To polka or not to polka - that is the question.

The 2/4 meter of a polka fills the air and the soul with fun, add in a small-town Octoberfest with food, games, beer and Pomeranian dancers and for a moment in time the inconvenience of the world withdraws.

The smiles on the faces of the dancers tell the story of letting go and moving with the beat

Even those that join in can feel the energy of the moment

Be young, set free your inner child and just enjoy

Let yourself off your self-imposed leash

Step Lively to the rhythm

Just don't make a pig of yourself

Summer's last hurrah

Daylight and the sky are becoming more autumnal, but the warmth of summer remains.

End of summer flowers are in bloom signaling a change of season is on its way

The bee's and pollinators know it

The hummingbirds are loading up for their long journey south

With lake water temperatures in the 60's the late summer aquatic plants like pipewort know its time to bloom and we should take time to notice and enjoy the change of season.

SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION! part 2

When last you tuned in to part 1 of SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION your masked (and snorkeled) aquatic crusader (that's me)was photo'ing at the mouth of the Cascade river on Lake Superior.

The fog was lifting I had launched myself into the 61 degree water and begone my adventure.

I found myself snorkeling in a phantasmagorical world of reflections and refractions of light and form.

I snorkeled through the 1.1-billion-year-old lava beds battered by glaciers and time called the Canadian shield, or was I in a land of mythical creatures frozen in time waiting to return?

Lines of iron-stained quartz or jasper I followed like roads on a map

to legendary realms

Spending two and a half hours in 61-degree water not only chilled my body but my brain - was I seeing floating boulder's?

It was time to get out and warm up on some dark rock like a lizard and appreciate the experience I was having.

Save the date

Save the date

Subsurface exploration - part 1

8:30am and the morning fog was beginning to burn off as I made the final adjustments to my snorkeling gear and camera while I readied my mind and body to enter the 61 degree water of lake Superior.

Mid August and the seemingly never ending daylight hours of the summer solstice were behind me and the trepidation that fall and winter were approaching rapidly reminded me that Lake Superior was not going to get any warmer this year.

I was in the arrowhead of Minnesota as I calmly emersed myself into the greatest of great lakes near the mouth of the Cascade River, my heart raced not only from the cold but the amazing views.

Timeworn bedrock, boulders and rocks surrounded me.

In the 3 quadrillion gallons of water that is Lake Superior I find hiding under a rock a Sculpin that is no bigger than an inch and a half. (bottom center)

Further along a musky swim’s past me on its way to ...?

Veins of quartz stained by iron flash before me like lightning frozen in time.

Algae on this boulder reminds me of A monk's haircut that is traditionally called a tonsure.

Keep tuned into this blog for part two of "SUBSURFACE EXPLORATION"

Keeping an eye on me

I geared up and headed down the landing to a no motor use small lake that had no homes on it and that I would not see another human on for the over 4 hours I was there. I carried my mask, snorkel, fins and camera into the water with only hope that this snorkeling adventure would excide expectation but I had no idea.

I snorkeled out it to some lily pads photo'ing water striders resting on their edges.

Working my way out across the bay and down a shore I came across a downed tree that had been hanging there for so long that sun dews were growing on it,

(Drosera, which is commonly known as the sundews, is one of the largest genera of carnivorous plants, with at least 194 species. These members of the family Droseraceae lure, capture, and digest insects using stalked mucilaginous glands covering their leaf surfaces.)

On the lower edge you will see the discarded casings of dragonfly's.

dragonfly larvae live up to 4 years in water as wingless insects.

Before changing into what we know as a dragonfly.

I was lost on capturing the photo when I hear a low grunting sound - look to the end of the tree

I looked up to see three swans watching what I'm doing

They didn't seem to be troubled I was there more curious as to what I was and what I was doing.

I took some photos of them and not wanting to stress them out I slowly turned and went the opposite way they looked like they were going.

I looked back to see that they were fallowing me.

They watched as I photo'd damselflies dance over lily pads

And freshwater mollusks talking to each other

The swans tiered of me, and they went there way and I went mine.

I snorkeled on encountering an old sunken wooden boat.

And again, I was being watched this time by a Heron

I think nature is keeping an eye on me.

Spongillidae

Yesterday I spent my time snorkeling with freshwater sponges.

Bellow you will find photos and information about Spongillidae I retrieved off the internet - I just find them interesting other worldly and beautiful, see what you think.

A freshwater sponge is a simple, non-moving invertebrate animal that lives in lakes and rivers. They are characterized by their ability to filter water for food and their unique reproductive strategy involving gemmules, which are dormant structures that can survive harsh conditions.

Freshwater sponges are multicellular but lack organs. They have specialized cells that help them filter water and extract food particles and bacteria.

They are typically found attached to rocks, logs, or plants in clean, flowing water, such as lakes and streams.

They are filter feeders, meaning they draw water into their bodies and filter out organic matter, bacteria, and other small particles for food.

It always amazes me the things we share this planet with - and may not realize are there.

Observing while being observed

What do artists do? they notice things.

like a couple otters out for a swim.

I am also noticed by more things than I realize, like this crayfish keeping an eye on me

Snorkeling past what I though was "just" a long dead tree I became aware of something; can you notice something in this photo besides the long dead tree?

I'm sure it was aware of me before I was of it.

The fish and I observe each other

The damselfly and I are mindful of each other's presence

I know how lucky I am to travel through two different realities observing and being observed.

End of the epic journey

I have been back from my journey for a few days now but I will always keep the adventure in my memory.

Waking in our little blue tent to amazing views against the never-ending light of the summer solstice.

the journeys of discovery when the MV Columbia docked finding a fish and chowder stand.

I also discovered this wreck on the rocks.

The wreck happened between a doctor’s office and a financial adviser, the view from either of the offices would not inspire confidence.

For some a life changing experience is hiking the Appalachian or Pacific Crest Trail. I tried a different way, not hiking through amazing vistas but letting a ship do all the work as I enjoyed as life passed by.

Storms passed

We sailed through where sea water meets glacial melt

we even witnessed the ever-diminishing glacier

As the sunset on this adventure.

Embarkation - a 3-hour tour ...

Welcome back to the tales and photos of my mid summer adventure.

When you tuned in last time I shared my expedition thoughts and photos on my nearly 1900 mile expedition on Amtrak from Portage Wisconsin to Bellingham Washington.

On this episode of jimsgibberish.com I meet up with my older brother and we travel on board the MV Columbia up and back on the Alaska Marine Coast Highway.

The MV Columbia Leaves Bellingham Washington every Friday at 6pm and returns every Friday at 8am a one way journey of 950 miles, 69 hours with stops in Ketchikan, Wrangell, Petersburg, Sitka, Juneau, Haines and Skagway, the stops last in duration from 45 minutes to 3 hours.

We board ship at the Bellingham Cruise Terminal a short 6 block hike from my brothers home.

People gather to send us off and/or enjoy the fish and chips and famous clam chowder on this sunny day.

We enjoy the views of Bellingham

At around 6pm we set sail

The MV Columbia can carry up to 499 passengers and approximately 133 twenty-foot vehicles it has sleeping cabins but also allows you to set up tents in certain areas to sleep in - we chose to bring our 2 man tent and set up camp.

After setting up we break open our food supply and enjoy some cheese and crackers and enjoy an amazing sunset.

Being near the date of the summer solstice we are always in some form of daylight, and we wake in the middle of night to enjoy the moon.

The next morning on a self-guided tour of the MV Columbia I see something shocking

After opening the lid, I am relieved to see that it is filled with 20 life preservers for children not 20 children to be used as life perseveres.

I also find the bar; I check in from time to time but never frequent it for a drink

At our first stop in Ketchikan, we are let off for a quick walk about when I realize I'm being watched

then its back on board to watch life go past

more installments to come :)

Riding the Empire Builder

I kept getting that feeling like I was catching a cold except it wasn't a common viral infection I was getting it was the need to get out of my everyday life tracks and go on an adventure.

I hoped a train on 1900-mile train journey across the great plains to the west coast for the first part of the adventure

Camera in hand I observed the world unfold outside the train car window, like roads seemingly going no ware.

The beauty in isolation.

The commerce of small towns that impact all of us without our realization.

More of my adventure coming stay tuned to this blog for updates.

Signs of life

"Life is one big road with lots of signs" - Bob Marley

The fish and I take these signs seriously

The bass have laid their eggs and some have started to hatch, the fry wait for their signs

Their parents are tired in need of a nap, have you ever seen a fish yawn?

From the painted turtle to the musky, we all enjoy our day swimming

The minnows school me in how to swim

And we all obey the signs.

Tadpole Thursday

The waters of a local lake lazily but deliberately flow over rocks meant to moderate its progression as I clamber down an embankment trying not to disturb some spring flowers.

The water is channeled into a culvert where it picks up speed and force.

After a week of colder temperatures the lake water has gone from 64 degrees to 57 degrees.

Resolute in my want to see what is happening under the surface I engage in one of my favorite intersections of nature and art, snorkeling the lakes of northern Wisconsin, just under the surface magic happens.

I have entered the world of the tadpole.

A world that still has memories of lumber trains that stopped traveling through this area in the early nineteen hundreds.

A grouping of tadpoles is called a knot

I know how lucky I am to be graced with the opportunity to engage with tadpoles in their environment.

Reflective affect effect

"The still waters of a lake reflect the beauty all around it. When the mind is still, the beauty of the self is reflected in it" - Vanda Scaravelli

Like the mind the waters of the Lakes are not always still but there is always beauty to discover in them.

On my cycling, snorkeling and photo'ing excursion's there are forever moments of reflect, affect and effect.

As I warmed up after a recent snorkel I observed smoke on the horizon.

I did not learn till the next day on another adventure that the local Department of Natural Resources had conducted a controlled burn.

I could not determine how the fish were affected or effected by this.

Winter has gone

A seemingly long Winter has passed and a fast moving spring has taken over and nature waits for no one.

Dry and sunny days with temperatures in the 80's has awoken slumbering plants and animals. The ice just came off the lakes of northern Wisconsin barely 3 weeks ago but the lake water was 63 degrees and I could not wait to start this season's aquatic adventures.

The bass are spawning and protecting their nest of eggs from predators.

Some weave their eggs in with aquatic plants for security

As I snorkel I am watched by painted turtles sunning themselves on a fallen tree.

And another turtle swims under me.

Panfish, crappies and bass enjoy the cover of the fallen tree.

Aquatic plants are coming out with the warmer water.

After 45 minutes I feel the cold of the water ache in my bones and I take a cue from the turtles and pull myself out of the water and warm up in the sun.

I sit in the warmth of the sun trying to raise my core temperature watching a cloud of midges.

Two geese pass overhead as I warm.

And flowers bloom around me as I enjoy all the magic of spring.

Thank you

Thank you to all who visit my blog I hope you enjoy the experiences of a rambling lensman.

I am a wanderer who sometimes envy's those who can go from point A to point B without being distracted by reflections on the surface of a lake.

When I start out, I sometimes have a plan, but the plan can change like the wind, the wind that causes ripples on the water that the sun’s rays dance on.

My plans, thoughts and focus can hinge on a hinge.

Or the wrath of time can have on an old building.

Hope you lose some of your focus in my blog wandering through the photo's

Ice, Ice ... storm

A March ice storm moved through Northern Wisconsin breaking tree limbs, knocking out power, closing school and leaving a mess to clean up.

After the freezing rain stops and the next morning the sun comes out highlighting not only the damage but also the beauty of what has occurred.

The ice that formed on my garden fence also formed on its shadow.

The ice incased all but the birds could be heard singing in the distance calling for spring.

Prom season for artist's

Being an artist and getting your work out there to galleries and shows seems like your continually asking the pretty girl to go to prom with you - more often then not she doesn't say yes.

Maybe its like the opening photo a tadpole swimming up stream.

The pictures in this blog are photos I have put out there to galleries and shows, some have gotten in ... some have not.

I am fascinated by this photo, it says so much.

A curl of birch bark and the reflection of the clouds on the water behind it is just a moment of time.

"Toe the line."

The fingers of a local musician reflected on the guitar as she plays.

Moon glade - moonbeams dancing on the water

Capturing light and shadow at play - they always seem to be at play.

March madness

The fingers of winter struggle to hold their grip on northern Wisconsin in the month of March, everyday the sun arcs higher in the sky signaling the start of spring.

March is but a cruel month giving false hope that winter is ending then whipping up a tempest of rainfall, ice, heavy snow, strong winds, physical and mental fatigue.

Unheralded the signs of spring tacitly return, and you begin to see the results and ice begins to retreat.

The snow withdraws and what was frozen becomes fluid.

Moving and mixing with reflections.

For the love of the game

For the love of the game hockey was played on a frozen lake in northern Wisconsin a few weeks back old school Pond hockey

Weeks of preparation and the basic rinks were ready and players gathered in the cold air to do what for centuries northern dwelling mortals have done in the name of fun.

I chase the action trying to capture the moment when steel blade, wooden stick and rubber puck meet.

Keep your eye on the puck it could be anywhere (hint upper left corner)

Even shadows join in the fun

Between breaks in the games, you could try out more frozen fun curling.