I got home last night after spend the past few days in Minnesota. My trip was two-fold. I went to take pics at day one of a four-day bicycle race, and to do some art. Well, the art took a back seat because of something I wasn’t prepared for. An unruly, but cute, dog.
My friend was given a dog by his sister a year ago but since he’s not very parental, his dog has taken control of his life and everyone that comes close. I exited the airport, got into the car and knew my ears were being targeted by a wet tongue. I had to spend 250 miles of driving to prevent this from happening. The dog moaned, groaned, whined, wheezed, barked, growled, jumped, crawled, snuggled, clawed, scratched, pounced, and anything else I’ve forgotten all the way. This went on for the next 3 days, almost non-stop! Eye contact was the dogs license to do whatever he wanted, including jumping into bed to play, with his nasty doggy body odor and wet drool. I had to fight this off for 4 of my 5 days there.
After my first night of sleep and a dog jumping into bed to awaken me, we were off to Two Harbors for the race. I ran into a guy we took to a race in Dominican Republic when I was the chief mech. for Florida Cycling Federation back in the 80s. He’s still racing but is in great shape. I took some pics (film) at the startline and then went along the 90 mile race course for more pics. (I’ll post them all when I develop my film and scan it) That evening I met the new exec. dir. of USA Cycling, the umbrella corp. for cycling in the US. Very handsome man and very intelligent. He’s got a huge job to set right a few of the years of bickering and infighting that has been part of bicycle racing in the US since 1950s. (that’s another story in itself)
Okay, finally I got around to my canoe trip. I wanted to make even this one more spiritual in concept but it didn’t happen. The dog changed everything. We canoed about a 7 mile round trip across the lake and up a narrow river, then hiked to another lake. Very awesome day. see initial images
Five days is really too much to recount in one sitting so, I’ll bring you up to the present in the next few days as I get film developed and stuff. Yes, film, I don’t have a digital camera and no money for one of the quality I’d like. Later this fall will be better…
Music:
Echoes of Nature, tracks 2-6 rain, marsh water, brookside birds