Learning to Learn
Published March 9, 2013 | 
Last evening Sue and I started a beginners fencing class at the local university. It was interesting to be on the student side of the fence. As a coach, you can become so used to examining your students learning styles and their progressions that you often forget your own. Coaches and teachers don’t always make the best students. 
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Posted in Coaching, Fitness, Learning, Outdoor Recreation, Paddling, Random Thoughts | 
auditory, Coaching, discovery learning, fencing, kinesthetic, Learning, learning styles, visual | 
3 CommentsBlack Leather Pimps
Published January 12, 2013 | 
Boogie nights / Aint no doubt we are here to party
Boogie nights / Come on now got to get it started
Dance with the boogie, get down
‘Cos boogie nights are always the best in town – heat wave
It’s one of those things you’d never notice. I mean, you don’t notice at first. It sort of sneaks up on you. You see, I’m 5’7″ verging on 5’8″ and she’s 5’8″ verging on 6 feet. As I said, you wouldn’t notice, not barreling down the hiking trails in your tennis shoes, talking across a table or paddling a kayak. It’s something you really only notice when you’re up close, really close.. Then you suddenly feel the urge to ask, “Hey, what are you standing on?” Still, what’s an inch between friends? Continue reading
Don’t Harass The Eagles
Published January 11, 2013 | 
I’m not talking about a wade in the shallows
I’m not living there any more
You can spend your life fighting the river
Or you could look me right in the eyes – shearwater
This time of year, the lakes are the domain of the fisher people and the rivers are a risky proposition as well. I’ll tell you one thing though, every year when I see the Bald Eagles gathering on the Wisconsin river I feel an urge to hop in my kayak and paddle out for a visit. Thing is, that would be a bad idea.
In the winter eagles are already stressed by the cold and scarcity of food. Scaring eagles into flight or away from their food could deprive them of the energy they need to maintain their body temperature. So as much as I like to watch the eagles, I’ll be doing it from shore. Continue reading
Posted in Learning, Nature & Wildlife, Outdoor Recreation, Paddling, Photography, Random Thoughts | Leave a commentBack To Center
Published January 3, 2013 | Whenever I want you around, yeah.
All I gotta do,
Is call you on the phone,
And you’ll come running home,
Yeah, that’s all I gotta do.
- beatles
This morning I warmed up the old Victrola… (Um, opened my Itunes.) and felt the urge to listen to Meet The Beatles. Yeah, I go vintage sometimes! Actually as a kid of the late 60s and early 70′s the Beatles were just turning “vintage” by the time I first picked up a guitar. Anyway, the thought that entered my mind as the song, “All I’ve Got To Do” started playing was that sometimes we just need to go back to base, to re-center ourselves. I’ve learned to do that many times in my kayak when the conditions around me started making me feel a bit twitchy. Continue reading
A Pox On 2012, Let There Be Sheep…
Published December 31, 2012 | 
Counting lambs, counting sheep
we will fall into sleep
and we awake to a new day of living
and loving you so. – Tull
Cheers to December 31st, 2012! I have to say, I love this day. Well, not the day exactly.. It’s cold. It’s grey, and I’m totally sick of winter. Still, I’m happy to mark the end of 2012 and transition forward from too many years of feeling as if I’d lost control of my life and of my soul. I’m healing. I’m quieting my mind. I’m accepting the things I cannot change, and moving forward. Let the time for sadness and regret fade away. Let there be happiness. Let there be plans for the future and…. Let there be sheep. Continue reading
Posted in Loch Ness, My Paddling, My Weird Life, Outdoor Recreation, Paddling, Quixotica, Random Thoughts | scotland | 3 CommentsWinter. Tryin’ To Feel It…
Published December 29, 2012 | 
Running in circles / A mouse on the table
I try to feel, I just don’t / Hurtin’ and dead inside
Go on and cut ‘em in half / Said I
- BROKEN BELLS
I get it. If you live in the northern climates, you are supposed to say things like, “I love winter” and “It’s fine if you dress for it!”. Deep down inside though, we know we’d much rather be enjoying a mid-July day out on the trails. Loving winter more than summer is one of those ”If you say it enough, you’ll start to believe it.”, “power of positive thinking” things. Yeah, I enjoy snowshoeing around looking for animal tracks and taking in the holiday postcard scenery… I’ll have fun jumping into my kayak on the first day of the new year when forecasters are calling for a high temperature of 7 f. I may put on a brave face and be all “balls-to-the-wall” about the cold, but inside… I’m pining for summer….
Can’t believe it’s that time again! Here in central Wisconsin Canoecopia is right around the corner. March 8th through the 10th. It’s time once again to see all the gear and hear about all the great adventures folks have had in the great outdoors. It’s also a great time to mention that some of the best adventures happen right outside your front door. Adventure is just a state of mind. Continue reading →