During my visit to Minnesota's north shore over the Memorial Day weekend, I hosted and attended Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event (GC23RM5).  Following the event, all of us event attendees day-tripped into the wilderness for a gruelling but adventurous ride.

The first leg of our adventure was to visit the virtual geocache Mystical Dolmen Rock (GC587F).  We departed Sawbill Landing at 8:05AM. We arrived at the dolmen rock at 10:00AM.  We spent about 30 minutes at the rock exploring, socializing, snacking and taking photographs.  We departed the rock at 10:30AM and arrived back at Sawbill Landing at 12:40PM.  Total distance paddled on this leg was 5 miles each direction for a total of 10 miles. Total time paddling was 4 hours and 10 minutes.  Our average paddling speed was a little over 2 mph.

The second leg of the journey was to visit the virtual geocache Kelly-Jack (GC2878).  We drove from the Sawbill Landing to the Baker Landing and arrived at 1:55PM.  After getting our gear unloaded and prepared, we started paddling about 2:15PM.  We arrived at the portage between Kelly and Jack lakes at 3:40PM, which is where the hike in to Kelly-Jack begins.  In all, we spent 40 minutes hiking to Kelly-Jack, exploring, taking pictures, and returning to our boats.  We departed the portage at 4:20PM.  We arrived back at Baker Landing at 6:15PM. Total distance paddled on this leg was 3.9 miles each direction for a total of 7.8 miles. Total paddling time was 3 hours and 20 minutes.  Paddling to Kelly-Jack our average speed was 3 mph and paddling back was a slower 2 mph as a headwind had picked up from the south.

The total distance paddled today was 17.8 miles.  Visit this post at www.tftc.us for additional information and pictures about the event.

Enjoy the photographs (click thumbnails for larger view)..

Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Our boats parked at Sawbill Landing awaiting departure.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Group photograph of event attendees.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Norvina smiling not realizing the gruelling paddle ahead.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event A view from Bart's boat.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Entering the actual BWCA Wilderness.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Norvina coming down the first portage.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Aix sponsa at the first portage preparing her boat.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event A view of Kelso Lake.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event A view of the lilies on Kelso Lake.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Another view of Kelso Lake.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event The gorgeous view at Kelso Lake.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event More Kelso Lake beauty.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Approaching the mystical dolmen rock.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event The mystical dolmen rock balancing on all threes.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Another angle of the dolmen rock.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event A group picture at the mystical dolmen rock.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Another angle of our group at the mystical dolmen rock.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Our boats parked on shore beside the dolmen rock.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Norvina on the rock.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Bflentje and Norvina on the dolmen rock.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Closeup of Bflentje and Norvina on the rock.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Bflentje imitating but not replacing Doublemoose as the Thinker.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Glacial erratic on Kelso Lake.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event A closeup view of glacial erratic on Kelso Lake.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Evidence of the 1999 straight line winds in the BWCA.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Damage from the 1999 blowdown in the wilderness.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Unbelievable damage from the 1999 storm.. that was 11 years ago.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event More damage from the July 4th, 1999 storm.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event A sheet of ice inside of the Kelly-Jack mining cave.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event A view looking out of the Kelly-Jack cave.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Another view looking out of the Kelly-Jack cave.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event And another view looking out of the Kelly-Jack cave.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event A group photograph at the Kelly-Jack cave.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event We made it to our second destination.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Norvina stretching or holding up the cave?	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event Bflentje outside of the Kelly-Jack cave.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event The entrance to the Kelly-Jack cave.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event A view of Jack Lake from the portage.	Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event A view of the portage from Kelly Lake to Jack Lake.
Minnesota's BWCA Canoe-in Geocaching Event The final group photograph after having completed the entire journey.

During my Great River Road adventure, it is safe to say that the highlight of the trip was the adventure that took us to the South Pass Lighthouse.  Located some 35 miles south of Venice, LA, the southern most point in Louisiana, it is only accessible by boat on the Mississippi River.  It is a mere half mile from the Gulf of Mexico. 

While researching the area prior to our trip, I noticed a 5 star difficulty and 5 star terrain rated geocache sitting out there in the river delta not yet having been found called The Guiding Light  (GC1V92T).  I thought about that geocache for days half heartedly thinking to myself, it would be a blast to find this cache and possibly be the first to find it as well.  In order to get to the lighthouse, chartering a boat would be necessary.  After researching charter services available in the area, I initially concluded that it would not be economically feasible to pull off this adventure.  But after many hours of contemplative thought and discussion, we would chalked this up as being a "once in a lifetime event" and booked the charter with Captain Dan of MLC Charters. 

During the 36 mile boat ride down river, Captain Dan provided a great history of the area.  He pointed out several historical locations and was explaining the geology and hydrological behavior of the river.  When we approached the lighthouse, it was clear the storms over the years had removed nearly all evidence of a previous civilization I had seen in pictures.  Including the dock and piers for we couldn't land the boat on shore.  I had to wade through the last 15' of gator infested waters.  I managed to make it to the lighthouse without being eaten alive and after a short search, I had found my 3000th geocache, and was first to find to boot.

Enjoy the photographs (click thumbnails for larger view)..

2009 South Pass Lighthouse The end of the Great River Road.	2009 South Pass Lighthouse Approaching the lighthouse.	2009 South Pass Lighthouse Pulling into the lighthouse.
2009 South Pass Lighthouse Wading up to the lighthouse.	2009 South Pass Lighthouse The stairs leading up to the lighthouse.	2009 South Pass Lighthouse Bart making a FTF on his 3000th geocache find.
2009 South Pass Lighthouse Standing on the upper deck.	2009 South Pass Lighthouse Looking down from the upper deck.	2009 South Pass Lighthouse Looking up from the upper deck.
2009 South Pass Lighthouse Wading back to the boat.	2009 South Pass Lighthouse Grandma Norvina, Molly and Bart.	2009 South Pass Lighthouse Group photo with our boat captain.

As I progressed south on my Great River Road tour out of St. Louis, MO towards Arkansas, the itinerary took us briefly into Kentucky.  It was well over 50 miles out of the way but it was required for the Great River Road Challenge I was working on.

Out of Cairo, IL on route to Kentucky, we visited Fort Defiance State Park, which is located literally at the southern most point of Illinois, at the confluence of the Mississippi and Ohio rivers.  Apparently this area was known at Camp Defiance during the American Civil War but is more well known as the point where Meriwether Lewis and William Clark spent five days studying celestial navigation.  Using navigational tools of their time (no GPS), they successfully obtained the first latitude and longitude data that they used during their expedition.

We crossed the rivers and entered Wickliffe, KY.  Just out of Wickliffe, we stumbled upon Fort Jefferson quite literally by accident.  Our goal was to find the closest geocache located just inside Kentucky, which brought us to this historical overlook.  Fort Jefferson was built during the American Revolutionary War to protect the inner United States against the British.  It was abandoned after one year after having been taken by force by the Chickasaw.  Eighty years later, it later served as a Union Army post during the American Civil War.  Very little evidence of the fort remains today but in 2000, the Fort Jefferson Memorial Cross was completed to memorialize "lost loved ones."

Enjoy the photographs (click thumbnails for larger view)..

2009 Fort Defiance The entrance to Fort Defiance.	2009 Fort Defiance Molly walking on the river bank of the Mississippi and Ohio river confluence.	2009 Fort Defiance Bart sinking into the riverbank.
2009 Fort Defiance Bart and Grandma Norvina standing where Lewis & Clark obtained first latitude and longitude.	2009 Fort Defiance The Fort Jefferson Memorial Cross near Wickliffe, KY.	2009 Fort Defiance River traffic as seen from Fort Jefferson in Wickliffe, KY.

While passing through Missouri on the Great River Road adventure, one of the planned destinations was the Gateway Arch on the St. Louis riverfront.  I've travelled the greater state of Missouri many times in the past but I had never been to the St. Louis area.  And my naïveté is embarrassingly evident by the fact that I thought the Gateway Arch spanned across the Mississippi River.  Now having seen it in person I see that it would have been one heck of an engineering marvel to get the arch to cross the river at nearly a mile wide.

Enjoy the photographs (click thumbnails for larger view)..

2009 Gateway Arch The Gateway Arch.	2009 Gateway Arch Another perspective of the Gateway Arch.	2009 Gateway Arch The sun hiding behind the Gateway Arch.
2009 Gateway Arch Bart, Molly & Grandma Norvina at the Gateway Arch.	2009 Gateway Arch Molly & Grandma Norvina at the Gateway Arch riverfront.	2009 Gateway Arch Graffitied flood wall beneath the MacArthur Bridge.

While not being a huge rock and roll history buff, I've heard Don McClean's song American Pie, knew of its significance, and even knew the dreadful plane crash had happened somewhere in Iowa.  The first leg of my Great River Road tour brought us south on I-35 near Clear Lake, Iowa, which is precisely where Buddy Holly, Richie Valens, and the Big Bopper played their finale venue at the Surf Ballroom before flying out on that fateful night.  You can read more about the tragedy at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Day_the_Music_Died or http://www.fiftiesweb.com/crash.htm.

There are a pair of virtual geocaches in the Clear Lake area so as everyone knows, if there's a geocache, I'll stop anywhere.  Holly Shrine (GC6780) is located at the actual crash site and The Day The Music Died (GC8519) is located at the Surf Ballroom in downtown Clear Lake.

Enjoy the photographs..

The trail head to ground zero is located at 315th St and Gull Ave N 43° 13.222 W 093° 22.470	Molly & her Grandma Norvina walking the field to the site	The shrine is located literally in the middle of private property N 43° 13.222 W 093° 22.885
Bart, Molly & Grandma Norvina at the crash site	The Surf Ballroom located in Clear Lake, IA	The original box office at the Surf Ballroom

I had the privilege of being invited along on a paddle of Wisconsin's Kinnickinnic River today.  John Simpson and children were in one boat and Anna and me in another.  The paddle from River Falls to the confluence at the St. Croix River was just over 12 river miles in length with an elevation drop of approximately 130 feet.

Overall the trip was very enjoyable but a lot of work.  It is safe to say that this was the toughest paddling adventure I've ever been on.  The river was a bit on the low side.  Four more inches of water, or even lower draft kayaks, would have made a world of difference.  Generally, the river was fairly clear with only a few obstacles.  There were a few occasions where we had to drag the boat over sand bars or around the fallen tree.  But those times where the water was perfect and your boat was shot down stream more than made up for it.  The toughest part of the journey was getting the boat out of the water and up to the parking lot at Kinnickinnic State Park up above.  If you review the elevation graph, you'll notice the two peaks at the end of the trip.  Those peaks represent the brutal 1690 foot (.33 mile), 160 foot elevation change, portage up to the lot (some of us made the trip twice).

Enjoy the photographs..

The track log of the Kinnickinnic River paddle

An elevation profile of the Kinnickinnic River paddle

Anna and the Simpson gang taking a break

I took a rare day off of work today and continued my journey into attempting to visit every state park within Minnesota for the second straight year.  I managed to visit 6 state parks today along the 336 mile journey.  The state parks I visited were:  Carley, Whitewater, Beaver Creek Valley, Great River Bluffs, John A. Latsch, and Frontenac.

Enjoy the photographs.. 

Carley State Park	Whitewater State Park	Beaver Creek Valley State Park
The trout stream at Beaver Creek Valley State Park	Carvings in the sandstone near Como Falls, Hokah, MN	Como Falls located in Hokah, MN
Great River Bluffs State Park	John A. Latsch State Park	Frontenac State Park

I managed to slip away for part of the day for a state park tour of southwestern Minnesota.  I managed to stop at 4 state parks during the 438 mile journey.  The state parks included:  Kilen Woods, Lake Shetek, Split Rock Creek and Blue Mounds.  I topped off the day by completing a very fun geocache called Are You Up For It? (GC1R7CZ) by threenow24 located in Blue Earth, MN.  It was rated a 1.5 difficulty and 4.5 stars for terrain.

Enjoy the photographs.. 

Kilen Woods State Park	Lake Shetek State Park	Split Rock Creek State Park
Dandelion at Split Rock Creek State Park	The quartzite bridge at Split Rock Creek State Park	Blue Mounds State Park
Bart sitting atop a quartzite outcropping at Blue Mounds State Park	A prickly pair cactus growing amongst the Quartzite at Blue Mounds State Park	Bart atop the railroad bridge abuttment in Blue Earth, MN

On a recent trip to Minnesota's great northwest, I had the opportunity to visit The Penturen Church.  The very isolated chapel is located deep within the Beltrami Island Forest, directly on the border between Roseau and Lake of the Woods counties, approximately 1 mile north of Beltrami county.  The only way to approach the chapel is by forest and minimum maintenance roads.  The nearest blacktop highway is 24 miles to the south or 12 miles to the north.  Hayes Lake State Park is to the northwest.  My Verizon phone did not show any cellular service within two miles of any blacktop surface.  This location is without a doubt, the, most, remote spot I've ever been in within the state of Minnesota.

The chapel was built back in the day when the first settlers came into the area to log.  The building standing there today is not the original structure.  At some point in time, by either degradation or by fire, the building was destroyed and the building you see today was rebuilt to replace the original.  The chapel itself remains open 24 hours a day for all to experience.  On the altar there is a guestbook that indicates hundreds of people have visited over the years.  Beside the guestbook, a fishbowl is stuffed with donations to be applied towards chapel maintenance.

If you're ever in this area and you enjoy out of the ordinary sites, The Penturen Church might be of interest to you.  Even if prayer is not your thing, this important piece of history lost in the hinterlands of Minnesota, is an excellent experience.  And for those that are interested, there also happens to be a geocache (GCKN93) located in the woods about 400' behind the chapel.

Enjoy the photographs.. 

The entrance to the property.	Front view of the chapel.	Side view of the chapel.
The pulpit, contructed of  SPF plywood siding.	Full view of the pulpit and altar.	The church bell.

The Minnesota State Park Geocaching History Challenge last year was such a success, the Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR) has decided to do it again.  Except, this time, Minnesota critters are being used as the theme and geocachers will have all of three years to complete the challenge instead of 7 months.  On Saturday, May 2nd, 2009, the Minnesota State Parks Geocaching Wildlife Safari Challenge went live with a geocache hidden in each of the 72 state parks.  The challenge was introduced to the public during an event held in conjuction with the Minnesota Geocaching Association at Mille Lacs Kathio State Park.  In addition to kicking off the new challenge, the event also gathered together those that completed last years challenge for a photo opportunity.

Click here to see the finalists of the 2008 Geocaching History Challenge

Following Saturday's kick-off event, I managed to visit four state parks:  Mille Lacs Kathio, Crow Wing, Charles A. Lindberg, and Father Hennepin.

Enjoy the photographs.. 

A fragment of the 194 attendees on the event log	The 2008 Geocaching History Challenge Finalists	Mille Lacs Kathio State Park
Crow Wing State Park	Charles A. Lindberg State Park	Father Hennepin State Park