Last Days of Summer 2010

On my last Friday of summer, the kids and I enjoyed a nice summer day in Cannon Falls. We grabbed lunch to go from Old Market Deli with desserts from High Quality Bakery, then Elizabeth and Jeffrey kayaked 7 miles down to Miesville Ravine. Meanwhile, Andrew and I headed to the river to fish. With Andrew wearing his lucky Iolani cap, we caught 4 smallmouth and 5 freshwater drum (all released) in an hour and a half. The largest smallmouth was a healthy 15", much bigger than smallmouth we had caught earlier in the year.

Tomorrow, Elizabeth will be joining the Vertical Endeavors climbing team for an outdoor climb at Interstate Park in Taylor's Falls (about an hour from home). While Elizabeth climbs, Jeffrey, Andrew, and I will canoe down the St. Croix River to Osceola, Wisconsin, about a 7 mile trip. Andrew is hoping to catch more smallmouth bass.

Andrew did have his elbow checked out this week and the orthopedist said there was no fracture this year. He strained his elbow a couple of weeks ago when he slipped on an algae-covered rock while fishing. The initial x-rays were inconclusive, so he had a splint on until Wednesday's thumb's up diagnosis. He's very happy to have his casting arm available again for fishing.

Meanwhile, Jeffrey is hobbling around with sore knees from freshman soccer practices. The long lazy summer did not prepare him well for training, but he's hanging in there. I'm looking forward to seeing them play, since there are 5 or 6 players on the team that I coached in EAA.