Knowledge Enhancer Round Eleven

Do you like rocks too?

This glorious week, hope it has been fine where you're at, we thought it would be enlightening to inform you of the formation of such banded glory known as the 'AGATE'...


OOOOOO it gets exciting.

Take fire and ice, well maybe not ice, water as we know it in its liquid form, but fire...

Think of hot, ignious intrusion forming that bruly rock we know as basalt... As basalt forms, air pockets (or vesicles as I understand) are created prepping the foundation of one of the world's most precious gems. Now good quality O two (oxygen) generally needs a little action and sure enough when its powers combine with two hydrogens (a.k.a. water) it flushes into these air pockets. (thoroughly confused? so am I) These flushings of the water lead the depositional road for a hefty minerally load (that is minerals such as iron, quartz, etc) into these air pockets, where they then solidify. Add a little bit of time (another highly valuable resource-which we have come to appreciate) and appreciate the ambiance of intricate beauty we know as Agates...

Upon our travels through Canada's N. shore, we encountered beaches with so many agates you wouldn't know what to do with, they practically jumped up into the kayaks... Well, not really, but we've included a photo from this secret location where you can obeserve some amazing agate formations, which wouldn't fit into your pocket...

So if you're out there searching from the range to the shore, make sure you hollar out a Security for the boats hauling the iron ore, because if not Ralphie will read about you in the paper, and he doesn't want that.

health, happiness and laughter your way...

Some random imagery

As we gain ground on internet availibility and free time we will do our darndest to keep the posts coming and educating you all of our experiences thus far. The near shore forecast should suggest somewhere in the near future once we've settled back on the mainland, time and space becomes availible we will produce a slew of updates, including stories and photos of where we've been and what we've been up to. Thanks for reading and hope you enjoy the photos...

Health, happiness and laughter your way...

Knowledge Enhancer Round Diez or TEN

Great googally Moogally, (GGM)

What a rush it has been through these Canadian waters beyond five nautical miles to from shore to the US/ CANADIAN Border.

And speaking of rush, did you know, in the 1800s the town of SILVER ISLET, held the title for richest silver mine in the WORLD for 15 years?

That is quite some time, and you can tell that the silver has been long gone though as the prices there were among some the highest encountered for foods fo delectable persuasion. And to Ontario residents, no worries, we did give our mandatory donation of four loonies for our two boats at the launch.

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are- and make sure not to get lost when you're out there looking for agates- Ralphie doesn't want to hear about you on the marine forecast...


*so we know this is not silver islet, but an old soul, resting and pondering- we like that.

Keeping the Lake pristine

Friends,

Before we get back on the water we wanted to share with you some information about keeping the East Shore intact and pure. While we were in Wawa we were informed of a projected rock quarry proposed for the Michipicoten bay area... Although we like rocks too, this would deteriorate the shore, lower water quality, wipe down some fish population and industrialize the last pristine un touched area on the Lake. We certainly want to do what we can to inform others. Check out their website and get educated...

http://www.ccmb.ca/

Do what you can, with what you have, where you are...

Great Glory Grand Marais

Who, no what, no where....

Here we go the first real post, tease all be it, for quite some time. We are briefly doing some resuppliage in G town here and then will continue to head down the shore towards Bayfield.

It has been quite a journey, especially thoruhg the Canadian land... Big winds, big waves, big donations to the Provincial powers at be of Ontario... YEEE HOWDY.

Hopefully though, we'll be able to do some updating over the week as we kick down the shore in and out of wifi land...

Thanks for reading and we look forward to giving you all the real 411 as we can...
until then, keep those days filled with health, happiness and laughter...
-Brian & Alissa

Knowledge enhancer round nine

Water,water, water.

As the nights get cooler, days shorter, autumnal season approaches one can't help but start to feel the ambiance of some fall rains and river run off. Lake Superior is home to a bounty of righteous rivers making their way back into the inland sea. In fact Lake Superior has over 300, THREE HUNDRED rivers and streams that empty into its encompassing banks... That's a bundle and a half of slick days on the RIV...
Get out and enjoy dem!

*but as always make sure you've sufficient information on flows, put ins and take outs otherwise you could be in for a long one- take it from Ralphie, he's heard people's cantankerous tales...


Health, happiness and laughter your way...

Knowledge enhancer round eight

Did you know that there have been approximately 350 shipwrecks on Lake Superior?



Some of these wrecks were infamous 'burning to the waterline - then sinking' events, but the majority seem to arrive from North Easters- generally a fall phenomenon when low pressure graces the Lake and gets things all riled up. They are capable of producing heavy winds and immense waves, largest recorded waveheight (by one of the Lake Superior Bouy stations) was 31ft! Dang that's big.

Make sure when you venture out into the inland waters of Superior you always have a float plan, inform others where you plan to be and you have a reliable vessel for the conditions. Ralphie doesn't want to read about you in the paper, or at the shipwreck museum.

Until next week keep those days filled with health, happiness and laughter...

Knowledge enhancer round seven

On this fine first week of September we would like to share some local knowledge about the geologic history of this mighty basin... As it literally serves as the foundation to our enjoyment on the cool, pristine, fresh waters.



Were you aware?
Lake Superior rests mostly on Precambrian rock at the southern edge of the Canadian shield, the largest exposure of such bedrock on the planet.



Some of the world's oldest rocks, about 2.7 billion years of age, can be found on the Ontario shore of Lake Superior.




Lake Superior has its origins in the North American Mid-Continent Rift of 1.1 to 1.2 billion years ago, which produced a huge plume of hot mantle where the present lake sits. The crust tore apart, leaving an arc-shaped scar stretching form Kansas through Minnesota, then down to Michigan.



Within its borders, Lake Superior has both the thickest, and nearly the thinnest, crust found anywhere in North America not only that but it also is one of the earth's youngest major features, at only about 10,000 years of age--dating to the last glacial retreat. By comparison, the earth's second largest lake (by surface area, and largest by volume), Lake Baikal in Russia, is 25 million years old.

Gracias geologic glory!!!



Keep the knowledge enhanced, the appreciation for the lake fueled, along with days filled with health, happiness and laughter...

& Be sure on all your rock hunting excursions you take a map and compass. Ralphie loves rocks more than he loves lost people. Stay found and keep Mr. Schwartz Esq. proud...