Dockside - Fall 2010

Fall 2010

Recreation:

Get on the water this fall in a kayak y or canoe

angles on autumn to help you make the seasonal transition

5

Come sail away with Capt.

Joan Gilmore

The Lure of the Lake

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Dockside ◆ Fall 2010

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DOCKSIDE Publisher:

Jennifer Sorenson jsorenson@swpub.com

Editor:

Angelo Gentile agentile@swpub.com

Designer:

Brian Sorenson bsorenson@swpub.com

On Lake Minnetonka & Mississippi River!

Photographer: Loren Jones, Prior Creative Images Contributors this issue: Vicki Bont, Richard Crawford, Laura French, Sara Glassman, Judy Monn

Corporate Events • Department Parties Wedding Events • Anniversaries Birthdays • Sweet 16s • Bat/Bar Mitzvahs • and More!

Advertising Sales: 952-345-6477 Dockside is published quarterly by Southwest Newspapers. For advertising information, call 952-345-6477. For general comments and questions, send e-mail to agentile@swpub.com or call 952-345-6676.

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Dockside ◆ Fall 2010

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features Season Preview

departments

14 Launch

6 Fishing by the numbers, Jared Allen gossip, Taste of Home cooking show, and more‌plus a calendar of selected events.

Feels Like Fall Five angles on autumn to help you make the transition from summer.

Winterizing Your Boat?

Consider these tips.

Recreation

26

Fall Paddling Now is a great time to be on the water in a canoe or kayak.

Marina

Dockside Conversation

on the cover Lake Lifestyles

20

Sail On Come sail away with Capt. Joan Gilmore, sailing instructor.

The Lure of the Lake...In Pictures Extend the season: Fall Boating Tips.

Visit us online at www.docksidemagazine.mn

4

Dockside â—† Fall 2010

12

Autumn Cruiser See the fall colors with a lake cruise on the Steamboat Minnehaha.

30 On the Cover: Sailboat racing on Lake Minnetonka every week is always a highlight of summer.

Editor’s Note On the water

On a recent visit to the scenic Betsie Bay/ Frankfort area on the sandy shores of Lake Michigan, I was struck by the variety of ways we all use to get out on the water.

Potent power boats in various shapes and sizes occupied hundreds of slips in several marinas that lined the harbor.

Graceful sailboats were also in the marinas, as well as anchored out in Angelo Gentile the sheltered cove of Editor Betsie Bay. I also waved to my share of kayakers and canoeists paddling the waters. Plus, the waterskiing and wakeboarding set could be found tooling around nearby Lower Herring Lake next to the Watervale Inn, where I stayed.

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The scene is the same on “our” lakes, back here in Minnesota. Along these lines, this issue of the magazine features a few of the ways we enjoy our time on the water: ■

Capt. Joan Gilmore talks about her love of sailing and how she shares that passion with those she teaches as a sailing instructor (Dockside Conversation, page 30).

■

The silent sports of canoeing and kayaking are also showcased, including a brief profile of canoe racing champion Doug Berg (Recreation, page 26).

■

We round out this nautical issue with a photo salute to lake living, a glimpse of the Steamboat Minnehaha, and a fall season preview that will help you get ready for our annual seasonal shift.

As always, we welcome your thoughts and ideas about this magazine. Contact me at agentile@swpub.com or 952-345-6676.

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Dockside ◆ Fall 2010

5

News • Ideas • Tips

Launch

Angling in autumn Don’t put away your rod and reel just yet.

Several sources say that autumn angling can be quite rewarding: fewer boats out on the lakes, cooler water brings fish nearer the surface, the fall colors create a scenic backdrop…well, you get the picture.

Noted fishing guide Gary Roach has written extensively in Minnesota Sportsman

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over the years about walleye fishing. One recent article extolled the virtues of fishing for walleyes in the fall at night on Lake Minnetonka. He reported success slowly trolling along the edge of the long point that extends from Excelsior beach, after 8 p.m., casting crankbaits, and then doing the same at the big sand flat on the west side of Big Island.

All About Fishing, at its website aafishing.com, recommends that, for fall, top baits for walleyes are jigs, crankbaits, and spoons. The website advises fishing shallow to moderate depths in the mornings and evenings. As the sun rises move deeper toward outside structures and use small spoons or jigs.

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Dockside ◆ Fall 2010

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Fish by the numbers Speaking of fishing, Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resources always has a steady stream of fun facts and figures available. Here are a few numbers from the DNR to consider when you’re drift fishing along your favorite angling spots this fall:

158 Fish species found in Minnesota lakes, rivers, and streams 3,800,000 Acres of fishing waters 5,493 Fishable lakes 15,000 Miles of fishable streams 283 Minnow dealers in the state 832 Minnow retailers in Minnesota And which fish are caught the most in Minnesota each year?

1st: Panfish 2nd: Walleye 3rd: Northern Pike

Black Bean Chili with Winter Squash The creative foodies at Lakewinds Natural Foods in Minnetonka and Chanhassen offer this cool weather favorite at the food coop’s website, www.lakewinds.com. It lends itself to endless variations depending on the squash variety used. Options include kabocha, delicata, sweet dumpling, acorn, butternut, buttercup, and red kuri. Cornbread squares and a bountiful veggie salad turn this chili into a meal. Red and green grapes make a refreshing finish.

Ingredients 1 small or 2 medium winter squash or edible pumpkin (about 2 pounds) 2 teaspoons olive oil 1 large onion, chopped 2 to 4 cloves garlic, minced 1 teaspoon ground cumin 1/2 teaspoon dried oregano 2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, drained, rinsed 1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes 1 (4-ounce) can diced mild green chilies, drained 1 green bell pepper, chopped Salt to taste Instructions Cut each squash in half; scoop out seeds. Bake in a 350°F oven 30 minutes or until tender. (In a hurry? Place halved, seeded squash in a microwave-safe container with 1/2 inch of water; cover. Microwave until tender, allowing 2 to 3 minutes per half.) Cool, peel and cut into chunks.

In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, cumin and oregano. Sauté, stirring often, until soft, about 5 minutes, Add remaining ingredients except squash and salt. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer gently 15 minutes. Stir in squash; season with salt.

Source: Lakewinds Natural Foods 185074

Dockside ◆ Fall 2010

7

Hungry for the holidays?

Attend the Taste of Home cooking school You say you can’t cook? Or, maybe you can sort of cook and would like to improve your kitchen skills and cook some more?

Whatever your skill level in the kitchen, become a master just in time for the holidays with a Taste of Home recipe demonstration and show.

For the first time in the Twin Cities, the national company will be sharing the food love on Nov. 6. (You’re getting advance notice because they sell out quickly after tickets go on sale Sept.

18.) Every attendee gets a drool-worthy gift bag containing a copy of Taste of Home magazine featuring all the recipes from the day’s cooking demo, product samples, useful ideas and discount offers.

Enjoy an afternoon of shopping local vendors (handbags, jewelry, food and beauty products to name a few), grab a bite to eat and then get ready to enjoy the Midwestern charm and humor of culinary specialist Karen Davis. She’ll demonstrate eight “Made Easy” recipes ranging from Baked French Toast to Mushroom Crab Melts to Pear-Stuffed Pork Loin to Outrageous Cranberry Chocolate Cake.

Taste of Home has been hosting cooking schools since the 1950s. Karen Davis has more than 15 years of experience in the food business and currently lives in Iowa, where her husband is the “chief taste tester.”

Following the show, you’ll go home with tons of great ideas for cooking and entertaining, a goody bag and quite possibly one of dozens of valuable door prizes. With so much knowledge, you’ll finally be able to feel as relaxed as you seem in the kitchen.

–Sara Glassman

Jared Allen in the neighborhood Football is in the air these days in our region, especially Minnesota Vikings football, so we felt compelled to offer a tiny news nugget on fellow lake dweller, Jared Allen. He stars for the Vikings every week as defensive end. Last year, for instance, he had 50 tackles, five forced fumbles and an interception.

He had a busy off-season on the domestic front. He bought a six-bedroom, six-bath home on Lake Lucy in Chanhassen, in our Dockside neighborhood, according to the Chanhassen Villager. He also got married, honeymooned in Italy, and, gulp, he even cut off his mullet.

One woman, one kayak, 1,007 lakes Garrison Keillor likes to crow about how he’s been to all 87 counties in Minnesota.

Taste of Home Made Easy Holiday cooking demonstration Brought to you by: Southwest Newspapers, publisher of Dockside Magazine, and Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools Community Education What: Shop local vendors, receive a valuable goody bag, learn new recipes and register to win door prizes.

Food and beverages available for purchase.

When: 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 6 Where: Prior Lake High School, 7575 150th St. W., Savage Tickets: $15, available 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18 at Southwest Newspapers’ headquarters, 327 Marschall Rd., Shakopee and Prior Lake American/Savage Pacer newspaper office, 14093 Commerce Ave. N.E., Prior Lake. 10 ticket limit per person.

Mary Shideler can make a similar claim, although it involves just one county and a kayak. Her accomplishment, however, makes Keillor’s boast seem a little lame. Sorry, Garrison, just sayin.’

Shideler, this past August, completed her quest of dipping a paddle and kayaking in every lake in Itasca County. If you think that doesn’t sound like much, well, think again: she kayaked in 1,007 lakes.

As she told the St. Paul Pioneer Press: “The county had a definition for a lake, and that was it had to be 10 acres. I had some of my own rules. If it had a loon on it, it was a lake. But I’ve actually kayaked more than 1,007 lakes because some of them aren’t there anymore. They’ve dried up.”

Shideler, 48, started her pursuit in July, 1996. Along the way, as the Pioneer Press reported, she crossed paths with cow and calf moose, watched a bear swim across the Bowstring River and just missed stepping on a whitetail fawn. She’s had close encounters with otters and watched beavers and loons swim under her kayak.

Itasca County, located in northern Minnesota, is the third largest county in the state, covering about 3,000 square miles. Grand Rapids is the county seat, which is also where Shideler lives.

As she told the Pioneer Press, she has had people tell her that she has inspired them to take up kayaking or bicycling, and she is happy about that.

She says that nature is out there for us to explore, experience, and appreciate. All it takes is getting off the couch.

Read more about Shideler at marythekayaklady.com.

Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press

8

Dockside ◆ Fall 2010

Of course we couldn’t resist at least one animal shot. In this picture, submitted by Dockside publisher Jennifer Sorenson, her dog Kaja enjoys a hot dog after a swim in White Bear Lake.

We extend thanks to readers who continue to send us photos.

This time, we received photos of people as well as dogs. That’s a giant step for mankind! In this picture, submitted by Jane Crosson of Prior Lake, we see Hailee Hodgkiss, Elko, diving into the inviting waters of Lily Bass Lake in northern Wisconsin.

Send your photos to agentile@swpub.com. In the subject line, include the title “Dockside Pictures.”

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Mark Your Calendar SEPTEMBER Ongoing Theater “All Shook Up” (through Jan. 29, 2011) and “Stevie Ray’s Comedy Cabaret” (ongoing) at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres (www.chanhassenDT.com). “The Dixie Swim Club (through Sept. 11) at the Old Log Theater (www.oldlog.com).

James J. Hill Days Celebrate the 36th annual community festival with a parade, activities for kids, open-air street market, and more.

Sept. 10 through 12 Lake Street, Wayzata www.wayzatachamber.com/jjhill.htm

Ladies Night Out Downtown Prior Lake Thursday, Sept. 16 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

For information, contact Prior Lake Chamber of Commerce: 952-440-1000; www.priorlakechamber.org

OCTOBER Autumn Foliage Ambles Minnesota Landscape Arboretum Chaska Meet in Oswald Visitor Center Saturdays, Oct. 9 and 23 10 a.m.

Watch the fall foliage show and learn about nature’s rhythms on an autumn walk with Arboretum naturalist Matt Schuth. $10 member, $12 non-member. Register online or call 952-443-1422. www.arboretum.umn.edu

NOVEMBER Taste of Home Made Easy Holiday cooking demonstration What: Shop local vendors, receive a valuable goody bag, learn new recipes, and register to win door prizes. Food and beverages available for purchase.

35th Annual Antique and Classic Boat Rendezvous Maynard’s Restaurant, Excelsior Bay, Lake Minnetonka Saturday, Sept. 11 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. www.acbs-bslol.com

26th Annual Excelsior Apple Day A Main Street market featuring antiques, collectibles, crafts, farm produce, lots of apples, and great food.

Saturday, Sept. 11 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

10

Dockside ◆ Fall 2010

Saturday, Nov. 6 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Prior Lake High School, 7575 150th St. W., Savage Tickets: $15, available 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18 at Southwest Newspapers’ headquarters, 327 Marschall Rd., Shakopee; and Prior Lake American/Savage Pacer newspaper office, 14093 Commerce Ave. N.E., Prior Lake. 10 ticket limit per person.

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Dockside ◆ Fall 2010

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Marina

Autumn cruiser Steamboat Minnehaha cruise highlights history, color

By Richard Crawford

Photo courtesy of RevAir SkyPhoto

While the boating season on area lakes may be winding down this season, there is still ample opportunity to enjoy a cruise on Lake Minnetonka that features a splash of history and fall color.

The historic Steamboat Minnehaha features fall tours on the lake that run into October.

“This time of year usually the weather is still nice, the colors are turning and the lake is not nearly as crowded,” says Jim Zimmerman.

“So it’s a nice time to be out on the lake.”

Zimmerman, a board member of the Museum of Lake Minnetonka, the organization that runs the Minnehaha, is a history buff himself.

His interest in history and his home on Lake Minnetonka were the two key ingredients that got him involved with the MLM. “I love to see the Minnehaha on the lake and I love history,” he says.

Judging by the growing number of people who have boarded the historic steamboat in recent years, there’s still plenty of interest in the boat originally launched on Lake Minnetonka in 1906.

12

Dockside ◆ Fall 2010

This year, Zimmerman says the Minnehaha is on pace to set a record for ridership. “We’re running about on pace with last year and some of the weather was bad on earlier weekends.”

In 2009, about 10,000 people cruised on the boat. With several special events planned in September, Zimmerman anticipates a new record.

Special low-price cruises are planned during Excelsior’s Apple Days Festival and Wayzata’s James J. Hills Days on the weekend of Sept. 11 and 12. The boat will be running hourly on those days, offering 45 minute cruises for a reduced rate of $5.

On Sept. 18, the Minnehaha begins its fall color cruise schedule on weekends. All cruises leave from the Excelsior City Dock for 1-hour cruises. Departure times are 12:40, 2 and 3:20 p.m. The fall color cruises travel around Big Island and back.

The Museum of Lake Minnetonka is a nonprofit organization that is operated by volunteers. The cruise fees generate funding that allows the organization to keep the Minnehaha afloat.

The Steamboat Minnehaha, operated by the Museum of Lake Minnetonka, originally provided transportation on Lake Minnetonka in the early 1900s. The restored Minnehaha has a capacity of 90 passengers.

“Being over 100 years old, there’s always constant maintenance,” Zimmerman says. “In the winter months, there’s a lot of sanding and painting.”

In recent years, more than $100,000 has been spent on maintaining the wood hull.

The organization is always on the lookout for additional volunteers who enjoy history, boating, and Lake Minnetonka and opportunities are available that can accommodate almost any skill set.

Whether you’re interested in maintenance work, marketing, or serving on the boat as a purser or a captain, the Museum of Lake Minnetonka likely has a place for you.

Richard Crawford lives in Deephaven and is the publisher and editor of the Chanhassen Villager.

tation in Minnesota. The number of motor vehicles in the state topped 300,000 -- a huge increase over the 7,000 automobiles licensed in 1909. It was the beginning of the end for Lake Minnetonka’s steamboats.

About the Minnehaha • The story of the Steamboat Minnehaha starts with the Hotel St. Louis, which was located on a hill overlooking Carson’s Bay on Lake Minnetonka in 1879. Shortly after the hotel was constructed, the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad built a track westward from Minneapolis and connected to Minnetonka’s shoreline at Carson’s Bay.

• By the mid-1920s, ridership on the yellow express boats had fallen way off. One by one, the boats were withdrawn from service until, finally, they stopped operating altogether.

• In 1905-06, the Twin City Rapid Transit Company bought the railroad right-of-way and began to operate a streetcar service from Minneapolis to the lake.

Photo courtesy Museum of Lake Minnetonka

To see the fall cruise schedule and to learn more about the Minnehaha, visit www.steamboatminnehaha.org.

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• In July of 1926, workers dismantled three of the fleet’s seven boats: the Como, the White Bear, and the Minnehaha. They filled the three boats with red clay tiles and other debris. The boats were pumped full of water and allowed to slowly sink to the lake bottom.

• The centerpiece of the TCRT fleet was a team of six fast torpedo stern steamers that served lake residents by running a tight schedule similar to the company’s streetcars. The new boats even looked like streetcars. They were finished with the same canary yellow paint. They were named after major destinations on the TCRT’s trolley system: Como, Harriet, Hopkins, Minnehaha, Stillwater, and White Bear.

• The Minnehaha sat on the bottom of the lake for more than 50 years.

• It was discovered and raised from the lake in 1980.

• Restoration work began in 1990.

• Public cruises began in 1996.

• By the early 1920s, the automobile was becoming the preferred mode of transpor-

Source: Museum of Lake Minnetonka

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Dockside ◆ Fall 2010

13

Season Preview

Five angles on autumn to help you make the seasonal shift

By Judy Monn

State Fair. School supplies. The first leaf on the lawn. The signs of autumn approaching are everywhere. Instead of viewing the season as the gateway to winter, however, why not enjoy it for the multi-hued, roller-coaster ride that it is? Here are some ideas, unique to fair fall.

August/September is one of the three best bird-watching times of the year in Minnesota (December/January and April/May are the other two). And of 421 birds on the Minnesota state list, a whopping 81 percent have been seen in Hennepin County. Chances are, even a first-time bird-watcher (or “birder”), armed with a good field book and a pair of binoculars, can spot quite a few.

Lake Minnetonka Regional Park has trails that provide good vantage points for birding. The combination of lake, woods, and wetlands is an irresistible lure for tree birds and waterfowl. Start at the 7,000-square-foot Visitor Center.

Carver Park Reserve contains lakes, marshes, woodlands, trails, boardwalk, and is home to the King Waterbird Sanctuary. The bird feeders at its visitor center, Lowry Nature Center, attract a variety of birds, also. The Nature Center offers programs on all aspects of wildlife, including birds.

Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge covers a 34-mile stretch of the Minnesota River (north side) from Bloomington to Jordan and attracts more than 200 species of birds. Start at the visitor center; take the 34th Avenue exit off Interstate 494.

14

Dockside ◆ Fall 2010

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Want to see the fall colors from a completely different vantage point?

How about a kayak? Lake Minnetonka Regional Park, part of Three Rivers Park District, is hosting two “Fall Colors Kayak Tours” on Saturday, Sept. 25. This isn’t a learnas-you-go; you must have previous kayak experience and be 16 or better. And you must make a reservation at threeriversparks.org, where you’ll find more information. From 9 a.m. to noon, it’s the “Fall Color Kayak Tour on Lake Minnetonka for Women,” while from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., the tour is open to everyone. You’ll explore secluded islands and bays, with a stop at Wawatasso Island.

Trees should be just beginning to display fiery fall colors. Fun!

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952-445-2916 1/3 Mile south of Hwy. 41 on Hwy. 169 Shakopee Dockside ◆ Fall 2010

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There’s no shortage of opinions about the best fall beers. In fact, descriptions of taste and finish begin to rival those of the most erudite wine connoisseur. Who should you trust?

How about your own taste buds? Here are a few suggestions to get you started.

Local Surly Brewing Company issues Anvil in September, Surlyfest during Oktoberfest and Wet in October, but it’s Surly’s Darkness that ranked No. 1 on beeradvocate.com’s list of “Top Beers — Fall Seasonals.” Following in the next nine positions were The Perfect Storm (Pelican Pub & Brewery), Founders Breakfast Stout (Founders Brewing Company), Arctic Devil Barley Wine (Midnight Sun Brewing Company), Ten FIDY (Oskar Blues Grill & Brewery), Berserker Imperial Stout (Midnight Sun again), Ol’ Jack Frost Imperial Stout (Minneapolis Town Hall Brewery), Sierra Nevada Wet Hop Ale (Sierra Nevada Brewing Company), Big Barrel Double IPA (Karl Strauss Breweries), and Coffee Oatmeal Stout (Good People Brewing Company). The website GreatBrewers.com adds Abita Fall Fest, Blue Point Oktoberfest, Dogfish Head Punkin and Smuttynose Pumpkin Ale, among others.

Colder weather seems to bring out the cook and baker in everyone. There’s no reason to walk away from outdoor cooking just yet, however. If you have an outdoor kitchen, grill, or smoker, just remember to adjust your cooking times for the colder air outside.

Smokers are gaining in popularity — they’re like a big, slow cooker, and they make every kind of meat taste fabulous. Once solely the province of the hunter, smokers have moved mainstream and can be found in many an outdoor cooking set-up. Here’s an easy smoker recipe to get you started.

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Dockside ◆ Fall 2010

A Great Day on the Lake starts with…

Easy pulled pork Pork shoulder White bread buns Coleslaw Barbecue sauce Place the pork on the grid of your smoker and cook for 90 to 120 minutes per pound weight of meat at 98°C or 215°F. (A range of 93°C – 110°C or 200°F – 230°F is acceptable for smoking.) Allow cooling for 60 minutes because this helps the pulling apart; then serve.

Pull apart, shred or chop on a white bread bun, leaving the diner to add the sauce of choice and the coleslaw.

Source: Barbecue-smoker-recipes.com

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffins In the fall, harvest fruits and vegetables are in season: cranberries, pumpkin, squash, sweet potatoes and yams, nuts. It’s a great time to incorporate more of these essential foods into your diet, and what better way than in muffins? With chocolate chips?

Serves about 36 2 cups brown sugar 1 (15 ounce) can pure pumpkin puree (about 2 cups) 1 cup light tasting olive oil 2/3 cup water 4 large eggs 3 1/3 cups all-purpose flour 1 tablespoon ground cinnamon 1 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 teaspoon ginger 1/4 teaspoon allspice 1/8 teaspoon cloves 2 teaspoons baking soda 1-1/2 teaspoons salt 1-1/2 cups miniature semisweet chocolate chips Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line muffin tins with papers. In a large bowl, blend the pumpkin, oil, water, and eggs until smooth. Mix all the dry ingredients together and then gradually blend that into the pumpkin mixture. Fold in chocolate chips (do not use mixer for this part).

Fill muffin tins 3/4 full. Bake for 15-19 minutes, or until an inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool on wire racks before removing.

Source: Seasonalrecipes.com

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www.southmet.com Dockside ◆ Fall 2010

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Introducing The 36th annual James J. Hill Days takes over Wayzata on Saturday, Sept. 11 (10 a.m. – 6 p.m.) and Sunday, Sept. 12 (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.) with something for everyone. There’s a parade on Sunday at 1 p.m., and a fundraising Walk for Kids and Families. The Open Air Street Market includes fine arts, crafts, antiques, vintage items, homemade products, and more. The four-wheeled set can enjoy a Coaster Cart Derby and an Auto Show.

unity F irst Putting Comm Area!

est Metro

in the Southw

Ironically, according to several published historical accounts, James.

J. Hill was not always the beloved elder statesman he appears to be now. Irked at a lawsuit filed by Wayzata demanding that railroad tracks for his Great Northern Railroad be moved 300 feet from the edge of Lake Minnetonka, he retaliated by moving the railroad station a mile from town in 1890. It wasn’t until 1906 that the new Wayzata Depot was built, and not until 1946 that the issue of the tracks by the lake was settled.

Judy Monn is a Chanhassen-based freelance writer.

Here’s how it works: Jeans Day - a day when employees may dress for work in jeans. In return, the employee pays one dollar, which goes to area nonprofit organizations.

Jeans Day is a way to raise funds for non-profits and at the same time boost employee morale.

We like the idea of people of the Greater Southwest Metro area wearing jeans for area non-profits on the last Friday of each month.

For the next four months we are proposing the following non-profits:

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September: CAP Agency October : Bridging – Serving Families in Transition

Complete Flooring: • Hardwood • Carpet • Tile & Vinyl • Garage Floors • Concrete Polishing

November: Feed My Starving Children December: Carver-Scott Humane Society Southwest Newspapers will promote Jeans Day and all the participating businesses the last Thursday and Saturday of each month’s event. We’ll provide you with Jeans Day stickers for your participating employees to wear. We also will give you “table tents” to explain to customers why employees are dressed casually. Southwest Newspapers retains less than 10% of the donations to cover the cost of stickers, mailings and other promotional material.

Southwest Newspapers also donates all the ads placed in the paper promoting Jeans Day.

Custom Upholstery: • Marine • Furniture • Antiques • Vehicles

In short, this program will cost you nothing. It will boost employee morale. It will pleasantly unite all the of the Greater Southwest Metro area for a worthwhile cause, and hopefully will raise lots of money for local non-profits.

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Dockside ◆ Fall 2010

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Winterizing your boat? Consider these tips Yes, those are leaves you are noticing on your dock and deck of your boat in the morning. Summer will soon be a fond memory.

the winter, but it can be costly. Storing outdoors, under cover, carries more risk of damage from the elements, but is more affordable.

Minnesota’s sub-zero temperatures are not kind to boats, so winterizing your craft is mandatory. Here are a few items to consider when putting your boat to sleep for its long winter’s nap.

Shrink-wrapping will keep your boat dry and, with proper ventilation, you’ll encounter less of a chance of mildew, the website About.com points out in its section on

1

Checklist? Check.

Be sure to have a good checklist to follow, advises Boat/U.S. in a recent article from its website. Most marine stores and marinas have printed checklists available, or, as always, you can certainly find something online. But, as Boat/U.S. suggests, while these lists are reasonably thorough, consider creating a customized list that specifically addresses the plumbing, engine, electronics, and other systems aboard your own vessel. “Since it’s specific to your boat, you’ll have the peace of mind knowing that every detail has been attended to properly.”

powerboating. Boat yards specialize in shrink-wrapping boats or you can purchase do-it-yourself kits at marine stores. The downside to shrink-wrap, of course, is you will be unable to work on your boat during the winter. If this isn’t a problem, then this option may be right for you.

Sources: Boat/U.S., About.com, eHow.com

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Fall is actually a good time for repairs.

Now’s the time to repair dings in the propeller, replace a corroded exhaust manifold, or order a new halyard, Boat/U.S. advises.

Anything that is broken, worn out, or just needs updating is better handled in the fall than when the rush is on in the spring and boatyards and marinas are at their busiest.

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Several online boating websites recommend a thorough cleaning: exterior and interior. Exterior cleaning should involve washing and waxing the hull, including the bottom and the deck, checking for damage, and fixing anything along the way. Deep cleaning the inside affords you the opportunity, as Boat/U.S. muses on its website, “to discover anything needing attention and dramatically reduces the likelihood of having to deal with foul-smelling surprises in the spring.” Enough said!

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19

Lake Lifestyles

Season of Transition: A photo salute to our lakes

By Angelo Gentile Photos by Loren Jones

T

he end of summer means, for the most part, the end of your usual activity on the water. With that in mind, we offer these photos, both as a final salute to summer, but also as a look ahead to a scenic, perhaps more contemplative time of year, autumn, as we make the transition, in summer’s wake, to cooler weather and the anticipated winter ahead.

Beyond the photos, here are some brief items to go along with the pictures:

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Dockside ◆ Fall 2010

■

The lure of the lake

■

How to live on a lake

■

Boating on the lake past Labor Day

The Lure of the Lake Life at the lake means an ever-changing scene outside your door and on your dock.

Think about those quieter times, such as the stillness of a mirror-like, windless lake in the early morning as you load the boat for a pre-dawn fishing outing. Or the time you were surprised when you spotted an eagle gliding overhead while you sat reading on your dock.

Then there are the fun times, too, families and friends getting together for swimming, waterskiing, and wakeboarding.

The seasons come and go, and the lakes change and adapt to those shifts. And, yet, throughout these transitions—warm waters and ice overs, brilliant sunsets and stark moon rises, threatening waves and tranquil flatness—there’s something about the lake’s presence that draws us to it.

What is that?

“The lure of living or spending time beside the water is elemental,” says Konnie LeMay, editor of Lake Superior magazine.

“The convergence of water, land, and sky remains ever magnetic and magical.

Watching the dynamic interaction of these elements—and of the people and critters

drawn to them—fascinates us.”

That magnetic pull of the water is also quite egalitarian. Think about it. Lakes, rivers, oceans, whatever, attract all kinds.

And everyone is welcome, too.

There are those who prefer the elegant art of sailing: trimming and adjusting sails to make the most of the available wind.

There are others who prefer slowly trolling around a back bay somewhere in search of walleye. Some get a kick out of towing excited wakeboarders behind their highpowered Ski Nautique. And still others revel in the silent sports of canoeing and kayaking (see related story on page 26).

This fascination or magic or lure or whatever it is has drawn Joan Gilmore to the water (see related article on page 30). She has lived, played, and worked on various bodies of waters for years, including serving as a tugboat operator and now, more recently, as a sailing instructor.

Her preferences these days are to the sailing life. She teaches sailing on a number of Minnesota lakes, including Lake Minnetonka and Lake Superior.

“As a sailing instructor, my pleasure is in helping people enjoy the lake in its natural state,” she says. “When sailing, you can

soundlessly glide up beside a loon before it takes a dive. You can enjoy the beauty of a fabulous sunset as your wake quietly ripples its reflection behind you. Sailing lets you interact with the lake in a dynamic way while not impacting its ecology.”

Still others enjoy a more active life on the water. Mound resident Jane Norling, for instance, acknowledges the quieter side of life on the water: “Water is soothing, which aids relaxation and even healing.”

Yet, she says, living on the water can also be an invigorating proposition. “Living on Lake Minnetonka means access to a whole unique lifestyle. You can go out to eat, visit friends, or arrive at a party by boat.

You call to reserve dock space, before your table.”

Finally, beyond lifestyle preferences, maybe this lure or magnetic pull goes deeper. Maybe, as living beings on this planet, we just feel some sort of kinship with water.

Consider the perspective of Russian Olympic swimmer Aleksandr Popov, who was quoted recently in At the Lake magazine: “The water is your friend. You don’t have to fight with water, just share the same spirit as the water, and it will help you move.”

Dockside ◆ Fall 2010

21

How to Live on a Lake Deb Kind is the mayor of Greenwood in the Lake Minnetonka area, which, she says, “is a very part-time job.”

She also works as a graphic designer. She recently designed a note card that humorously sums up, in a handy list, how to live on a lake.

Here’s that list: Relax Listen to gulls Put turtles back Glide Float Squish sand between your toes Fish for sunnies Explore Laugh like a loon Go wide open Expect unexpected guests Provide clean towels and salty snacks Ride the wind Skip stones Seek simplicity Embrace quiet Ski on glass Drink lemonade Soak up the sun Cool off with a swim Paint a sunset Be dazzled by moonbeams on ripples Count your blessings

Water is egalitarian. Lakes attract all kinds of folks: Sailors, pleasure boaters, swimmers, waterskiing performers, and even toddlers who seem to especially like the sandy beaches that lakes provide.

22

Dockside ◆ Fall 2010

Photo by Mary Sorenson

Photo by Kristen Holtz

Dockside â—† Fall 2010

23

Lake lovers have a variety of preferences: from hanging out on and around a pontoon on Prior Lake, to competitive sailing on Lake Minnetonka.

Boating past Labor Day

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To twist up a Bob Dylan lyric just slightly: Oh mama, can this really be the end…of boating season? Let’s face it; boating season is generally thought to be those days between Memorial Day and Labor Day. But many hardy boaters declare that fall can be a great time to enjoy Minnesota lakes. Here are a few reasons why: Less crowded. Indeed, after Labor Day, you will find dramatically fewer boats on area lakes, which makes time on the water that much more enjoyable and stress-free.

Good fishing. Fewer boats mean fewer people, which can often mean fewer fellow anglers. Plus, a number of sport anglers claim at least that cooler water often brings fish nearer the surface.

Fall colors. While you’re on the lake in the fall, you’ll be treated to beautiful, scenic displays of leaves changing colors.

Mild weather. Sure, temperatures generally cool off in autumn, but most years bring plenty of pleasant days in September and October and, yup, even a few in November.

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Dockside ◆ Fall 2010

Simply stated: If your boat isn’t out yet, consider a few more weeks to enjoy the lake.

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Dockside ◆ Fall 2010

25

Recreation

Fall paddling Whether kayaking or canoeing, autumn is a great time to be on the water Story & Photos By Vicki Bont Minnesotans and visitors to our state love spending time on our lakes and rivers in their kayaks and canoes.

Paddle sports are wildly popular here. The U.S. Coast Guard and Minnesota DNR estimate that close to 200,000 canoes and kayaks are registered in the state. Plus, the Boundary Waters Canoe Area alone attracts more than 200,000 visitors each year who paddle its more than 1,500 miles of canoe routes.

Most folks dip a paddle in the water in the summer, but enthusiastic canoeists and kayakers agree that late summer and fall are also great times to be in the water.

With this in mind, we offer a tiny primer on fall kayaking and canoeing. We include a look at the cool new kayaks that are making the sport more accessible (and where to rent

26

Dockside â—† Fall 2010

or buy kayaks and canoes in the fall), a brief profile of a 67-year old canoe racing champion, and a quick tips list for fall paddling.

Get your gear:

Cooler kayaks A growing trend in paddle sports these days is a turn toward kayaking, and these are not the tippy, claustrophobic boats you remember. The recreational paddler is turning to short, wide boats that are open and can accommodate up to two to three people, plus gear. These kayaks are stable and are easy to learn to paddle.

Shorter, wider kayaks, seen here and on the facing page, are easier to control and gaining in popularity.

To Rent: Tommy’s Trolley, 952-220-0101, tommy@ tonkatrolley.com, www. tonkatrolley.com To Purchase: Even though it’s fall, Hoigaard’s always has a kayak or canoe hanging in the rafters for sale in the off season.

Other: Larger chain stores like Gander Mountain, Dick’s, Cabela’s, and REI might only have hunting canoes available at this time of year (late summer and fall).

Call ahead.

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27

At 67, Deephaven resident Doug Berg is a champion canoe racer.

“I’m seeing more people purchasing the short, wide recreational kayaks (12- to 14-ft.) and canoes (under 11-ft),” says Jay Berne of Hoigaard’s. “They give up some of the glide that produces the speed, but they are better for touring.” He added that one drawback with purchasing a basic boat is that it can be very easy to outgrow. Still, they are great options for those just starting out in the sport.

Tommy’s Tonka Trolley and Kayak Rentals in Excelsior on Lake Minnetonka offers another option by supplying everything a beginning kayaker needs.

Owner Tom Drummond explains, “For $15, we supply the life jacket, paddle, a single kayak, and an introductory lesson. We have our own dock to ensure a safe lateral transfer to the boat.

And we match the right kayak to the person.”

Indeed, Drummond also has several clients who have sold their own kayaks for the ease of not storing or transporting them and now just rent from Tonka Trolley.

Double kayaks are also available, and all of the boats are oceanstyle, meaning they are open on top. Drummond said they are cooler, more comfortable, wider, and safer than the closed-in, whitewater-style kayak that most people envision.

With all of these new-style kayaks in mind, anyone should be able to go out and follow the general routes that Tommy’s crew provides to Lake Minnetonka destinations such as St. Albans

28

Dockside ◆ Fall 2010

Bay or Gideon’s Bay. When you’re out there, plan to stop on the beach in Excelsior for a picnic.

Lake Minnetonka’s canoe champ It’s never too late to aspire to become a champion in the sport of paddling a canoe. And especially if you are as dedicated and fit as Deephaven resident Doug Berg. At 67, Berg just returned recently from the Big Five Challenge in Spring Green, Wis. Berg and his paddling partner won their age category and handily met the combined age requirement of 110 by equaling 127 in years.

Flat-water canoe races can be anything from a sprint distance (40 to 70 miles), where teams try to ride on each others’ prowwake to gain advantage (much like bicyclists and runners draft each other,) to multi-day events like the 1,000-mile race Berg did on the Yukon River in the Arctic last summer.

In the fall, Berg usually starts cutting his water workouts down to 10 to 12 hours a week in favor of conditioning he does for his preferred winter sport, cross-country skiing. He works out on roller skis. But he says he still really enjoys being out on the lake and will continue paddling until the ice comes in.

He didn’t start out a senior sports superman, though he was an outdoorsman. He taught at Minnetonka High School for 34 years. There, he began a very novel program for alternative students that featured about 50 days a year camping, canoeing, and backpacking to foster self-reliance and confidence.

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About 25 years ago, while still teaching, Berg says he picked up the sport of canoe racing to supplement his true love, cross-country skiing.

“Now I also weight train in a gym. I’m in pretty good shape.”

Join us for the 2010 Holiday

Indeed he is, and, even though he’s “winding down” his canoe conditioning during this time of year, Berg usually spends Labor Day paddling a 100-mile race in Texas.

While Berg’s in Texas, the rest of us mere mortals can be content to watch Minnesota’s unofficial state canoe championship, the 70-milelong races held on Labor Day weekend in Bemidji, which closes the racing season.

Follow these simple tips for fall fun on the water Champion canoeist Doug Berg thinks fall is a great time for people to paddle on the big lakes because they are not crowded with boats making waves. He says the main thing to consider is that the water temperature starts going down by Labor Day. If you are planning some fall paddling, consider these tips from Jay Berne at Hoigaard’s: ■

Dress for the water temperature, not the air. On an Indian Summer day in October the air temperature may be 75 degrees, but the water temp may have fallen off into the 50s. Wear microfiber clothing designed to be lightweight and wick the water away.

Natural fibers are heavy when wet and retain water.

■

Have everyone wear a life jacket.

■

Stay close to shore; this is not the season for an excursion out to the Big Island.

■

Water, water, everywhere but, not a drop to drink… stay hydrated.

■

Always know the weather conditions.

At the Holiday Taste of Home Cooking Show, attendees experience a 2-hour demonstration of exciting recipes they can enjoy this holiday season.

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Dockside ◆ Fall 2010

29

Dockside Conversation

Sail On

Come sail away with Captain Joan Gilmore

By Laura French

Captain Joan Gilmore didn’t take up sailing until she was in her 30s.

But after leaving her desk job to take the helm, it’s been smooth sailing.

Today, her Sail Away Sailing School offers Basic Keelboat & Cruising courses on Lake Minnetonka and White Bear Lake, as well as basic and bareboat chartering courses on Lake Superior and winter courses in the Virgin Islands.

She got her start volunteering to crew for friends who would charter boats in Superior and Bayfield. Once bitten by the sailing bug, she got skipper certified to charter. Then she decided to try for her Coast Guard captain’s license.

“I thought it would be just a part-time thing, but it took over my life,” she says.

Her first full-time sailing job was as live-aboard captain of a 42foot sailing ketch owned by Camp St. Croix. Asked about the scariest experience in her sailing career, she remembers the time she and the teen-aged sailors were on the Black River when a bear climbed onto the boat ahead of theirs and ate the leftover breakfast cereal off the picnic table. Captain Joan loaded the flare gun, prepared to fire it at the bear.

Fortunately, a blast of the air horn was enough to scare the bear away.

Interestingly, she says that this experience was far more frightening than the times when 10-foot waves on Lake Superior were washing over the top of the boat, or seeing six water spouts along the horizon.

Really?

“If you’re in a boat you trust, you’re okay,” she says calmly.

‘Like a little kid’ Dramatic moments aside, Gilmore’s favorite part of her job is “the teaching part,” she says. “I love seeing students feeling comfortable, getting excited, taking the helm and controlling the boat. Every adult looks like a little kid.”

These days, most of her students are “middle-aged couples, people with desk jobs.” They’re people Gilmore can relate to. She had previously worked for a Japanese marketing group, providing high-tech and automotive information. “Then the Internet took over,” she says, and it was time for a career change.

“In middle age, you want to develop the other side of your personality,” she says. For her, that meant switching from the intellectual to the physical. “Because I learned sailing in my 30s, I can remember what it feels like not to know. That helps me in my teaching now.”

Captain Joan thinks that sailing should be part of every lake-dweller’s experience. For those whose vehicles of choice are motor craft, she challenges, “How close can you get to a loon? If you’re in a sailboat, you can get up really close. You can hear a duck paddling in the water,

30

Dockside ◆ Fall 2010

hear the whoosh of its wings as it takes off.” Night sailing is another magical experience, she says. “It’s so quiet, and you see the moon on the water, and it seems to follow you.”

Getting started Getting started can be as simple as a basic 12-hour keelboat course.

Her students have a 98 percent passing rate after four three-hour sessions, she says. With three students per boat, and all instructors with at least 10 years of experience, students get lots of hands-on experience. For information, go to www.sailawaysailingschool.com.

The Upper Minnetonka Yacht Club (www.umyc.org) has several kinds of boats for rent, and Captain Joan advises renting a few varieties before buying. “There’s racing, cruising, you can get a bare boat charter license to charter boats in the Caribbean.”

Sailing is even accessible to folks who can’t afford to buy and maintain a boat. The Northern Lights Sailing Club (www.nlsc.org) offers trips throughout the summer on Lake Pepin and Lake Superior. A day of sailing costs just $25 to $40 per person, Captain Joan says.

The best thing about a sailing trip, she notes, is that once you have all your food and all your friends on board, you can get away from the world. “It’s a Utopia.”

Laura French is a Roseville-based freelance writer. She wrote about the historic homes of Lake Minnetonka in the last issue of Dockside.

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Dockside ◆ Fall 2010

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