Childhood memories of days long ago up here in the Northland …
How many of you without thinking sometimes burst into song … a song taught to you many, many years ago? For over 65 years I have been visiting the Chippewa National Forest wilderness near the Canadian border. As a young boy I learned to sing this song … My Paddles is Keen and Bright (YouTube song link for email subscribers). This morning I found myself unexpectedly singing the song:
Northstar Lake is magical. The waters flow north to Hudson’s Bay, and last night I heard both a pack of timber wolves howling at the moon, and the loons yodeling through the darkness.
Here are two photographs of Common Loons from Northstar Lake taken early this morning … wolfpack fishing and on the nest. Places like this require song.
Wilderness lakes up in the Northland have a certain magic. However, rather than take my word for this fact, trust the princesses! This Labor Day Weekend there have been three princesses (my granddaughters) running around with their magic wands. We feel very safe and special! However, if their magic is not strong enough … our local Ninja can protect us. (we did see a timber wolf near the cabin yesterday)
The birds are always special on Northstar Lake. This Bald Eagle juvenile was screaming “feed me”. I never saw Mom or Dad.
After visiting the eagle, I said hello to a couple of our Common Loons. These birds are in the process of either losing their breeding plumage (the adults), or testing our their flight wings (the juveniles)
I don’t normally post this kind of stuff, but I have been teaching my oldest grandson (10 years old) how to row this Labor Day Weekend. We are using a 12 foot Lund with oars! When we got back to the dock, one of my daughter’s-in-law got out her phone to show a YouTube video of Olympic rowers (Grampa rowed for Dartmouth in the 70’s and placed 2nd at the NCAA’s his senior year in college).
Heck … I thought, why should my grandson watch some unknown oarsman when he can watch Grampa! Thus, I bring you the Dartmouth 25th Reunion Regatta. I ended up in the boat with a bunch of lightweight rowers (maximum weight is 160 pounds … at least back in their college days). I rowed at 177 pounds … a rather light heavyweight rower. These days I tip the scale at 190 pounds.
Dartmouth College Reunion Regatta Row (link for email subscribers)
The location is the Connecticut River which forms the border between New Hampshire and Vermont (Hanover, New Hampshire). I am the #4 oarsman (counting from the bow). I did not have white hair back in 2003. I suggest skipping forward to 4:38 in the video where we get on the water. At 5:22 the theme from Chariots of Fire starts and the old guys row!
One funny aside … a few years ago I bicycle toured through Hanover and stopped to watch the varsity practicing. One of the woman from the 1st eight asked me if I rowed wooden boats and oars back in my day. Yes I responded … and then found the old black and white photograph of my varsity eight which was hanging on the wall in the boathouse. The question made me feel ancient, although both the men’s and women’s varsity claimed they were impressed with the 60 year old guy (and his wife) who were bicycle touring over 2,000 miles carrying their own gear. We looked like young bucks from pre-history.
