading yard used to be.

We just hung out there like hippie children for awhile then moved on.

We gandered upon more waterfalls then called it a day.