To Guide…

It should go without saying that we need to respect the history and natural area of Door County.  I guess someone needs to say it, because I have heard rumors of people (and kayakers) defacing pictographs, stealing wood from shipwrecks, and not respecting Door County’s natural environment.

Lets put those rumors to and end and follow the leave-no-trace principles.  If we and future generations are going to be able to appreciate the beauty we see today, lets follow my own rule of thumb.

“Take photographs, and leave paddlestrokes.”

Summertime in Door County may be idyllic, but fall is when our county really shows her stuff. Brilliant yellows and vibrant reds are already beginning to dapple the trees, and orchards are getting ready for what looks to be a massive apple harvest. Anyone who wasn’t able to get away for the summer can still get deals on biking, kayaking, zip lining, sailing, sightseeing, scenic boat cruises and airplane rides – all without the heavy crowds. Pumpkin Patch Festival comes to Egg Harbor October 10 and 11 this year, a fun family weekend that draws people from all over the country. The village comes alive with colorful displays, zesty hot ciders, parades, retail specials, cultural events and more. Local farms put out their best at all of the roadside stands and markets throughout Door County, selling the freshest produce and delicious seasonal treats. You can experience great cuisine with the Kingdom So Delicious festival, one of the tastiest September fall festivals in Door County, or enjoy the magic of Fall Fest in October – whatever you do here this autumn, you’re going to have a ball.

Gravity Trails in northern Door offers you the chance to get up close and personal with Door County fall colors. Our Fall Colors tours take you straight up into the trees for breathtaking views. Bike the scenic trail back to our zip course and fly through the trees. Make it a true fall experience with a kayak tour on the pristine Mink River, where you’ll travel through Wisconsin’s only officially designated wilderness state park, Newport State Park in Ellison Bay. It doesn’t get any more refreshing than having fun with friends and family in the crisp fall air.

Get a shot in the arm this fall with these great Fall Color Activities and more. Give GT a call to make your reservations today – remember, weekends fill up fast!

YEa!  We took one of our first zips today, it was exhilarating!  Kayla had fun flying through the air and we were all smiles by the end of the day.

At last a chance to sit down and catch up. Baja or Bust Adventure

With the goal of offering a adventure camping trip in Baja, we took off across country. We soon found out we had too many goals cluttering our minds, it looks as if the baja trip will be purely adventure and researching.  We scrapped bringing the E350 for the Mercedes. and only took one kayak, which we hope to leave in baja.

After collecting and filtering enough vegetable oil from Sonny’s and Digger’s Restaurants to get to Nebraska.  We found ourselves with a plugged fuel filter after 1000 miles, it was night, we couldn’t find the headlamp, so Abbie used the ipod to illuminate the greasy fuel filter replacement during a cold october night.

Our first destination was the flatirons in Boulder, CO.  We had friends with climbing gear, a determination to get outside and  explore the beauty of the flatirons.

We had a great time goofing off in the flatirons, our rock climbing friend Justin Budd, set ropes, and we scaled up some beautiful pitches.  After a hard day of climbing.  We decided to do some free style walking, which turned into free style running down the mountain path.  Jumping from boulder to boulder and defying what we would even think of doing if we had looked before we leaped.  Justin, Abbie an I all agreed it was some of the most fun we had had running ever.  I usually tell myself that I don’t run except for a few exceptions; the cops and soccer.  Well now there is a new exception to the rule, freestyle trail running.  Its always an adventure to play with Justin Budd.  Here are some pictures of freestyle running.  As I write this, I am in catch up phase, so we have not busted, we are in baja, in fact, I only have 10 days left before I have to leave for colorado.

Hola… writing today with the splenders of another penninsula on my mind.  Imagine if you may, endless beaches, unexplained rock formations, colorful deserts, gray whales, brilliant clear skies, and a variety of unique people to spice up your life!  Getting excited already?? Because I sure am!  This winter myself (guide), David Rack (owner of DCKT), Abbie Turner (guide/photographer), Taylor Johnson (photographer), Chris Katzban (guide), John Suhar and some other friends are heading to the BAJA penninsula in search of fun in the sun, a winter escape, and of course adventure.  The winter months in BAJA average 70-80 degrees which sounds like just about perfect winter weather to me! That is one thing I will not miss while basking in the Mexican sun, is the freezing cold Wisconsin winters!  Because of the consistently beautiful weather nothing will hold us back from engulfing ourselves in the endless adventure that awaits.  Mile after mile of stunning coast line provides perfectly sandy kayak launch locations and speaking of kayaking… I thought kayaking around Door County was beautiful, but could you imagine kayaking the Sea of Cortez (water way between the BAJA Penninsula and the rest of Mexico) while gray whales swim by you?

“Ecotourism is a sustainable form of natural resource based tourism that focuses primarily on experiencing and learning about nature, and which is ethically managed to be low impact, non consumptive and locally oriented. It typically occurs in natural areas and should contribute to the conservation or preservation of such areas.”

David A Fennell, author of Ecotourism: An Introduction

    Skipped town down to Alsea, Oregon to visit my aunt Pauline and Uncle Allan for a little known weekend as easter weekend. Car pooled with my good friends Tim, Will. Tim, an architect and Will, a chef, we talked about what my new building design would entail.  Tim was able to focus my ideas with design, function, and aesthetic questions.  I really enjoyed our conversation and felt that much closer to coming up with a sketch, which will be the next phase.  Tim, now my architectural consultant breathed creativity, open, aired, outdoor, geo/eco-dual layered, bio swaled, aritistic inspiration into my living/working space in my dreams. I am staying in a tree house this coming weekend for a camping trip, so, that will motivate some more visual ideas from up high.

As we worked around their organic farm, my uncle gave two large root balls of bamboo to a friend of his, which was a tractor process.  Did some gardening, planting potatoes, onions, chicken manure, turning soil, talking story.  Had a beautiful little soup lunch, made by my aunt pauline, she is such a unbelievable cook, and so humble, she reminds me of my grandmother, but, sorry grandma, a better cook.  ouch, sorry dad! of coarse grandmas lemon merigue and ritz cracker pie, um, um.  It is funny how holidays and food bring back fond memories. Taste and smell have that unmistakable power.

Lunch conversation was focused around my uncle’s 11 year business struggle of the invention of a new sawzall blades that has cutting teeth on every edge of the blade.  The large tool corpocracy has a strangle hold on American innovation and I wish it would be easier for him to succeed.  There is some hope with the European market, so I am teaching him about the power of the web and he will start an inventors blog tomorrow and start talking story about the ups and downs of from idea to market.

Obama was another topic, though my thoughts are that there is no significant difference between the republicans and democrats.  I see no true value in a political system which can be so easily owned by the almighty $.  But that is another post all together.  Should I even mention politics on my Kayak Tours website?  What do you think?