Photos and video: Happy Canoe Year from Morton Grove

In 1985 Niles resident Ralph Frese, "Mr. Canoe," started the New Year's Day Canoe Paddle, which is held annually on the North Branch of the Chicago River. It's sponsored by the Cook County Forest Preserve District; it starts at the Willow Road Dam in Winnetka and ends in Linne Woods in Morton Grove. I live in Morton Grove--all of the photos and videos were taken there. Google Maps says the distance between the two points is almost seven miles, because of the many bends on river, it's a longer journey on a canoe--or a kayak.

The section of the North Branch where the New Year's Day Canoe Paddle takes place was renamed the Ralph Frese River Trail several years ago.

This canoer was one of the earliest finishers. Although this event is not a race. About 200 people participated.



My apologies in regards to the wind audio distortion, but this video shows the toughest part of the endeavor--Chick Evans Golf Course. There are few trees there. The low branches--it is not treeless--posed an additional impediment for the rowers and they are paddling directly into a strong wind.

Here a a couple of kayakers. Roughly two-thirds of the rowers were canoers.

These canoers are disembarking at the Ballard Road Dam portage.

This is the dam. A few moments later the kayaker on the right rode over the top of it. He was the only person I saw who accomplished that feat. When the river level is higher, everyone paddles over, a veteran of this event told me.

The portage. It was relatively warm for New Year's Day--35 degrees. As you can see there is no snow on the ground, we've only had a trace of it this winter so far.



With a bit of glare included, you can watch a portage take place.

There is our dam-conqueror a few moments after skipping the portage.

A funny hat greatly increases your chances of catching my eye and having your picture posted on Marathon Pundit.

The couple that rows together flows together.

Ed Dubowski (left) and Jim O'Malley were the first finishers in today's New Year's Day Paddle. But to quote David Letterman, "This is an exhibition, not a competition. Please, no wagering."



Watch them disembark in Linne Woods.

UPDATE Jan 2: The event's organizer, Ralph Frese, left this comment about the 2012 event:

John, you forgot to mention that our new CC Board Forest Preserve District president, Toni Preckwinkle, paddled for the second year with key staff of the Forest Preserve District and what a wonderful job they did of organizing everything to encourage our citizens to take advantage of this wonderful resource, our river and the woodlands bordering it. Check our website, friendsofthemortongroveforestpreserves.org for more interesting trivia about the river and our woodlands along it.

I didn't see Preckwinkle, if I had, I would have reported it. I'm glad she was there. And yes, the CCFPD did performed admirably yesterday and they were quite helpful to me as I walked my way up the river.

My friend Dale Cooney (left) sent me the below photograph. Frese is the bearded man in the center, to his right is Preckwinkle.

There is Cooney, who was the third person to finish the New Year's Day Paddle.

Technorati tags: Illinois photography photos Morton Grove Chicago River river canoe kayak winnetka river outdoors chicago north shore cook county

Huntsman video: The Ron Paul Chronicles

You have to give Jon Huntsman credit--he has little to gain personally by attacking Ron Paul. The former Utah governor isn't competing in the Iowa Caucuses and Paul isn't expected to do well in the New Hampshire Primary, where Huntsman has placed his hopes for success. Perhaps Huntsman's motivation is to expose the Texas congressmen as a dangerous extremist--which is what he is.

Cue the Twilight Zone music and the Huntsman campaign video:



"Voters are looking for a candidate they can trust. Ron Paul has a history of incendiary statements that perpetuate fringe views and widely discredited conspiracy theories, and are more twilight zone than presidential leadership," says Huntsman campaign spokesman Tim Miller. "As January 10th approaches, more and more New Hampshire voters are turning to the consistent conservative who can defeat Barack Obama, rebuild our economy and restore trust in our government: Jon Huntsman."

Of the current GOP candidates for president, in end of year issue, National Review named three candidates who "deserve serious consideration": Huntsman, Mitt Romney, and Rick Santorum.

Related post:

Huntsman web video on Ron Paul: "Unelectable"

Technorati tags: news Republican gop elections jon huntsman Utah new hampshire politics new hampshire new hampshire primary ron paul 2012 republicans ron paul

Occupy occtrocities: New Year's Day edition

Amana Millrace, Amana, IA

And I was worried if I'd have enough material for a worthy post on New Year's Day. But this morning I can report on goons in Iowa, the Tournament of Roses Parade, the invasion of Zuccotti Park, and topless women in Oregon.

Happy New Year!

American Power: Bachmann calls 'Occupy' protesters 'Obama's advance team'
Washington Post: 18 arrested in Occupy protests at Iowa campaign offices of Bachmann, Gingrich, Santorum
CBS News: Occupy Iowa: We aren't trying to disrupt caucuses
Anchorage Daily News: Occupy's vow to interrupt candidates is disturbing
Big Government: Activist leading 'Occupy the Rose Parade' is a convicted thief, 9-11 truther, and former Democratic Assembly politician
LAist: Pasadena's Occupy group doesn't support the Occupy the Rose Parade protest
Big Journalism: Media hypes Occupy’s Rose Parade "octopus" float
Los Angeles Times: Flag burning at Occupy Charlotte creates divide among members
The Blaze: Occupy protesters attempt to reclaim Zuccotti Park on New Year's Eve
Marooned in Marin: Occupy Wall Street In New York -- five protesters strong!
ABC 9 Eugene: Local family disturbed by topless Occupy protest
Big Government: EXCLUSIVE PHOTO: Nancy Pelosi: Livin' La Vida 1%
WDRB: Occupy Louisville's time running short
Gateway Pundit: #Occupy Albany goons threaten police officer and his family
OWS Exposed: Connecticut gunman arrested after threatening fellow occupier
The Star: Occupy Sheffield protesters take over old Sally Army HQ
WTHR: 'Occupy Indiana' protesters arrested in Kokomo
WOWK: Occupy Charleston site left unoccupied, tent removed
OC Weekly: Occupy OC protesters duped for Wisconsin Gov. Scott Walker's Orange County event
Global Post: Occupy Princeton: Michael Lewis scores with #ows satire
WDSU: Occupy NOLA protesters evicted again
Fox News: Class war -- The Calvin Coolidge response
Big Journalism: Moore vs. Miller: Differences on Occupy Wall Street foreshadowed in their breakthrough graphic novels
Breitbart TV: Coffee show owner kicks #OccupyIowa out of coffee shop
Weasel Zippers: Ron Paul says he can "connect" with Occupy Wall Street…
American Power: Leftists may boost Ron Paul in Iowa
The Free: Occupy Seattle: Rent is theft!
OWS Exposed: Steven Crowder debates the spoiled occupiers
Washington Examiner: Occupy DC creates rift between mayor, police union
Start Thinking Right: Occupy movement costs America UNTOLD MILLIONS ($2.3 million in L.A. ALONE) versus Tea Party movement which MADE cities money

Technorati tags: left wing extremists current events crime communism law legal ows Politics left wing extremists current events socialism occupywallstreet business economy news iowa iowa politics elections 2012 ron paul iowa caucuses new year's eve

Happy New Year 2012--may your world not end

Poster somewhere between
Cancun and Tulum

The world probably won't end in 2012--as some interpretations of the Mayan calendar predict, but I am hoping for an injury free year of running and the defeat of President Obama in November.

Happy New Year!

Related post:

Tulum

Technorati tags: Mexico méxico ancient world history politics new year's eve