I enjoy getting to know people and learning about their lives and passions. For my cousin Kelli, one of those passions is kayaking, which is one of many things we have in common. Kelli and I purchased our kayaks about the same time, but since we live more than two hours apart, we rarely get... Continue Reading →
We’re two weeks into August, a time of the year that fills me with a sense of wistfulness, a yearning for days earlier in the season filled with the anticipation of many warm, sunny summer days ahead. Now a feeling of trepidation settles over me as the number of summer days dwindles, the sun sets... Continue Reading →
I love sharing the joys of kayaking with my family and friends, and I recently had the pleasure of kayaking with my sister, Michelle, and my two nieces, Kaitlyn and Emily. While the girls had kayaked before on vacations, this was Michelle’s first kayaking voyage. For simply picking a date on the calendar, we were... Continue Reading →
Eighties rock boomed from my SUV’s stereo as I traveled south on the interstate on Friday morning, ahead of the weekend traffic of tri-state travelers, kayaks in tow on my way to Lake Koshkonong. It seemed fitting to jam to the tunes I grew up with on my way to see friends I grew up—three... Continue Reading →
Meet Gill! This 9-week-old French bulldog is my new “grand-dog,” “son” of my daughter Rebecca and her boyfriend, Ryan. Rebecca loves to kayak and Ryan is an avid fisherman, so this pup needs to learn to enjoy the water as much as the rest of his family. Frenchies are not built for swimming, so a... Continue Reading →
Sunny, 80 degrees and almost no breeze—this summer day is too perfect to stay home. Greg and I launch our kayaks on the north side of Lake Mendota. The lake is flat, the only waves caused by the parade of boats motoring through the no-wake zone toward open waters. It’s rare to find this big... Continue Reading →
“Maybe we should have stayed home,” I thought as I paddled into the gusty wind, waves occasionally splashing over the front of my kayak and into my face. It was a sunny Saturday and I had looked forward to kayaking all week. I’d been monitoring the wind speeds since I’d awoken, worried about driving 45... Continue Reading →
Staying home for more than two months this year has certainly been a unique (and hopefully, a once-in-a-lifetime) circumstance, but personally, my experience has been positive and productive. First, I get to work from home, eliminating my commute and daily parking expenses. I start my day a little later, so I’m rested and relaxed. I’ve... Continue Reading →
I often struggle to fall asleep, tossing restlessly in bed, unable to quiet my racing mind. Sometimes I’m thinking about all the things on my “TO DO” list. Other times I’m replaying words or actions in my mind, considering the “should haves,” “could haves” and “what ifs” of my day. I wish I could just... Continue Reading →
Kayaking is one of my favorite ways to relax. Yet relaxing does not mean being unprepared for what can happen on the water. The “what ifs” range from minor inconveniences like “what if my nose starts to run,” “what if I get hungry” and “what if my lips feel chapped” to potential hazards, such as... Continue Reading →
