Deephaven; Events to plan for while it is snowing the beegeezers off in late March!

Plan ahead. August 9th. The Deephaven triathlon. I think this should be billed as the worlds' most do-able -and most enjoyale -triathalon. It consists of a: 200yd swim, 3.67 mile bike ride (lord knows how they came up with this) and a 2 mile run. Work on your swimming.

Outside it is snowing.

Garfunkel Incognito (mere speculation)

The weather outside was frightful, windy and snowy. I stood at the checkout at the Minnetonka Target with my cart brimming with bulk toilet paper, bags of Purina One dog food and 2 furnace filters. In the lane next to me stood a tall man in a wide brimmed hat pulled down over his forehead, wearing sunglasses. He smiled at meknowingly, as if to acknowlege that he was incognito.

As he checked out, the grey haired cashier she looked at him and asked him “Paper or plastic?” He replied; “...sail on silver girl... sail on by....” - then he came to his senses and said; “Er... plastic". He paid with his Target Credit card.
Note: Art is commonly sighted by Deephaven residents, actually and imagined.

A Magic Bus near Highway 7

HIghway 7 near Christmas Lake Road.
I stopped and poked around, to see if this was the Green Bus of Wellstonian fame. It is not. Wellstone's Bus was a 2-tone oldie with a white top. This International Harvester bus is visible from Highway 7 and has always seemed like a bright neon sign for nothing in particular. Across the Highway is a sign "Explore Historic Excelsior". It is on a ligh natural wood with a very faint lettering, as if to recede into the back ground.

TonkaNauts

A few weeks ago The Minnetonka Power Boat Squadron used one of my "Ice Out' photos from 2007 in their "TonkaNauts" newsletter. The photo was used to prime the emotional pump for another season of boating on Minnetonka. It was a pleasure to provide them with the photo. (I must say the newsletter design Is quite attractive).
The Minnetonka Power Boat Squadron is a volunteer organization that provides the community with boating safety lessons through education, training and an active camp (my description) on Big Island. - The City of Orono has been assuming management of the Big Island Park.

Note my comments on the Lake Minnetonka Ice Out from 2007:

Previous official ICE OUT dates:
1990 - April 4
1991 - April 8
1992 - April 10
1993 - April 19
1994 - April 11
1995 - April 3
1996 - April 24
1997 - April 18
1998 - April 3
1999 - April 2
2000 - March 18
2001 - April 19
2002 - April 16
2003 - April 12
2004 - April 6
2005 - April 9
2006 - April 9

The Minnetonkascenes official Ice Out for 2007 was April 4th. Others chose the 3rd, but not I. Look for a later date this year with gatherings of impatient Tonkanauts.

No Snow Storage Here!

Deephaven Stonehenge

One Deephaven. Chowen's Corner.

Thorpe Park Ice out

The ice is thin and snowed covered on the little pond in Thorpe Park, Deephaven. Needless to say nearby Lake Minnetonka is snowy and icy and a no-man's land.
Back to Thorpe Park: This park was once a truck farm, but now is a very enjoyable human and dog walking park- on leash. The park has numerous trash recepticals and doggie dew mit dispensers. Porta-potties, ball fields and picnic area too.

Excited to go to the Park!

I occasionally run the park. Following it's exterior perimeter I have calculated it to be .8 mile. One just picks the number of times you want to go around and proceed. On the coldest of days you are merely a few hundred yards from your car (if you used the small lot) when the weather gets the best of you.
It is also the finshing point of the Deephaven Mini-Triathalon (I stress mini).

A Cold March in Minnetonka

Sign of the times. My apologies and thanks to the owner.

Biking Minnetonka

The Regional LRT Trail will be clear soon. It begins in Hopkins and continues to Victoria, for a 15.5 mile total. It is great for excursions to to the Carver Park Reserve in Victoria, there the trail diverges into a paved trail with dividing white lines. I have found it easy to get lost there physically and mentally, along the panoramic and winding trail. I highly recommend this ride, though you must take it easy. This is a shared trail, and not the best for the serious racer, who wants to put in solid uninterrupted mileage. It is lightly traveled though, so you are not generally crowded.
A quick stop in Victoria feels more like a visit to western Minnesota, with antiquing, pubs and deli.

Going, going..... no, its still there.

OK, I have a better shovel. The outlook is for temperatures in the 50s by later this week. No small bit of news in my book.

This Blog: Always Seeking Improvement

Some of my recent reading while holed up in this frozen tundra.

BTW- Minnetonkascenes was referenced in both the Minneapolis paper and by a few popular Twin Cites blogs recently. Now that's relevancy! MScenes has tried to remain as borderline relevant/irrelevant as a blog can be and still attract readers.
Keep warm.

Let the Minnetonka Ice Out Begin! I'm begging....

Grandview Point. Taken in 2006.
Every year I post my very unnofficial Lake Minnetonka Ice out. Keep checking, I will give continuing updates.
Traditionally the Ice Out on Minnetonka is "when a small fishing boat can travel unencumbered from Wayzata Bay to Excesior Bay" ...you can get the official dates here: http://www.freshwater.org/iceout.html.
My unnofficial date is more seat-of-the-pants, like: When the first WCCO traffic helecopter shinges the tree tops during a Ice-out/global warming assignment. Or when, the first errant Jeep is pulled from Excelsior Bay.
In other words - I make it up. Right now it looks to be another month. I've got to go shovel. Argh!

A children's game

Early Sunday morning

From Walden Pond.
"After a still winter night I awoke with the impression that some question had been put to me, which I had been endeavoring in vain to answer in my sleep, as what - how - when - and where?
But there was dawning nature, in whome all creatures live, looking in at my broad windows with serene and satisfied face, and no questions on her lips. I awoke to an answered question, to nature and daylight. The snow lying deep on the earth dotted with young pines, and the very slope of the hill on which my house is placed seemed to say 'Forward'."

- Henry David thoreau