We're Fine

In case you saw/heard news reports of crazy bad storms over the weekend here and in WI (where we were camping) be relieved to know that we are just fine.
It was raining when we left the cities and cleared when we got to the river. We put in (very late) Friday night and made camp well before a light rain came. We saw lightening from the tent and there was some rain, but we were in no danger.
Saturday it rained intermittently. Yesterday it was so humid it misted. I am glad we were not around here. Sounds like there were some big storms and even bigger humidity.

Jump!

Odin and Laura at the city's water park. They have a time in the morning just for preschool aged kiddos. We have been enjoying it for the past few weeks. It has been cool, but that makes the bike ride home more enjoyable.
This morning on our way there I took a curb a little too tight and tipped the bike trailer. I was much more frightened that he was. But on the way home he asked if I was going to tip the trailer over again- hopefully he'll forget soon and not ask me every time we go somewhere in the bike, but I have my doubts that he will forget.

Sleep

Campering

Great weekend with John's family. We go every summer. His mom randomly picks a campground online and gets us a great site. They bring their camper and us kids bring tents. There was much food, fun , and rain. We were about eight miles away from Ely, MN and went into town for a small dose of the Blueberry festival, then made a hasty retreat back to our campsite.
Odin was made to live in the woods... He never stopped moving. Sampson still does not like being rained on.

Flashback

Flashback
2006

2009

Funny bikes & Crazed Motor boaters

Lovely weekend. One day in the high 60's or very low 70's, one day mid 70's.. I'll take it.
Saturday we cruised over to see Grant, whom John grew up with, for his company's bike festival with a beer problem. Grant works for New Belgium and was in town for the Minneapolis stop of the Tour de Fat. A forward thinking benefit festival that discourages use of oil through bicycle commuting, composting, and solar energy and the like. The event was run off the grid in a potholed parking lot. We had a blast. Johno enjoyed the bike pen, where one could try some interesting bikes. Odin was in love with the supersized sit and spin and I was a bit keen on it myself.










Sunday brought out the sun and we took advantage by heading down to the Minnesota River. We paddled a ways down and into the Mississippi. We were far from alone on the water. I remembered why we usually did that section of river on weeknights. Motor boats galore. At one point Odin and Johno went to use the bathroom and I stayed with the boat. More than 10 boats went by making wake that made me haul the boat out of the water. But not before we got several huge gouges on the keel line. At least it was a fun day trip.

Week Off

I was in the boundary waters last week with a great friend, Jody, whom I grew up with, one of her former co-workers, and the co-workers roommate. We had perfect weather, ideal amount of bugs (not many) and had a great time. Swimming almost every day, a nice breeze to keep the bugs away, and only a strong (head) wind on two days. It was a great vacation, not too much work, not too much rest, just right.






It sounded like the boys did great without me. Odin went to a week of summer preschool / day camp at the YMCA and John worked half days all week. Odin was confused that there was no camping and was confused that they were inside all day. He had a great time and is hopefully excited to get back to "normal" whatever that is!