MN Rovers Fall Extravaganza

Well I've just come back from my first outing with the Minnesota Rovers and it was a very happy weekend, thanks to Kathi and Jim who'd asked me to come along!

Saturday

There was a definite nip in the air, but the sky was blue and we must have just caught the colors at their peak! We had a gorgeous paddle on Thompson reservoir up to the last few curls of the Upper St Louis rapids.

What's more fun than lots of colorful boats, a beautiful day, great company and the backdrop of the Northwoods?

Look at the sunlight dancing on the water!

Lunch island.

Here's Greg in the yellow and red kayak and Barb and Eric in the canoe (me and my memory for names, can't name the others, but they were all fun!

Here's Mary Ann on the right with Barb taking a picture and Greg wading in the cold water with just sandles! I couldn't say not to folks who offed me a slide onto shore and I was very greatful for my dry and warm feet :-)

The last few curls of the Upper Louis.

I think that's Big Cahuna rapids there in the distance.

Dawn with her sunset red hair with Jeff. (Dawn makes yummy brownies! :-)

Sunday

Hiking the trails along the Lower Louis in Jay Cooke Statepark.

It had been a wonderful weekend! Kathi, Jim and I kept saying it over and over again on the ride back to the Cities and thanking each other for that wonderful weekend! But of course, there had only been about 70 other wonderful people who were wellcoming, fun and interesting to spend time with. And not only for wonderful boating hiking, no!

Saturday evening we were getting the site ready for a splendid dinner/theater/campfire round. I was glad I could at least contribute a little bit by putting up the dinner canopy, shifting tables and carting stoves, water and stuff from the carpark to the site. The spread was enourmous, wholesome and delicious!!! Fred and Ed had been slaving over big cauldrons to make a selection of delectable and warming stews as well as refreshing pasta salad with the crunchiest vegetables you can imagine. Pat and Dawn had been baking wonderful bars, brownies and crips (as well as bread for the Sunday breakfast)!

And that was just setting the scene for the Fireside Follies. Folk singing of the finest, great story telling and some riptickling jokes from Andrea, who I know from poker and who was a wonderful surprise to bump into at the fireside!

I can't wait for the bonfire party at Mary's, where I'll be able to join in with the singing and to get a hold of that book: A Fine and Pleasant Misery by Patrick McManus.

Anyway, right after I had put my boat to bed and emptied my cooler etc. I couldn't send them Rovers my money quickly enough to become a fulfletched member of this fine band of people!

Here's to the next outing!!!