Northern Lake Huron, Michigan's Advenshore

What a beautiful weekend of diving and kayaking.  Saturday started with diving the schooner E.B. Allen and the steamship Grecian.  Both wrecks lay in 100 feet of water.  They are well preserved, and the visibility was good.  The pics below are from the Thunder Bay NOAA website, and not pics from our dive.  But, it gives you an idea.  If you're a SCUBA diver, you should really check out that area sometime.  Dive Alpena runs a great charter.  The owners name is Brian, and he will take good care of you.  We had another beautiful day kayaking and snorkeling along the bays and points of Northern Lake Huron.  The water was crystal clear, and warm.  It had me wondering if I was back in Hawaii!  If you're looking for a little adventure before the summer comes to a close I highly recommend the Alpena area for some sea kayaking and snorkeling along the wrecks.  There are more than 200 shipwrecks near Alpena and many of them are shallow enough to snorkel and kayak.  Check out the Thunder Bay National Marine Sanctuary for all the info.

SUP a Sport for the Kings

A Samainian enjoys an evening session in Michigan´s thriving little beach town. The perpective is brillant; the Grand Haven pier iconic in the background.  The sport of Stand Up Paddleboarding is sweeping the world; as it allows many people to access all bodies of water, gain strength, and endurance while enjoying the beauty of nature.  It´s an excellent way to experience all the lakes and rivers of Michigan.

Tahqua Trail Run Anyone?

I have wanted to do this trail run for a few years.  It follows the course through the Tahquamenon National Forest, and one of the most beautiful routes along the river to the series of falls.  Anyone interested in running it with Anna and I?  We will not be racing, just enjoying the course set in one of the most beautiful settings of the U.P.  The race is August 13th, we would be running the 25k=15.5m, but feel free to sign up for the 10k=6.2m.  It would be a great time to get some Samainians together in da yoop for a eco friendly trail run.  If you´re interested in running, or just heading up to the yoop for some camping, kiting, surfing, kayaking, and of course trail running goodness shoot me an email.  We´ll probably make a stop at the Tahquamenon Falls Brewery post run!    Tahqua Trail Run

Tahquamenon falls from Charlie McCarthy on Vimeo.

Black Lake Spring

Have you ever wanted life to be more interesting?  Marc Hoeksema reminds us of the small things that can prove to be more interesting than we can imagine.  




www.hoeksemaphoto.com

University of Michigan's New Ludington Buoy

We had good intentions to deploy U of M's new Marine data buoy off the coast of Ludington today on the NOAA Laurentian, but the wind kicked up and so did the waves.  We decided to wait for a better day, and head out kiteboarding instead.  Always an upside in Michigan!  These buoys are very advanced, and are designed by researchers and students at the College of Engineering.  Very soon we'll have even better data for our surf and kite adventures!

U-GLOS

Big Wave Surfer Jamie Sterling Scores on Lake Superior

Lake Superior love!

Spring Kite Session

The crew sessions the icy waters of West Michigan! 

XCD = X-Country Downhill

Last weekend Marcus and I did a backcountry ski tour Michigan style.  I had the chance to check out the Karhu Guides and the Rossignol BC 125 in the woods of Harbor Springs.  I rented a nice light weight tele boot set-up from the Outfitter in Harbor Springs called the Garmont Excursions.  I have been thinking about these skis and boots as an option for our local dunes and woods here in Grand Haven.  I was amazed at how well they kicked and glided through the rolling terrain, and how easily the skis were to turn in the trees downhill.  I predict a full obsession coming next winter when I get my new gear.  Thanks again to Marcus for taking me out, and having the full SAMA stoke for all the outdoor options we have here in Michigan!

The Real Ski Bums

Each year there are a bevy of new school skiing and snowboarding flicks that blow us away.  This one however, can truly change your life.  People always think ski bumming is for when your young and free of responsibilities, but you know the old saying, "once a man, twice a child."
  The real ski bums!

The Changing of the Season

The first weekend in March is over.  Many Michigainians are anxiously awaiting springs warm up.  Some, I'll dare say less than the aforementioned are a bit sad to see the frozen landscape go.  This weekend I surfed some really fun, albeit very cold waves, and played my last Sunday pond hockey game of the season.  I can't really imagine a better changing of the seasons weekend.  While I was super stoked to get back in the water, hop to my feet and fly down a beautiful Lake Michigan right hander, I was equally saddened when I walked off our local rink this afternoon, after another gorgeous sunny afternoon hockey game.  The sun was almost blinding, and the ice was soft.  The birds were singing their song signaling the end of winter and the rebirth of spring.  Even though it was a weekend of mixed emotions, I knew that is exactly why I love living here so much.  Every season is special for me.  With the end of each one, there's a tear in one eye saddened to see it go, while the grin is slowly creasing my face knowing epic times of another type of adventure season are near.  See you out there!