Great Lakes Basic Training

10/22/05 -- Two Harbors, MN
I just returned from Two Days in the Big City. The main purpose of the trip was to attend an all-day workshop/training session originally called "Great Lakes 101" but the presenters from the Delta Institute started calling it "Great Lakes Basic Training" because they felt like they were really throwing a lot of stuff at us in a very short time. The meeting was held at the Minnesota Valley Wildlife Refuge. Unfortunately, the schedule of the day didn't provide much opportunity to get out into the refuge but the picture above is from the overlook behind the building. There was a telescope set up to look down to the river where humdreds of ducks and geese were swimming.

The workshop was good but it left me thinking that there were probably other people, not there on Friday, that should hear some of the material covered. We talked about both the resource and govenance aspects of the Great Lakes Region and I couldn't help but think that a regular college course covering these topics would be pretty interesting. I wonder if anyone offers such a thing or if UMD would be interested in some sort of interdisciplinary course on the topic. I'll have to look into it.

Edge of the Wilderness Grouse Hunt

10/17/2005 -- Two Harbors, MN
Arrived back at home yesterday afternoon around 4 p.m. after camping for a couple of days on the edge of the BWCA in the Superior National Forest. We camped Friday and Saturday night at Baker Lake campground and spent our days hiking around looking for spruce grouse, ruffed grouse and woodcock. I got one ruffed grouse and a couple of timberdoodles. The weather was much nicer than last year when the wind was howling and blowing us off our feet. The wind was blowing a bit this year but the temperatures were warmer and we had some good hunting opportunities.

Last day in Ohio

10/3/2005 -- Two Harbors, MN
Our last full day in Ohio was on Wednesday September 28. We had meetings most of the day, focusing on State-by-State reports of highlights from the past year; facilitated breakout sessions on different topics (grant administration, permitting, federal consistency, and outreach/education); and a session on 'regional coordination'. Follwing all that we got a chance to get out and see some more of Ohio's coastal resources with a tour of Magee Marsh, Crane Creek State Park, and Ottawa National Wildlife Refuge. The picture is from the refuge. We took a big bus way back into the refuge where people don't usually go. There were lots of herons and egrets, ducks and geese and a few raptors including immature bald eagles, and red-tailed hawks.

After the tour we had reservations for dinner at MonAmi Restraunt and Historic Winery. It was a buffet style dinner but the food was good and the local cabernet franc made a good, casual accompaniment.

On Thursday morning we left the hotel about 6 a.m. eastern time. The trip home was fortunately uneventful and we arrived back at the Duluth airport a bit after noon.