Comments on: River of all my years, steps 8 – 18 http://dharmablog.everyday-beat.org/2007/06/13/river-of-all-my-years-steps-8-18/ Notes on paddling, fly-fishing, hiking, conservation, writing and reading, the St. Croix River, and life in Minnesota. Sat, 02 Apr 2011 04:52:49 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Greg http://dharmablog.everyday-beat.org/2007/06/13/river-of-all-my-years-steps-8-18/comment-page-1/#comment-19998 Greg Tue, 17 Jul 2007 18:36:01 +0000 http://dharmablog.everyday-beat.org/2007/06/13/river-of-all-my-years-steps-8-18/#comment-19998 Thanks! Glad you liked it. Smallies are indeed smallmouth bass. Nutella s'mores: <ul> <li>Graham crackers</li> <li>Nutella</li> <li>Marshmallow</li> <li>Chocolate (if you're daring)</li> </ul> Thanks! Glad you liked it.

Smallies are indeed smallmouth bass.

Nutella s’mores:

  • Graham crackers
  • Nutella
  • Marshmallow
  • Chocolate (if you’re daring)
]]> By: Night Editor http://dharmablog.everyday-beat.org/2007/06/13/river-of-all-my-years-steps-8-18/comment-page-1/#comment-19986 Night Editor Tue, 17 Jul 2007 01:36:03 +0000 http://dharmablog.everyday-beat.org/2007/06/13/river-of-all-my-years-steps-8-18/#comment-19986 Thanks for the tip to read through your St. Croix posts. This was some adventure! Great story and suspense. Q: Smallies? Are these small-mouth bass? Q: S'mores with nutella? Just the graham crackers and the nutella or also marshmallows? Thanks for the tip to read through your St. Croix posts. This was some adventure! Great story and suspense.

Q: Smallies? Are these small-mouth bass?
Q: S’mores with nutella? Just the graham crackers and the nutella or also marshmallows?

]]> By: Randy http://dharmablog.everyday-beat.org/2007/06/13/river-of-all-my-years-steps-8-18/comment-page-1/#comment-19739 Randy Tue, 19 Jun 2007 15:53:50 +0000 http://dharmablog.everyday-beat.org/2007/06/13/river-of-all-my-years-steps-8-18/#comment-19739 Smallies? :) Yes indeed, I can't believe I forgot to mention them, there are smallies aplenty. Smallies? :)

Yes indeed, I can’t believe I forgot to mention them, there are smallies aplenty.

]]> By: Greg http://dharmablog.everyday-beat.org/2007/06/13/river-of-all-my-years-steps-8-18/comment-page-1/#comment-19738 Greg Tue, 19 Jun 2007 15:16:14 +0000 http://dharmablog.everyday-beat.org/2007/06/13/river-of-all-my-years-steps-8-18/#comment-19738 Hey Randy - the business with the dew claw does not sound fun! That sounds pretty awful actually... great, one more thing for me to worry about. I told Rosie the other day that I don't think we're ever going to let Lola out of the yard again. That just confirms that was the right call! :D I'm kidding of course, but thanks for the empathy. The Root sounds great. Don't mean to seem like I'm stubbornly sticking with the St. Croix... I'm just almost overwhelmed with all the fantastic paddling options around here. Are there smallies in that section of the Root too? Thanks for the comment, keep in touch. Hey Randy – the business with the dew claw does not sound fun! That sounds pretty awful actually… great, one more thing for me to worry about. I told Rosie the other day that I don’t think we’re ever going to let Lola out of the yard again. That just confirms that was the right call! :D I’m kidding of course, but thanks for the empathy.

The Root sounds great. Don’t mean to seem like I’m stubbornly sticking with the St. Croix… I’m just almost overwhelmed with all the fantastic paddling options around here. Are there smallies in that section of the Root too? Thanks for the comment, keep in touch.

]]> By: Randy http://dharmablog.everyday-beat.org/2007/06/13/river-of-all-my-years-steps-8-18/comment-page-1/#comment-19734 Randy Mon, 18 Jun 2007 23:36:51 +0000 http://dharmablog.everyday-beat.org/2007/06/13/river-of-all-my-years-steps-8-18/#comment-19734 Greg, that's a crazy day on the water, for sure. Thanks for telling the story. I recall a similar day in the outdoors when my dog lost a dew (sp?) claw and was a bloody mess. A good, lazy day on the river (not to usurp the beauty of the St. Croix), might include the Root River from Lanesboro to Rushford. Slow water, plenty of fish (trout AND walleye), and yes...beer. :) Greg, that’s a crazy day on the water, for sure. Thanks for telling the story. I recall a similar day in the outdoors when my dog lost a dew (sp?) claw and was a bloody mess.

A good, lazy day on the river (not to usurp the beauty of the St. Croix), might include the Root River from Lanesboro to Rushford. Slow water, plenty of fish (trout AND walleye), and yes…beer. :)

]]> By: Greg http://dharmablog.everyday-beat.org/2007/06/13/river-of-all-my-years-steps-8-18/comment-page-1/#comment-19708 Greg Fri, 15 Jun 2007 20:34:57 +0000 http://dharmablog.everyday-beat.org/2007/06/13/river-of-all-my-years-steps-8-18/#comment-19708 I got the book "Paddling Minnesota" this spring and I recall reading a description of the St. Louis... it sounded really nice and your comments certainly affirm that. "Few rocks," I like that! The St. Croix, being my "home river," has a certain priority in my mind, and I feel like I should wait to start tackling this state's seemingly infinite other paddling opportunities (the BWCAW aside, of course) until we've finished that river... I figure if I can paddle the St. Croix from top-to-bottom I'll feel fit enough to explore some other rivers. Anyway, thanks for the tip and happy paddling! I got the book “Paddling Minnesota” this spring and I recall reading a description of the St. Louis… it sounded really nice and your comments certainly affirm that. “Few rocks,” I like that!

The St. Croix, being my “home river,” has a certain priority in my mind, and I feel like I should wait to start tackling this state’s seemingly infinite other paddling opportunities (the BWCAW aside, of course) until we’ve finished that river… I figure if I can paddle the St. Croix from top-to-bottom I’ll feel fit enough to explore some other rivers.

Anyway, thanks for the tip and happy paddling!

]]> By: eric http://dharmablog.everyday-beat.org/2007/06/13/river-of-all-my-years-steps-8-18/comment-page-1/#comment-19706 eric Fri, 15 Jun 2007 14:33:37 +0000 http://dharmablog.everyday-beat.org/2007/06/13/river-of-all-my-years-steps-8-18/#comment-19706 Wow! Sorry things went so wrong for you – I hope everyone gets back in a canoe for another try really soon. In case you’re interested, the St. Louis River seems to possess many qualities of the St. Croix. I’ve made a dozen trips by putting in on Hwy. 7 in Forbes MN and floating downstream. There are several DNR campsites and lots of undeveloped public land on the way, and the river seems to go under a county road at half-day intervals. Plus, there are no people and few rocks – it’s a nice sandy float and the fishing is good. The deerflies will be bad now, but in May, early June, and late August you’ll not find a nicer river trip. I’m not sure what the guy meant by “indians,” but if you’re drinking Hamm’s beer, the Rangers will leave you alone. ;-) <a href="http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/maps/tomo.html?mode=recenter&size=5&layer=100k&col=100&row=82" rel="nofollow"></a> Wow! Sorry things went so wrong for you – I hope everyone gets back in a canoe for another try really soon. In case you’re interested, the St. Louis River seems to possess many qualities of the St. Croix. I’ve made a dozen trips by putting in on Hwy. 7 in Forbes MN and floating downstream. There are several DNR campsites and lots of undeveloped public land on the way, and the river seems to go under a county road at half-day intervals. Plus, there are no people and few rocks – it’s a nice sandy float and the fishing is good. The deerflies will be bad now, but in May, early June, and late August you’ll not find a nicer river trip. I’m not sure what the guy meant by “indians,” but if you’re drinking Hamm’s beer, the Rangers will leave you alone. ;-)

]]> By: Greg http://dharmablog.everyday-beat.org/2007/06/13/river-of-all-my-years-steps-8-18/comment-page-1/#comment-19705 Greg Fri, 15 Jun 2007 14:29:09 +0000 http://dharmablog.everyday-beat.org/2007/06/13/river-of-all-my-years-steps-8-18/#comment-19705 and that's why I love her, folks. :) the resolve to return and finish what we started, but the shared yearning for a "low-adversity" trip for the time being. and that’s why I love her, folks. :) the resolve to return and finish what we started, but the shared yearning for a “low-adversity” trip for the time being.

]]> By: rosie http://dharmablog.everyday-beat.org/2007/06/13/river-of-all-my-years-steps-8-18/comment-page-1/#comment-19699 rosie Thu, 14 Jun 2007 16:59:19 +0000 http://dharmablog.everyday-beat.org/2007/06/13/river-of-all-my-years-steps-8-18/#comment-19699 bum, that was so well written, though hard to read for the sheer desire i have to put it all out of mind. we'll get back up there. we'll have to. i don't think i would want to live my life avoiding that stretch, avoiding that memory, or avoiding the adversity as the mad fishicist said. but right now, i really do want an easy paddle, a beer in one hand and a fishing pole in the other with a big, juicy walleye on the biting end. bum, that was so well written, though hard to read for the sheer desire i have to put it all out of mind. we’ll get back up there. we’ll have to. i don’t think i would want to live my life avoiding that stretch, avoiding that memory, or avoiding the adversity as the mad fishicist said.

but right now, i really do want an easy paddle, a beer in one hand and a fishing pole in the other with a big, juicy walleye on the biting end.

]]> By: Greg http://dharmablog.everyday-beat.org/2007/06/13/river-of-all-my-years-steps-8-18/comment-page-1/#comment-19697 Greg Thu, 14 Jun 2007 15:26:43 +0000 http://dharmablog.everyday-beat.org/2007/06/13/river-of-all-my-years-steps-8-18/#comment-19697 <p>Thanks for the comments everyone. Glad you all enjoyed the story, I thought it was waaay too long when I posted it, but it seems that at least five people made it through the whole thing!</p> <p>Deb - I'm definitely going to trust the river gauge readings provided by the USGS, Army Corps, and the NPS from now on. I think I'd still like to try to "complete" the river, but I'm going to wait until next spring when water levels are at their highest... That'll mean more challenging whitewater and I'm not sure my partners from last weekend feel like heading bac up that way, but we shall see. This summer, if we return to the St. Croix, we will probably do sections quite a bit further down, perhaps from St. Croix State Park down. We'll see. </p> <p>TMF - I like that, "absence of adversity is boring"... I have to say, I like experiences that make for "good stories" but this one was so unpleasant when I was in the moment that I really struggled with writing about it. It was a good experience to write it though, because I think I was ultimately able to do it justice without feeling like I was exploiting the misfortune, etc.</p> <p>Scott - Definitely a learning experience. Imagine all the lessons I can credit to those hours. Unfortunately, no photo. We realized during the ordeal that we would want a picture later, but we never really felt like obliging that desire, much less stopping to dig the camera out. I wish I had one, but alas...</p> <p>Rainier - so glad to hear that I did our experience justice with the piece. I'm glad I wrote it too, and glad I had such strong, never-give-up, never complain partners. You guys kicked some ass. Let's definitely get back out in the canoes again soon, but let's go somewhere with enough water!</p> <p>Pete - Yeah, I'm glad she made a speedy recovery too and I'm definitely hoping our next trip goes a little smoother. Our last trip, to the BWCA last fall, was a little rough at times too, I feel like I kind of deserve an "easy" trip pretty soon!</p> <p>Thanks again for the comments everyone!</p> Thanks for the comments everyone. Glad you all enjoyed the story, I thought it was waaay too long when I posted it, but it seems that at least five people made it through the whole thing!

Deb – I’m definitely going to trust the river gauge readings provided by the USGS, Army Corps, and the NPS from now on. I think I’d still like to try to “complete” the river, but I’m going to wait until next spring when water levels are at their highest… That’ll mean more challenging whitewater and I’m not sure my partners from last weekend feel like heading bac up that way, but we shall see. This summer, if we return to the St. Croix, we will probably do sections quite a bit further down, perhaps from St. Croix State Park down. We’ll see.

TMF – I like that, “absence of adversity is boring”… I have to say, I like experiences that make for “good stories” but this one was so unpleasant when I was in the moment that I really struggled with writing about it. It was a good experience to write it though, because I think I was ultimately able to do it justice without feeling like I was exploiting the misfortune, etc.

Scott – Definitely a learning experience. Imagine all the lessons I can credit to those hours. Unfortunately, no photo. We realized during the ordeal that we would want a picture later, but we never really felt like obliging that desire, much less stopping to dig the camera out. I wish I had one, but alas…

Rainier – so glad to hear that I did our experience justice with the piece. I’m glad I wrote it too, and glad I had such strong, never-give-up, never complain partners. You guys kicked some ass. Let’s definitely get back out in the canoes again soon, but let’s go somewhere with enough water!

Pete – Yeah, I’m glad she made a speedy recovery too and I’m definitely hoping our next trip goes a little smoother. Our last trip, to the BWCA last fall, was a little rough at times too, I feel like I kind of deserve an “easy” trip pretty soon!

Thanks again for the comments everyone!

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