Braving the Storm

Posted on December 4, 2013 by Molly

Day 2 of Duluth’s big snowstorm. From our house, about 1/2 mile in from Lake Superior, it seemed a mild event. The main feature was the slow but constant and significant accumulation of snow. Sure, it was windy, as evidenced by the broken branches in the yard and slightly swaying trees, but for the most part just a pretty winter wonderland.

Similar to yesterday, by late morning I made my way out into the snowy accumulation. This time I donned snowshoes and headed toward the lake. We had at least 8″ of heavy new snow in our yard, but the closer I got to the shore, the wetter, sloppier and skimpier the snow. And when I emerged from the new lakewalk tunnel, I was surprised to look down and discover that my jacket was covered in droplets and soaking wet. I had entered an entirely different micro-climate.

But that wasn’t all. I was suddenly in the throes of a real storm. I could hear the wind as I approached, but that was nothing compared to the fury with which it whipped past me. Sticking to the shelter of trees at the shore, I watched as the brown water churned and huge waves crashed over the rocks. It was all I could do to hold my little camera steady to see if I could catch the action.

Not content with one view, I soldiered on toward Brighton Beach. The wind coming down the lake was so fierce, I couldn’t see a thing as I fought my way forward through the windy wetness. There was no way I was going to survive on the open rocky beach, so I sought another grove of trees for my viewing point. There I could see the rainy snow driven sideways in sheets across the water. It wasn’t a place I wanted to dawdle, and as soon as I did an about face the wind fairly blew me back to the tunnel. On the way, I had to smile at the snow encrusted North Shore sign, perfect proof of the horizontal snowfall.

My return trip was the same transition in reverse, and I reached home in the quiet snowfall I’d left. It was a short but intense excursion, from one world to another and back again. I guess we really are in the throes of a major storm after all.

Photo Play

Posted on November 26, 2013 by Molly

When deer hunting season infringed on our hiking options, our recent trip up the North Shore took on a slightly different flavor. Since we always have our cameras in tow, we traded miles on the trails for shutter time. With such great material for shooting photos and plenty of time on our hands, we took the opportunity to play around with various settings and options. Since I’m still just a novice, it was a great learning tool, and fun to see the results. Even the pictures that didn’t turn out well were useful for knowing what not to do in the future.

Early in the morning, when I tired of shooting the sunrise, I turned the other way to watch the waves lapping the shoreline. It was mostly calm, but there were enough good splashes to entice me to try and capture them. My camera was still set on a long exposure, and I was intrigued by the blur of the water’s motion that flashed briefly across my LCD screen. It made for rather a fantastical scene. Resetting the shutter speed, my next goal was the exact opposite, to capture the water droplets. I still got a bit of blur, but did manage to catch the tall splash in the air.

On to the Cascade River. With my new found techniques, I was eager to test them again. This time I had roaring water to focus on. Using shutter speed priority on my camera, when I adjusted from a long exposure to a much shorter one, the camera compensated by changing a whole lot of other things, including aperture value and ISO speed. I also changed the White Balance. As a result, in addition to the clarity of the flowing water changing, the scene took on entirely different hues as well. Hmm, who knew?

Okay, let’s try this again! The next target was a tall waterfall further up the river. Similar to the last results, the camera adjusted all the other settings for the difference in shutter speed. Only this time the effects were less dramatic. Interestingly, I tend to feel that the “blurred” picture has more crisp detail in the trees than the stop-action version. But since I was hand holding the camera, that could have a lot to do with it.

While none of my pictures would be considered stunning or artistically awesome, I felt like I accomplished a lot from my attempts. And after all, that was the goal. To play.

Hiking in Short Bursts

Posted on November 24, 2013 by Molly

The idea was a good one. In concept. We planned a short get-away to take advantage of the off-season mid-week rates at Cascade Lodge and do some hiking at the State Parks along the North shore. The advance forecast looked reasonable, so we went ahead and booked our room. We even splurged on the extra $5 for a lake view and corner room.

What we didn’t count on was the fact that the State Parks now allow hunting on a good share of their land. While everything between highway 61 and Lake Superior was off-limits to hunters, much of the remainder was posted with bright orange signs warning us away from the trails. Although Rich looked longingly at the enticing trails along with the empty parking lots, I became the trail police and insisted we stick to safe ground. As a result, our options were rather curtailed, and we ended up with shorter hikes than planned. But it wasn’t all bad.

The first day turned out to be cold, gray and blustery. By the time we finished hiking along the shore at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park, the wind had picked up and snow was starting to fly. We consoled ourselves with bowls of hot soup at Coho Cafe in Tofte and watched the snow swirl and settle on the deck outside. Cascade Lodge suddenly seemed very appealing, and we quickly traded the chilly afternoon for reading by the fireplace in the lodge. We could further rationalize our decision with the promise of a better forecast for the next day.

Sure enough, morning brought bright clear skies. We were up before dawn and crept outside and across to the lakefront to catch the first morning rays of sunlight. It was crisp and cold, but an invigorating and rewarding photo session.

The Cascade River was open for hiking to the top the waterfalls. The trail was beautiful, following the icy flowing waters up one side of the river and back down the other. We followed that with a trip up the Temperance River. The gorges were as impressive as ever, with the added attraction of icicles clinging to the edges of the rocky canyons.

Returning to Split Rock Lighthouse, we hunted down good vantage points for photos. We had great fun clambering around the campsites and down on the rocky beach, testing out all the sites for good shots. What we lost in terms of hiking mileage, we made up for in photography research.

All the way from Cascade Lodge, we followed the Roger Blough ore boat down the lake. When it turned into Two Harbors to dock, we couldn’t resist the opportunity to watch it come into the harbor. We were amazed at the sharp turns required to slip past the breakwater and position the boat for the ore docks. Despite the close proximity of Two Harbors, we’d never seen a boat come into port there before.

Our get-away wasn’t the hiking trip we’d originally envisioned. But neither of us minded the short bursts of hiking interspersed with photography and some creature comforts. In fact, we quite enjoyed it.

Good Morning, Sunshine!

Posted on October 13, 2013 by Molly

Sometimes a change in routine is good. I love getting out early for a run or cycling, but today’s weather forecast promised a beautiful afternoon for one of our favorite fall bike rides. So I held off on my morning workout.

Instead, I headed down to Lake Superior to capture the sunrise. I was approaching Brighton Beach, our usual spot for viewing the morning sun, when the vivid sky behind the lamp posts of the Lester River bridge caught my eye. I decided to stop there instead, and found some great new vantage points for my photography. In fact others were already there with their tripods, and I admit to borrowing their technique, shooting over the still water at the mouth of the river to gain a reflection. The colorful fall leaves were also mirrored in the same waters, so I turned my camera on them, catching the sun’s rays form a different perspective.

I have to say, it was a very satisfying start to the day. It required more patience, observation and stillness than the energy and drive I am used to expending. But it had its own reward in the sense of well being I felt in the stillness of the morning and the warmth of the sun’s rays. The resulting photographs and lessons learned in the process were gravy on top of that. I’m so very glad I decided to get up and greet the sun.

Chasing the Tall Ships

Posted on July 25, 2013 by Molly

History does not always repeat itself. Last time the Tall Ships came to Duluth, they mustered out along the North Shore then sailed down toward the canal for the Parade of Ships. It seemed reasonable enough to us that they would follow the same pattern this year. We were so convinced, in fact, that we got up at 5am to see if we could catch them against the shore in the early morning glow of the sunrise. Well, we saw a nice sunrise at any rate. Just no ships.

Undeterred, we mounted our bicycles and headed up the shore once again around mid-day. This time we stopped at McQuade Harbor to wait for the ships to appear. We could see two of them in the distance – indistinct forms but unmistakably sailing ships. It was a beautiful day and we didn’t mind hanging around waiting for the others to appear. Only they didn’t. A quick phone call to our daughter, who was down at Canal Park with her family, revealed that the remaining seven ships were plying the waters in front of them, awaiting their grand entrance. Missed again!

We hustled down to Canal Park as fast as we could pedal, thankful that we were on two wheels not four as we slid past the heavy traffic. We still arrived in plenty of time for the show. In fact, we beat the two ships we’d been monitoring out on the lake. The area was crowded with people, creating an air of festivity and the excitement was building as the time approached for the ships to sail through the canal.

The pier on the far side of the bridge proved to be the best spot for taking pictures – both for the position of the sun and for the smaller crowds lending easier access to the edge of the canal. It was the perfect day to be outside and no one minded waiting between the waves of ships that passed under the bridge. Conversation flowed easily between groups of strangers, brought together for the fun of watching big sailing ships. We finally settled in to watch the Parade of Ships and photograph the beautiful vessels. This time we were not disappointed. And our chase was over.

Full or Half Marathon?

Posted on June 21, 2013 by Molly

There’s a big difference. After a couple of half marathons back in the early 90s, I went for my first marathon – Grandma’s Marathon. Once you move up, it’s hard to go back. Or is it?

There’s no denying that being a marathon runner carries a certain prestige. It’s a badge of honor we runners love to wear, and after running 15 of them, I feel I’ve earned that right. It’s such a thrill to walk into the Expo before the race, surrounded by other marathoners, going up to collect my bib. The energy exuded by the crowd of runners is palpable, and it’s easy to get pumped up about the race. At that moment, everything seems possible. I just know I can do it, and it’s going to be a good race. Bring it on!

Arriving for a half marathon, surrounded by marathoners, it’s hard not to feel like a second class citizen. I can’t help but experience a tug of envy, wishing I were one of them. It’s not as if running 13.1 miles is something to sneeze at. It’s just not a marathon.

But it does have its advantages. Tomorrow I’m running the Garry Bjorklund Half Marathon, not Grandma’s Marathon. Were I running the full marathon, I know I’d have had a case of nerves all week. I’m not conscious of worrying, but more often than not I haven’t felt well leading up to the race. This week? No problem. I barely knew the race was coming up. If I were running the full marathon, I wouldn’t be blogging right now, I’d be obsessing about what clothes to wear, what the weather will be, and how early to get to the starting line. Tonight I’m not too concerned – after all, I will only be out there for a couple of hours at most. I think I’ll bake a batch of chocolate chip cookies instead of fussing. To run the full marathon, I would have had to devote hours and hours to training, and would have followed my own tried and true training plan to the letter. My half marathon training was rather haphazard. How could it be otherwise, when I took a 500 mile bike trip in the middle of it? No matter. I know I’ll finish. It’s just a matter of how fast. Or how slow I will be.

I expect to just go out and enjoy myself tomorrow. It will be fun, and I’ll catch the enthusiasm of the runners and spectators. Going back is a lot easier. But I won’t kid myself. I’ll be thinking about returning to the full marathon as soon as I cross the finish line.

A Dandy Summer Day

Posted on June 16, 2013 by Molly

Nothing says summer like dandelions. Normally I’m not such a fan. But after waiting so long for summer this year, seeing anything in bloom is rather a thrill. So even though the fish house on Stony Point is a highly popular subject of local photographs, including mine, as I was cycling by I couldn’t resist capturing it surrounded by the brilliant yellow blooms.

I’d been taught to look for new and unique angles in my photography class, so I decided to get up close and personal with the dandelions. Lying flat on the grass, nestled into their yellowness I clicked away. Perhaps the resulting image is not all that unique, but the process of capturing it was distinctly satisfying. Stretching out in the sun and peering through the low flowers was the epitome of a summer day. No reason to hurry, no pressing need to move on, I felt as peaceful as the calm water on the other side of the building.

It was that sort of day. Taking advantage of the lack of wind I’d decided to cycle up the Scenic Highway and back again, clinging to the shore, savoring the views and basking in the sunshine. It’s not often that the water is so calm, and the seagulls, birds and mysterious swimming animals seemed to be enjoying it as well. For once I was able to shed my obsession for exercise and cycle for the sheer joy of being out on a beautiful summer day in such idyllic surroundings.

Even without a “wind off the lake” there were still pockets of Superior-chilled air along the shore. I cycled through a patchwork of warm and cool temperatures. Lake Superior was gently exerting her influence, with reminders of the just how recently the ice retreated from her shorelines.

The spring green color of the newly leafed out trees belied the advanced date in June. The lilacs, apple trees and tulips had suddenly burst into bloom. And for the first time this year it felt like summer. Dandelions and all.

In search of the photo

Posted on June 9, 2013 by Molly

A while back, my son gently suggested that I change the header picture for my blog. Apparently, he felt that the outdated scene didn’t really speak to readers as well as a more current seasonal photo would. I could see his logic, so I’ve since made it a point to update the header with the seasons. And just to be consistent, I’ve tried to periodically refresh my profile picture as well.

Spring was slow in coming this year, and so was my photo update. The trees hadn’t leafed out yet, and the scenery around the lake continued to be bleak for so long that I finally dug into some old photos so I could at least retire the one with snow capped rocks. But that selection didn’t really do much for me, and my to-do list included finding a replacement.

On a bike ride along the shore this week, I decided to take a detour around Stony Point in search of that photo. After the interminable wind and heavy clouds of late, it was a pleasure to find calm waters and some sunshine among wispy clouds. The air still held a chill, but it was peaceful to hear the soft lapping of the water against the rocks and feel some warmth from the sun. I stopped in several spots for photographs, and ended up with several shots in contention for the header position. Overachieving is good. I may need to use some of these runner-up photos in the future.

Test Cycling “Fully Loaded”

Posted on May 7, 2013 by Molly

Today we tested cycling with all the gear we will bring on our upcoming Upper Mississippi River Cycling Tour, including camping gear. We’re pretty good at packing light for a long distance trip, but adding tent, sleeping bags and sleep mats was new. So we thought we ought to figure out just how we were going to carry it all on our bikes, and find out what it will be like cycling with it.

We each took one sleeping bag, and divvied up the rest – the tent to Rich, and the sleep mats for me. Strapping them down over Rich’s panniers was not too difficult. At 6’2″ his seat is so high it easily cleared all the paraphernalia with room to spare. For me, at 5’1″ the trick was to leave room to sit on my bicycle seat without being impeded by gear. But we ultimately prevailed.

Walking the bikes or getting them to stand up on their own was a challenge. They were awkward and heavy, and very tippy. But once we started cycling, we moved along easily, barely noticing the extra weight once we were rolling. Hooray! I admit we picked an easy route for the test. We rode up the North Shore to Stony Point and back. With little traffic, flat terrain, no wind and nice big shoulders, we had few worries. Add beautiful sunshine and a sparkly flat blue lake, and it was easy to forget we were toting all that equipment.

And there were other distractions. Apparently, the Kamloops rainbow trout were running. Approaching French River, we could see an army of fishermen lined up across the mouth of the river. The photo opp was too good to pass up, and worth the added effort of getting our bikes balanced.

We unanimously declared that we passed the test. Tomorrow I intend to take it to the next level, and load up for a longer and hillier route. Here’s hoping I can make the grade.

Never Say Never

Posted on April 19, 2013 by Molly

I said I was done skiing for the season. I even put my boots away. But when I went out for a walk to take pictures of the deep new snow early this morning, and found myself shoveling the sidewalk just to prolong my time outside, I knew I was going to renege on that statement.

My inspiration was Rich’s “epic ski” last week. Taking advantage of the road closings for building the Lakewalk tunnel, he was able to ski from home down to Brighton Beach and on up the Scenic Highway to the pumping station. I was so envious! So I set out to recreate his journey.

My timing was perfect – the sun began to emerge just as I set out, which greatly enhanced the scenery. The snow was still firm and not yet slushy, and few cars had ventured down the unplowed roads on my route. Lake Superior picked up the blue hues of the clearing sky, and big rollers brought waves splashing up onto the rocks on the shoreline. The views were glorious.

My revery was abruptly interrupted upon reaching the Scenic Highway to find it neatly plowed down to the pavement. The detours had been changed, and so were my plans. But it wasn’t the kind of day for disappointment. Brighton Beach was every bit as entrancing on my return trip.

By then I was on a roll. So I stretched my return trip to take in the Lester-Amity ski trails. The city has long since stopped grooming the ski trails, but earlier skiers had generously left good classic tracks for me to follow. When those ended, I did my share by tracking the next loop of the system. The trees were heavily laden with snow, bending deeply over the trail and occasionally snapping under the weight. Even at this late stage of spring, I had to admit it was a winter wonderland.

I’m glad my resolve didn’t hold. Just see what I would have missed!

[Click on any photo to view as a slideshow.]