Lake Harriet

A tree lined shore and a spectacular band shell makes this one of the prettiest lakes in the cities. And Harriet is popular too. There's a good number of sailboats moored on the west side. There's racks for canoes, beaches, and a fishing pier. Most importantly, there's a jogging path which seems to be busy at all hours. There's a boat launch on the north side, too. 

 a spectacular band shell on the north side, just west of the boat launch area.

There is just one problem. It's difficult to park, especially if you are launching a boat and don't want to leave it unattended while you search for a spot. Granted, there's a pay parking lot nearby, but it'[s often full. My advice is to put in when things are quiet. I chose 7:30 on a Sunday morning. Oddly enough, there were several fishermen and any number of joggers out there already.

A seagull perched on top of a distant mast: no wind!

Beyond a doubt, this was one of the most peaceful and pleasant rows I had this summer. For some strange reason, I have almost always had to deal with  stiff winds, choppy water, and soaring temperatures. Not so this time! It was 72 degrees and the water was as smooth as glass. Much to my surprise, I found that my little boat rows really easy when it's not fighting the elements.

The Prodigal rows easy in calm water

You can't see them, but Harriet is actually surrounded by homes. Just a little bit of park land buffers them from the lake. Oddly, there was a distinct smell of breakfasts cooking in all that calm air. It made me hungry!

A beach on the north side: A distinct smell of breakfast cooking!

It took me about an hour to row the lake. I wasn't difficult. I stopped often just to relax and take in the view. There was a swimmer doing exactly the same thing.

The launch ramp. Note the little yellow bird

Sadly, summer is rapidly coming to a close. School starts in a couple of days and my time on the water is sure to be limited. This little journey completes all of the major lakes in the cities.

The launch for Lake Harriet is in the park on the north side

By the way, thanks for reading this blog! It's been a real pleasure putting it together. For sure, I will be making more entrees: other smaller lakes in the cities, lakes in the suburbs, and the Mississippi. Stay tuned!

  

Lake Calhoun, Lake of the Isles, Cedar Lake, Brownie Lake

The Chain of Lakes is probably one of the most popular little adventures in the Twin Cities. It is well worth it too. If you like boating, then this is a must. These are the only lakes where there are always dozens of light craft on the water: just about every kind, too: sailboats, canoes, peddle boats, kayaks, and even paddle boards. Expect to spend at least two hours on the water if you choose this path.

A typical launch: lots of ducks!

Parking near Calhoun is always a problem, especially on weekends. So I launched on a Thursday morning. The parking lot on North Beach was fairly empty so that determined my choice. I chose a little sandy space just east of the beach where the sailboats are moored. As usual there were quite a few ducks there, too. Ducks like launches. It is a great way for them to get up on the beach and sun themselves or whatever.

sailboats moored off the north beach of Lake Calhoun

crossing under the first bridge toward Lake of the Isles

I love the old world craftsmanship of these bridges!

I rowed east and under the bridges leading to Lake of the Isles. Then I headed west to the next bridge, which is the channel to Cedar Lake. After that, it was just a matter of following everyone else doing the same. This leg of the trip is my favorite. The channel is small and creates a wonderful feeling of seclusion, odd, perhaps, for one of the most densely populated areas of the city.

another bridge

You may note that most of the channel bridges are made from limestone and reflect a real old world craftsmanship. One exception is a rustic railroad bridge made with timbers. The passage is very narrow, tricky for a row boat, but lots of fun!

The channel leading to Cedar Lake

The channels create a real sense of seclusion

Shortly after I made my way to Cedar Lake and headed north to Hidden Beach. This is one of the only beaches in the area which provides a good deal of shade and tree cover. But this is not why it's called Hidden Beach. It celebrates a special culture and mentality reminiscent of the sixties. You can read more about it if you check it out on Wikipedia. It's got its own entry!

Hidden Beach on Cedar Lake

The timber bridge: a tight squeeze for a row boat

A nut shell pram near Lake Calhoun

Finally, I must say that the way home offered offered a pleasant little surprise all of it's own. Somewhere between Hennepin Avenue and Lake Calhoun, I stumbled upon an apartment building. with a bike rack outside. Chained up to it was a cute little plywood nut shell pram all ready to go. O day of days! There is at least one other soul who understands the whole idea of urban boating!

The Chain of Lakes

Oops!

Today I went rowing with "Mississippi Bob" Brown. Of late I've been working on yet another boat. Bob was kind enough to show me a similar craft and we had a good time swapping stories and talking about boat design as we rowed Lake Nokomis. Bob has built over seventy boats in his career and he really knows his craft.

And then, just as we pulled up on shore, two young men in a catamaran capsized a few hundred yards away. It got stuck pretty bad. The mast had buried itself in the mud and the wind pushed it in even deeper. Bob rowed out to help just as the mast worked itself free. The men were just fine and they let the wind push them back to the safety of a sandy beach.

The Capsized Cat

I've seen similar scenes play out before. Just last week I took my friend Rachel out for a row. A fairly big sailor passed us a speed and then, as it tacked off in another direction, it nearly capsized very close to our little row boat.

Rowing with Rachel

I can understand why. People wait all week to get out on the water. Getting underway and catching the wind is very euphoric. The trouble is that sailing takes a little getting used to. It's difficult to get right under a full wind, especially if you just borrowed the boat from a friend. Better to take it easy. Keep your wits about you. Slow and steady wins the race!

"Mississippi Bob" Takes Rachel for a spin in his gaff rigged Sailor

I've got my hands full with building that next rowboat right now, but I am thinking sailing too. Can't have enough fun on the water!