The Flood of 2012

Got a boat?

Duluth is experiencing a wee bit of flooding today due to 8" of rain in 24 hours.  Major and minor highways and road of all kinds  are being shut down.  Mayor Ness had declared a State of Emergency.   We have sinkholes, washouts, mudslides, creeks, streams, ditches overflowing.  Our aging infrastructure is greatly suffering today. 

I wish I had some before pics so you could really get a good idea how bad it is, but here are a couple of pictures I pulled from the Northland News Center website:  Northland News   (more pics there)

Krenzen Auto dealership.  Those little bumps are  cars...
(I did not take this pic.)

The Miller Hill Mall area.  I didn't take this picture, but I was here about
the time it was taken.  Yes, stupid me driving into work... 

Usually the Miller Creek, which is the source of this plethora of water, is about the size of a large drainage ditch.  It's actually a protected trout stream.  But where else is 8" of water supposed to go?  

It's about 12:00pm on Wednesday, and it's still raining.  Water will continue to rise for the next couple of days, so we're not out of the woods yet. 

This is a massive flood event that Duluth hasn't witnessed since the early 1970's, and I can safely say that nearly 50% of the businesses in the pictures above didn't exist then. 

A picture of what is left of the suspension bridge at Jay Cook St. Park
(from the Husbands FB page)

Give me a blizzard any day, don't like this flooding at all.  Very scary stuff.

Recipe Review from 7/11/11 and Weekend Adventures

This Saturday found the Husband and I driving up the North Shore of Lake Superior so very bright and early: 

Destination: North of Grand Marais. 

Reason:  A Lake Superior Hiking Trail Facilitated Hike as lead by friend S.

Segment: 4.9 miles. The trail follows the Brule River for over two miles and features the dramatic Devil’s Kettle Falls. After nice forests, the trail climbs to a rocky knob with a view of Lake Superior, then descends into the Flute Reed River Valley.

Last hiked: May 2008

About 15 people showed up for this organized event.  Friend S, as hike facilitator, gave his spiel on trail conditions, safety, and organized the shuttling of cars.  The Naturalist on this hike, Eric, gave his spiel on what we could expect to see on the trail today.  The great thing about these facilitated hikes is you can hike as slow (within reason, there are people waiting to make sure you get off the trail) or as quickly as you like, or you can hike with the naturalist,  and everyone gets to through-hike a segment thanks to the shuttle coordination.

We were on the trail about 10:30ish.  It was going to be a challenging hike with temperatures creeping toward 80*, extremely high humidity and high heat index.  In addition, these northern segments had experienced a wind storm earlier this year and there was significant downfall that the trail crews just hadn't gotten to yet.  (I heart the trail crews very much!) 

The Husband and I were amongst the first four off the trail - it helps that we have "Dog-assist" (aka, Ben) since he keeps us moving right along.  Because we were traveling with the hike facilitator, we had time to hang out, cool off, have a brewski, and change.  This was also Andy-dogs second hike and it proved a bit challenging for him what with the heat and distance.  He curled up in the shade with me and conked out.

Alas, I don't have any pictures from this year.  I forgot to pack the camera and even if I had, I don't think I would have taken any pictures.  Just too hot and futzy with the dogs. 




Changing topics, with a short week since my return from Madison, WI, only one recipe to review: 

Shrimp Korma and Basmati Rice    (Ckng Lght, June 2011)
This was getting positive reviews over on the Ckng Lght bulletin board, and a quick perusal of the ingredients told me all I needed was some shrimp and coconut milk.  Excellent!  This did come together fairly quickly. I didn't start the rice soon enough so I had to wait till the rice was cooking before I could do the rest.  I don't have "Madras" curry powder, only Hot and Sweet. The Husband opted for the Sweet.  My one complaint is that this turned out a bit on the runny side for my taste, but probably my fault as I didn't measure my flour precisely and I had added some leftover summer squash to use it up.  A delightful dish that I wouldn't hesitate to make again.


Whip up this spicy and flavorful Indian shrimp korma in just 30 minutes. Top the dish with a spoonful of thick, tangy Greek-style yogurt to counter the heat.

photo from CookingLight.com



Ingredients

2 teaspoons butter

1 cup chopped red bell pepper

1/2 cup chopped onion

1 1/2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon grated peeled fresh ginger

3 garlic cloves, finely chopped
2 teaspoons Madras curry powder
2 teaspoons garam masala
1/2 teaspoon salt, divided
2 cups organic vegetable broth
1/3 cup water
1/3 cup coconut milk
1/4 cup diced tomato
1/4 cup frozen green peas
1 pound peeled and deveined large shrimp
4 cups hot cooked basmati rice
1/4 cup plain fat-free yogurt

Preparation

1. Melt butter in a Dutch oven over medium-high heat. Add bell pepper and onion to pan; sauté 2 minutes. Add flour, ginger, and garlic; cook 1 minute, stirring constantly. Add curry powder, garam masala, and 1/4 teaspoon salt; cook 30 seconds, stirring. Stir in broth and 1/3 cup water; bring to a boil. Stir in milk and tomato; reduce heat, and simmer 5 minutes. Add peas, shrimp, and remaining salt; cook 5 minutes or until shrimp are done. Spoon about 2/3 cup rice into each of 6 bowls. Top each serving with about 1 cup shrimp mixture and 2 teaspoons yogurt.

Adam Hickman, Cooking Light
JUNE 2011

Superior Hiking Trail Organized Hike, Oct 9



Waterfall in the Fall sun



Saturday found the Husband and I joining S and J and 35 other folks for an organized hike from Sonju Lake Rd to Finland Rec Center on the Superior Hiking Trail.  The lovely Joy from Hartley Nature Center in Duluth was our naturalist, though she admitted her passion is geology.  Which is great because I love rocks.  Temps were easily in the high 60's, low 70's, with a subtle lake wind to keep one cool. 

We all congregated at the Finland Rec Center for our pre-hike speech and to ask for a volunteer to be the Sweep. The Sweep's responsibility is to make sure everyone gets off the trail safely and the hike coordinator is to make sure the Sweep gets off the trail safely. 

Speeches and introductions complete, we all piled into as few cars as possible and made our way to Sonju Lake.  Everyone was quickly on the trail - there was 7 miles to be hiked.  We brought the hounds, and being in the back of the group was not working out so well.  D managed to get ahead, but it took me longer to catch up.  

This segment is rolling, but not challengingly so.  Once up on the ridges, you pass through maple forests - now with all the leaves down in a brown carpet broken only by the tree trunks and the sky - with a few scenic overlooks that span the Sawtooth Mountains.  No lake views on this portion.  There are two lakes the trail passes, great places to pause and reflect on the calm inky water and the golden tamaracks reflecting in them. 

The Husband and I did this in about 4 hours - most folks seemed to hit the parking lot at 4 1/2.  And the Sweep made it in at 5 hours.  A group of us then rendevouxed at the Rustic Inn for a fabulous dinner complete with awesome pie.  And I do mean awesome pie - cranberry pear ala mode. 



Swimming dog on Egge Lake



Home again by 8:30p, unload and call it a day.  October doesn't get any better than this.

SHT Trail Maintenance Day!

This past weekend I had the good fortune to be invited to help clean up a segment of the Superior Hiking Trail from Beaver Bay to Silver Bay, MN.  I helped last year and had a splendid time:  Trail Maintenance 2009. 

 Our Crew (L-R):  Fearless Leader S, J, and D



For my readers out there in blog world who may not be familiar with the Superior Hiking Trail, this is a 260+ mile hiking and backpacking trail that runs adjacent to Lake Superior. The trail is maintained in part by a large group of volunteers who adopt segments and walk them twice a year to check for problems and clean them up.

 This segment is 5 miles long. Going from South to North, is begins by paralleling the Beaver River before meandering up the ridges to provide some great overlooks of the Beaver River gorge and Lake Superior. With the Fall colors just beginning to turn, it was very dramatic. The day itself was crisp, clear, and sunny with just some high clouds.  We had some rain recently so the Beaver River was running full and muddy.







Admiring the view.



J having technical difficulties.  Many suggestions being offered...

And if you find yourself in Duluth on Oct 9, and want to go for a hike on this marvelous trail, there is a SHTA guided hike being offered.  I've done this one twice now and it's a lovely hike for the fall. 
October 9 10:00 a.m. Sonju Lake Road to Finland Recreation Center

7.5 miles. A beautiful hike through maple forests. Hike along the east branch of the Baptism River and by Sonju Lake (with an island you can walk out to) and Egge Lake. Meet at the trailhead parking lot at the Finland Rec Center. From Hwy 61 milepost 59.3 go 6.2 miles on Hwy 1 through Finland. Turn right on Co Rd 7 and go 1.3 miles to parking lot by ball field just past Rec Center.

More Tall Ships 2010!

Over my lunch hour on Friday, a co-worker and I went down to the Canal to check out the Tall Ships in port.  To give you an idea of how popular these ships were, Monday mornings news reported that upwards of 200,000 people were in town at some point over the four day event.  That's more people than Grandma's Marathon, which used to be the people drawing event, and I think it easily surpassed Blues Fest. 

But I digress.  If a person wanted to get up close and personal with the ships, one had to pay.  If one just wanted to admire, there was plenty of room to do that too.  Which is what we did. 

For your viewing pleasure:

HMS Bounty, Roald Amundson, Amistad, Barque Europa

HMS Bounty (aka The Black Pearl, Mutiny on the Bounty)

Roald Amendson, US Brig Niagra, Barque Europa

Roseway (has rose colored sails)

Smallest ship in for the tour (sorry, couldn't find it's name)

I think next time the ships are in town, I am going to sign up for a sail boat ride.  I've only ever done one, on Lake Champlain in 2004, where it stormed and rained so we had to head back early.   Still, to sail on a wooden ship on Lake Superior, that would be so cool. 

Tall Ships 2010!

The ships are here!  The ships are here!  

HMS Bounty (R)

Okay, so I wasn't going to go down and watch them come in...but who was I kidding?!  As the time grew closer to the grand procession, I found myself bidding ado to the office and heading down to The Lake with camera and lunch in hand.

The last Tall Ship festival was 2008 with 4 ships.  It was pretty cool and a bit of a fiasco as the event planners didn't realize when they sold 25,000 tickets that all those people would be descending upon a very small area with almost no parking.  They wised up this go around and are now charging an arm and a leg for everything from parking to viewing to events. 

But I digress.   The ships participated in a grand procession that stretched away onto the lake - there were the Tall Ships, a salty at anchor, and more sail boats, motor boats, refurbished tug boats, the retired Coast Guard ship The Sundew (now privately owned), jet ski's and kayaks.  It was a veritable flotsam of white boats bobbing around on the calm waters of Lake Superior. 

Nine boats are in harbor for the next several days:

S/V Sullivan

HMS Bounty

Roald Amundsen

Barque Europa

Pride of Baltimore

Zeeto

Coaster II

Roseway

For details on the specifics of each, check out his link:  Tall Ships Duluth 2010

Meanwhile, I leave you with thoughts of days gone by (or Johnny Depp...)

Roseway

Barque Europa

Brig Niagra

Tall Ships!

(Photo by Amanda Hansmeyer/News Tribune)

Duluth, MN, has a very rich maritime history, and yesterday through this weekend we had a bit of that history come to us in the way three tall sailing ships. These ships are actually a bit smaller than some tall ships I've toured elsewhere in the states, but they are still impressive. I forgot my camera at home this morning so I uploaded some pictures from the Duluth News Tribune website on the event - their photographers had a better view anyway.

(Photo by Clint Austin/News Tribune)

It was so impressive to have these beautiful sailboats under full sail sitting out on the lake and then all come in in convoy. The Pride of Baltimore and the US Brig Niagara fired their cannons as they came under the lift bridge. The Madeline was a cargo vessel and did not have any cannons. The Kaboom! reverberated through the lakefront as plumes of smoke wafted upwards. As you can see, it was an absolutely splendid afternoon for this event.


(Photo by Clint Austin/News Tribune)

(Photo by Derek Montgomery/News Tribune)

It's my understanding the US Brig Niagara is a educational sailing vessel, and for a fee, you can go on board and learn how to sail. Once you've completed your training, you are then welcome to sail with the ship as long as you like. That would be so neat!

After the crowds thinned out and the ships were docked, the Husband and I wandered down to check them out. There are all sorts of activities going on with this festival as the vessels are here through the weekend. Unfortunately, my schedule won't permit me to get back down, so I'm glad I got to see them last night.