Gumbo came to live with us in the spring of 2017. He graduated from obedience school with a B+ average because he could not sit still if there was a person to greet, which meant he bounced up every time the instructor walked by. His tail wags furiously in the presence of any human. At …
I took a kayak safety class several years ago. Ben has learned most everything he knows about kayaking from me. While we were at Wisconsin’s Apostle Islands, I learned our favorite outfitter, Trek & Trail offered a safety class. We’d paddled with them last year on a tour to see the famous sea caves In …
We spent 10 windy days in the city of Ludington Michigan, which is perched on Lake Michigan. With miles of beaches and sparkling blue water, Ludington is a wildly popular summer destination. Taking a break on Hamlin Lake Ludington State Park is a family affair. The park straddles Lake Michigan and the much smaller Hamlin …
When our friend Jim suggested we take a trip down a stretch of the Mohican river, we accepted immediately. None of us had been on this stretch of the river but the Mohican is generally placid, the upper part of which is popular with families and novice boaters. Our planning included how to get there …
Lots of waterfowl and a real-life water rescue made last night's paddle a unique evening on the water
Having ticked the major boxes on our trip to Sault Ste. Marie in the Upper Peninsula (Soo Locks and Whitefish Point) it was time to check out a few other area attractions. We were in the area at kind of a shoulder season of sorts, in that summer festivities were over but fall/winter activities had …
Humans have paltry imaginations when it comes to the size of natural wonders. We underestimate what is required in terms of time, distance and effort to experience such places. We look at the dots and splotches on maps that indicate where such things are located, ogle photos from slick publications and imagine ourselves in the …
Continue reading Itty Bitty Boats; Great Big Rocks; Big Big Water
The haze of smoke shrouded the mountains around Glacier National Park all day so we decided to go paddling on McDonald Lake rather than hike. Late that afternoon we loaded our boats and headed for the boat ramp. Timing a visit in any of the parks is essential, as crowds are largest between 10 - …
As with all my hobbies involving any athleticism I started paddling seriously later in life. When I was in college I spent time on the Youghiogheny and New rivers rafting and kayaking in these inflatable kayaks they called “duckies.” Once I started working I only hit the water a few times on canoe trips or rafting …
In February we stayed at a campground called Presnell’s in the town of Port Saint Joe, located on St. Joseph Bay. The bay is beautiful and protected by a spit of island called Cape San Blas. If you come to Port Saint Joe looking for what Ben calls “trinkets and trash,” there are one or …
RedDog on Wheels 