Whistling round the Apostle Islands

[nickcrowhurst]

The twenty two Apostle Islands are situated in Lake Superior, Minnesota, USA. Lake Superior is an enormous inland sea, 350 miles long and 160 miles wide, complete with surf, storms, lighthouses and shipwrecks. The beautiful unspoiled Apostle islands are generally no more than a mile or two long, and access is restricted by a system of camping permits. Often, an island has only one site, and for a maximum of two small tents. There are group campsites on a few islands. The following video was shot from my son's Explorer during our visits to camp on a couple of the islands last weekend. We saw no other kayaks. I'm playing the whistle on the soundtrack.
http://vimeo.com/42622574
Nick.

[bobt]

Pretty sure the Apostle Islands are in Wisconsin ('scuse the pedantry - I get it from another site) but looks like a great trip and the flute playing is "interesting" though not really my cup of tea.

Were you hot in those dry suits or was the weather cooler than I'd have expected?

[Bards]

Well, for what it's worth I think the plaintive Celtic flute work fits the vid nicely, and I always enjoy your posts Nick. Saves me from getting off my arse and actually doing the paddling myself...

Bards

[nickcrowhurst]

Bobt, the water temperature was 38 degrees, but the air temperature on launch day was in the 80s, so I thought it was going to be "boil in the bag" day. We launched from Little Sand Bay (Wisconsin, as you say), and I was scooping water in my cap and pouring it over my head every few minutes. However, a slight breeze kicked in, and for the next three days it was not a problem, and we were never uncomfortable. I used a Bioseal round my neck, and this was a great success at preventing soreness in the heat.
Bards, thank you for your kind comment.
Nick.

[nickcrowhurst]

[Mark R]

Amazing looking place.

[nickcrowhurst]

Amazing looking place.

Absolutely. Added to the extraordinarily beautiful rock formations is the constant stream of sounds. Even in calm conditions the caves wheeze, suck and boom. Those last two pictures are of Devils Island. Its geology is described here:
http://www.nps.gov/apis/naturescience/caves.htm
I've just been given a birthday gift of the highly detailed and technical "A guidebook to the geology of Lake Superior's Apostle Islands National Lakeshore" by Edward B. Nuhfer and Mary P. Dalles, self published, 1987. I guess it would make a fine PhD thesis. My brain ached by page 7, which includes a 500 word definition of "formations and the naming thereof".
Nick.

[immunogirl]

Gorgeous video. I hope to get back some day.

Trip report & pics from a trip I did out there a few years back:
http://www.cpakayaker.com/forums/viewto ... 44&p=15699

[nickcrowhurst]

Immunogirl, that's a great trip report, with superb photos. I read it all with great interest. Pictured Rocks look truly spectacular, and are now on my must-do list. Thanks for your compliment about the video. A little kindness goes a long way on the internet.
Nick.

[immunogirl]

I'm always impressed with people who do video & do it well... I took hours of video at pictured rocks & the apostles. I've yet to find the discipline or attention span to actually go through it all and do something with it.