From the balmy day photos of last Friday to the deep chill of February, 2009, here’s some cold weather photos, one short movie and a “wild ride movie” by kayak – all for your viewing pleasure. Hey, how about driving on top of Lake Superior?
Bayfield to Madeline Island
Northern Wisconsin really is a different state than the Wisconsin of Milwaukee and Madison. Northwestern Wisconsin even more so. What happens north of highway 8, stays north of highway 8, or so the saying goes. Well, we’ve got nothing to hide. On our road trip through the wild northwest we followed the river trail along the St. Croix, the Bois Brule, Lake Superior and on to Madeline Island. As a former “flatlander” (genteel Wisconsin slang for “Illinois folk”) driving across water in its solid state still raises my blood pressure. Okay, it makes me a little crazy.
"Let me out of the car!"
Come May of 2011, I’m planning on a more fluid ride to La Pointe.
Enjoy the photos. See you next week.
Lake Superior by car - looking southeast
Where the Brule meets Lake Superior. Powerful spot. Calm water that day.
At the Big Lake
Brule/Lake Superior - looking NEWhat a day. The Lake was fairly calm.
Same beach looking west
A little more of the Brule mouth
Okay, the next shot, the big one below, is evidence enough for why living this far north is just fine with me. You warm climate folks have got to be saying, that’s evidence enough to stay put.
Straight out to sea - Brule/Superior
What you’ve been waiting for….the movie. Here’s a short, really short, preview of the tiny Brule not far from Brule Spring where it all gets started.
The Winter-time Brule by Kayak – Enjoy the Ride – It’s not me -the music is finger-snapping, oh yeah. Okay, I hit the mute button.
Next week on Photo Friday, the 2nd half of the February ramble in canoe country with some more fun shots of the Brule and the historic portage north of Solon Springs. Until then, keep your paddle in the water. Corey
Paddlin' Madeline 
I’m really in awe of your tech skills there Gramps. How the heck can ya load all this cool stuff into ur blog?! Truly Corrina, it is such great fun.
I usta engage in “combat fishing on the Brule, the “ledges” every spring, when I was a pup. Some years we had to snowshoe in to get our lines wet, cause the snow was still around and deep still. In those days I usta cursed those”_____” kayakers (even tho I was an avid canoeist), cause they’d ride right thru where I was slinging my spawn bags. I am sorry that I killed so many of those steelhead that lived and swam there. It is funny, which fascinations capture our imaginations as we grow. Thanks for the great pictures, the video, and memories you conjured up Cory. I feel like I’m following the “Pied Piper”
Much Love and Thanks, J G.
I’m not sure I have the guts to drive across Lake Superior! Maybe if I could drive while sitting on top of my car in my kayak or a big blow-up life raft! I bet Madeline Island is a quiet place in the winter… When I was there in October I learned that the population goes WAY down in the fall. Kate, who was planning to spend her first winter on the island said there are basically 3 winter activities – I’ll let you ponder the options.