The Tour De Tonka 2008

Saturday, August 2, 2008
NEW START: Event begins at Minnetonka High School
www.tourdetonka.org
Gwyn 952 401 6842

3 courses, all ages, all abilities. 15 mile, 33mile and 65 mil options.
Registrants receive t- shirt, ride support and door prizes.

OK, that is the official information.- Before I go any further let me say this will be a GREAT family ride! Part of the donations go to the ICA food shelf, and part to the Minnetonka Community Education Center.
The ride is very well run and monitored for safety.
Last year I participated in the 3rd annual ride. I had some criticism..... but then I always have some criticism. I wanted to see the lake more, and catch more sun. My #8 lotion was untouched.
The 2007 ride took place during a 6 week draught. BUT - on the day of the event it rained - to every one’s consternation.

After the ride the draught returned. The lack of rain reeked havoc on my plants, lawn and bicycling psyche. That’s Minnesota.
I hope cyclists give it an easy-going shot.

Sailor's Warning

Red sign in the morning
Sailor's warning
Red sign at night
.... just form one line


we're watching.

Gray's bay

The Kent Hrbek ALS Bass Fishing Tournament 2008

I stopped into Maynards in Excelsior Monday to see how things were working out for the Kent Hrbek ALS Bass Tournament. It was a very jockular group standing in line with their hauls for the weigh in. The sun was bright, the air calm. A local DNR guy told me that the fish were not biting too much. A group of young Twins fans crowded the stage for a look at their faves, and hoping not to get splashed by a Bass or illegal Walleye.
Not being a celebrity, I was gently shown the other side of the rope as I jockeyed for some close ups (of the Bass).

Viking linebacker Chad Greenway and Jesse Ventura discuss hair length and it's relationship to performance. Jesse did most of the talking.

My near drowning - recalled as a warning ( circa 1982)

I lay on a beach towel, near a little bridge by Lake Nakomis. It was very warm and sunny, the sun glittered off the water's surface and the cool, grassy sunning area was lightly lined with sunbathers. It was more solitary "singles beach".
I had just run once around the lake, and was a self-ordained triathelete, running 5 miles 3-4 times a week, and swimming solid workouts 3 times a week. Biking was a given. My point is: I was in very good shape...26 years ago.
After lounging briefly on my towel, I decided it would be fun to swim to the middle of the lake and then back in. I was alone.
I dove into the cool water and easily "crawled" to the middle of the lake where I stopped to ponder my postion. Sunny. I could see my starting point about 200-250 yards away. A few distant wind surfers were visible.
I relaxed.... then: Ouch! A sharp pain on my calf set me into a mild panic... I was bit by a fish! Another probing poke from the fish (or turtle) sent me kicking to scare it away.
It was at this point the very worst thing happened. In an ill-timed effort to catch my rapid breath I instead drew a deep breath of water into my lungs. Now I could not breath at all. I panicked and began to cough, choke, and sink below the surface as I struggled to catch my breath.
Then it hit me, "You are going to drown unless you start using your head!"
I rolled onto my back coughing and gasping into the air trying to relax and regain composure. I looked up at the sun. After a minute, I could breath....unevenly.
I never relaxed, but switchd to the breast stroke and pushed my way into shore. I came out of the water exhausted and embarrased. Of all things, my appearance this on my mind.
No one had even noticed.
I examined my leg and I noticed a distinct set of teeth marks in my calf.

A little boat that could

The Flags Are Explained.....

Small label on the end of a plastic tube/container in marina.

Wayzata Yacht Club 6:30am Tuesday

A party list

Found lists
Frequent readers of this blog (Thank you Bill) may know, I have an odd habit of picking up discarded shopping lists and interpreting them. You may conclude - this is as a sort-of voyeurism, but each tossed-away list is an insight into another person’s life, mundane or exciting. It records what the hapless shopper is willing to write down to themself alone. No text messages here.
This list is just plain fun. There is a party goin on. I have my interpretation. But please, be my guest. Note: - initial caps are theirs:

On a 4X5 lined recipé card:

• Paper Towels
• TP - Editor's note; (toilet paper)
• Snacks?
• Solo cups
• Ping Pong Balls
• 36 pack condoms
• Ice

2 Songs About Boats

Every Mother's Son
"Come on down to my boat"


"Every Mother's Son was a rock band formed in New York City in 1967. Brothers Dennis (born 22 November 1948) and Larry Larden (born 10 August 1945) had originally performed as a folk duo. In the formation of Every Mother's Son, they were joined by pianist Bruce Milner (born 9 May 1943), drummer Christopher Augustine (born 25 August 1941) and bassist Schuyler Larsen (born 19 February 1947)" - Wikepedia

*** *** ***
She sits on the dock a fishin' in the water uh, huh
I don't know her name she's the fisherman's daughter uh, huh
Come on down to my boat baby
Come on down where we can play
Come on down to my boat baby
Come on down we'll sail away.

She smiled so nice like she wants to come with me uh, huh
But she's tied to the dock and she can't get free
Come on down to my boat baby...
Fish all day sleep all night
Father never lets her out of his sight
Soon I'm gonna have to get my knife and cut that rope, cut that rope
Then we can go fishin' in my little red boat
Make you happy in my little red boat
so come on down to my boat baby...

*** *** ***
Sloop John B. - (this taken from a music history web site)

"Although the pop group, “The Beach Boys” brought this Bahamian folk song to international popularity in the 1960s, the story behind the “Sloop John B.,” or as it's originally called, “The John B. Sails,” goes way, way back.
Around 1926, John T. McCutcheon and his wife learned to sing this song while spending time in the West Indies. McCutcheon was a world traveller, philosopher and the Pulitzer Prize winning cartoonist for the Chicago Tribune. He said of “The John B. Sails” that, “Time and usage have given the song almost the dignity of a national anthem around Nassau.”

We come on the sloop John B
My grandfather and me
Around Nassau town we did roam
Drinking all night
Got into a fight
Well I feel so broke up
I want to go home

So hoist up the John B's sail
See how the mainsail sets
Call for the Captain ashore
Let me go home, let me go home
I wanna go home, yeah yeah
Well I feel so broke up
I wanna go home

The first mate he got drunk
And broke in the Cap'n's trunk
The constable had to come and take him away
Sheriff John Stone
Why don't you leave me alone, yeah yeah
Well I feel so broke up I wanna go home

So hoist up the John B's sail
See how the mainsail sets
Call for the Captain ashore
Let me go home, let me go home
I wanna go home, let me go home
Why don't you let me go home
(Hoist up the John B's sail)
Hoist up the John B
I feel so broke up I wanna go home
Let me go home

The poor cook he caught the fits
And threw away all my grits
And then he took and he ate up all of my corn
Let me go home
Why don't they let me go home
This is the worst trip I've ever been on

To the West; Scenes from St. Bonifacius

According to the owners, this is the oldest pole barn in Minnesota. Really, how old can a pole barn be?

Mondy morning notes

They said it couldn't be done.
With a smile he went to it.
He tackled that thing that couldn't be done
And he found he couldn't do it.

Here is another valuable tip from the mainstream media. An NBC TodayShow tip on how to survive in this tough economy...from an "expert" guest.
"Forgo your weekly manicure and pedicure- you can just save that money!"

Finally: I was unable to attend "Art on the Lake" due to a running injury... limp, limp. Sorry, no photos.

The Hoarse Whisperer (A sequel)

Tom's (Robert Redford) work with the horses has a rejuvenating effect on the guilt-ridden Grace, until Tom loses his voice from lengthy speeches to the Seirra Club. Subtitles.

Excelsior - Art On the Lake is here!

June 7-8 at the Excelsior Commons.

The art is not really on "the Lake" physically, nor is the subject matter Lake Minnetonka exclusively. The event is a gathering of regional fine artists, craftsmen, and local organizations in the Excelsior Commons area next to the Lake.
Parking is street side,or in the local lots, and it is a bit of an irritation for both parker and local residents. Such is the event. I am going to attend wearing my "Minnetonkascenes 1" T-shirt and carrying my user friendly digital camera. That should garner a lot of er.... something.
Let's hope the weather is amicable.

Photo from last year. Will Excelsior artist Marla Mullaney make a return to Art By the Lake?

The Burwell House

The historic Burwell House. Minnetonka.

This taken from the City of Minnetonka Web Site:
"The Burwell House is a Victorian home, in the Italianate style. The furnishings in the home include many original Burwell pieces. The furnishings, many of which are of the Eastlake style, are owned by the Minnetonka Historical Society, and are on loan to the site. The site includes a millworker’s cottage that Mr. Burwell moved to the site for his mother in 1894. It also includes Mr. Burwell’s Mill Office, that was moved to the site in 1894 and which now serves as a museum for the Minnetonka Historical Society. Other buildings on the site include a woodshed and an ice house. A five acre site, including the buildlings, is on the National Register of Historic Places, and the site is also a designated Minnetonka Landmark."

I took the photo above about a year ago, in the early morning light. I pullled into the parking lot and found that at 6am I was not alone. Another car was parked, and in it a man was putting on his clothes. Not in any suspect way, just as if he were dressing for work....with clothes from the trunk of his car. He eyed me, but I held the camera up for him display... just another tourist photographer. He went back to his routine. Did he live out of his car? I think he snuck in and early morning run on the neighboring running trail, and cleaed up as best he could before work.
Note: This is very close to the spot on the trail that Jesse James and his men washed up before beginning his legenday Northfield debacle.

Monday River Trivia

An argument ensued... what is the longest river North America? I of course said "The Rio Grande" (not really), ... I mean it even has "Grande" in it's name. - I should have upped the Canadian Mackensie, but I didn't. Yukon potatoes, great, but rivers... no way.
So everyone settled on the Mississippi. And this brings me to my point of departure.
The longest river in North America is the Missouri River, a tributary of the mighty Miss. Now how good is that? (for God's sake it just empties into the Mississippi and never even makes it to the gulf).
Final results:
1. Missouri 2,500 mi.
2. Mississippi 2,339 mi.
3. Rio Grand 1,885
4. Mackenzie 1,200 mi.

Monday Trivia