Uncommon Adventures blog

Some may argue that this whole season has been "off". On the other hand, there’s a beautiful flurry of golden leaves snowing down on my back 40, the weather is pleasant and I don’t have to be anywhere this weekend for the first time in 25 weeks.

Mid to late fall is my “off” season and time for writing, catching up on office duties and taking care of all those nagging projects that get shelved during the busy summer.  Its also time for one of my passions; fly fishing.  Last week I took a spontaneous trip to Alaska to fish with friends from Wasilla/Talkeetna and pay visits to others.  Not only were the trout in full fall color, but flights, rentacars and everything else was dirt cheap to make for a great budget adventure with great friends to visit. Fishing with Tom and company on the Kenai was awesome and it was great to see old friends and new ones (hi JP!).  I even managed a stopover in Seattle on the way home to see Nigel Foster (check out nigelkayaks.com) and Kristen (krikristudio.com) to catch up on his latest kayak designs/stories and get some really cool ceramic useable art!  After of an evening of good food and friends, Nigel was even kind enough to get up pre-dawn to make fresh scones before taking me to the airport.  I owe him big time!  Great trip and a great divide betwixt my outdoor season and now…the dreaded, the feared, OFFICE.  Frankly, I rather spend an hour in a two hole outhouse on a hot day, but like going to the Dentist…it must be done….

Some fun from NW Michigan Kayak Surfing weekend sponsored by Uncommon Adventures (uncommonadv.com). No animals were harmed during this program, although some dignities were sorely challenged.

Both this last weekend’s Surfest and the Microbrew Festival held at the end of August boasted weather only fit for ducks.  I said to Sharon B. that the weather really was spectacularly awful and here reply was simply, “yeah, ain’t it great!”. Explains why over 4000 people showed up to listen to music and drink craft beers during a rainstorm and temps in the low 50’s.  Hell, the guitarists were wearing gloves!

Also explains why a handful of people drove up to NW Michigan to camp in the rain in hopes of some wind to produce waves off the beach of Empire.  Our dues were rewarded with fabulous company, amazing meals and some pretty darn fun surfing Sunday Morning.  Several were well and truly spanked. What a testament to the hardiness of Midwesterners and their ability to have a good time no matter what the weather is doing.  For myself, it’s a good warm-up prior to getting on a plane this week to head to Alaska’s Kenai to fish for porker Rainbows.