“Up north to the lake” is the common weekend occurrence here, whether it’s a small lake or a big lake. And the biggest lake is Lake Superior. We spent the weekend in Ashland, Wisconsin, along the southern shore of Lake Superior. It was a perfect summer weekend — warm daytime temperatures, cooler nighttime temps, the lake close by, along with a special 4th of July celebration. We were treated to beautiful sunsets with calm waters that reflected the boats in the marina as well as the fireworks that were set off after dark. A perfect dose of summer relaxation!
Photography
Clematis
It is a beautiful time of year right now — our garden is in full bloom. I try to walk through the gardens each morning, allowing myself to observe the changes in the flowers and plants and to marvel at the new ones that have just bloomed. Our roses have burst into bloom, the hydrangeas are coming along, the lilies are budded, but right now it’s the clematis that are stealing the show. We have over a dozen different varieties, and each is unique in its sun & shade requirements, its bloom time, its size, and its color. This photo is of one of the newer clematis – silver moon. It’s bloom is large, soft, and of the palest color – almost as if whispering the shades and hues of its petals. With a garden in full bloom it’s easy to overlook the cold and snow that Mother Nature sends to us in winter — this makes the wait all the more worthwhile.
Biking across Kansas 2009
553 miles, 8 days, heat, cold, sun, rain, wind — we had it all on the Biking Across Kansas ride that just finished last Saturday. It was a great experience, and an adventure of the best kind. 800+ riders travelled from the Colorado border across southern Kansas to the Missouri border. We stayed in small towns that rolled out the red carpet for this mass of hungry cyclists. The wheat in western Kansas was golden and beautiful, and the Flint Hills of central Kansas were lush and green. Wildflowers were in bloom throughout the state, benefiting from the abundance of rain in the past few months. And I can attest to the fact that Kansas in NOT flat; the rolling hills of the east side of the state gave us our toughest workout. This was a perfect way to see and experience my home state. Bicycling puts you directly into the landscape, and you meet the locals face-to-face. Everyone (and I do mean everyone) was friendly, giving me a real taste of mid-western hospitality. This was the 35th year for the BAK ride (www.bak.org), and I tip my helmet to the BAK committee. The ride was wonderfully organized, the food was fabulous, and the entire experience was a great adventure!
Bicycling and photography
It’s a countdown this week for a big bicycling ride that’s coming up. We’re planning to do the 35th annual Bike Across Kansas (www.bak.org). For someone who grew up in Kansas, there are so many parts of the state I’ve never seen or been to. It’s strange, but I’ve explored more of my new-home state of Minnesota than I have of Kansas. To help remedy this situation, last January we signed up to ride from the western edge of Kansas to the eastern edge — a distance of over 500 miles. Of course, it was subzero temps and a foot of snow on the ground in January, and June seemed a long time away. So we dreamed of sunny summer Kansas weather for about 3 months. Once the snow melted in Minnesota we began our training in earnest. It’s been a long time planning, but now we’re in the home stretch. The ride begins on Saturday, June 6th in the west Kansas town of Syracuse, and concludes 8 days later in Louisburg, at the Missouri border. It will be a trip of great scenery, new friends, lots of pedaling, and lots of miles. This trip will, however, be about bicycling and not about photography. While I will have a camera with me, my main goal is to enjoy the countryside and the experience, and to not obsess about the perfect photographic opportunity and/or scene. Check back to my blog in a couple of weeks for a report on the ride!
Eagle Scout award
I traveled to the Kansas City area last week for family celebrations. My nephew Parker graduated from high school and received his Eagle Scout award. It was a festive and grand time — a time to celebrate all his many accomplishments and to marvel at the young man he has become. He’s had the support of his parents, grandparents, family members, and the extended community where he has lived. He’s experienced the many ups and downs of a child, a teenager, and a young adult. And he’s made his aunt so very proud of him. Congratulations, Parker — I look forward to seeing what accomplishments and adventures are in your future.
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