Suffering The Benz – Page 154 – Once in a while you get shown the light in the strangest of places if you look at it right

A strange package from Montana

Post author By Bob Benz
Post date February 14, 2009

Originally uploaded by Suffering the Benz

When a package arrived from Montana recently, I was leery. Very leery.

I shook it. Nothing rattled. Nothing ticked. But there was a certain distinctive swooshing.

Turns out it contained a copy of Montana magazine with an article about Circle Square and its erudite proprietor, John Baker. And four cans of Cold Smoke Scotch Ale, which I fell in love with during my trip to Missoula last summer.

I was going to save and savor my Cold Smokes one by one since it’s a strong ale (about 7% alcohol), but no such luck. I sucked down all four of them, and a few Genesee Cream Ales I had in my beer fridge.

After I got done beating the dogs, I put Lara out in the back yard and went for a ride in the truck … throwing empty Cold Smoke cans out the window as I drove.

Tags beer, Cold Smoke, Genessee Cream Ale, John Baker, Montana

Paddle Bob

Paddling during winter pool

Post author By Bob Benz
Post date February 14, 2009

cloyd_creek_gps2_02_12_2009

Originally uploaded by Suffering the Benz

The weather was once again perfect, so I set off for Cloyd Creek on Thursday. It was about 60 degrees, no wind and the ring-billed gulls were out in force as I paddled downstream past Leaper’s Bluff and into the cove that leads into Cloyd Creek.

Unfortunately, once I got under the Unitia Road bridge I couldn’t go much farther. The water was very low, and I was worried about getting stuck in the mud. At points, the creek was only about 10 inches deep and I could see large fish plowing through swirling mud to escape as I approached.

I turned and paddled home. It all, it was 9.6 miles roundtrip and took two full hours, mostly because I dawdled at several points to check out the view.

This GPS image is a route detail of the Cloyd Creek segment of the paddle. The satellite must have snapped this image during summer pool because there wasn’t nearly that much water there on Thursday, though you can see how the water takes on a much muddier complexion once you get past the bridge.

Tags Cloyd Creek, kayak, lake loudon

Paddle Bob

February kayaking

Post author By Bob Benz
Post date February 11, 2009

February kayaking

Originally uploaded by Suffering the Benz

I took advantage of a 70-degree February day on Tuesday to paddle the kayak. As is generally the case, I was overly ambitious.

I paddled upstream on Lake Loudon with the goal of reaching the cove at Concord Park on Northshore. I made it, but as I started turning south into the cove the wind picked up and got pretty ugly, prompting me to turn back. The paddle home was a slog as I paddled into headwinds, but I made it with time to spare before sunset.

It was almost 12 miles roundtrip and it took about 2.5 hours. It left me pretty sore on Wednesday …

Tags GPS, kayak, lake loudon