Dockside - Fall 2010

The Lure of the Lake

angles on autumn to help you make the seasonal transition5

Come sail away with Capt. Joan Gilmore

Get on the water this fall in a kayak or canoe

Fall 2010

Recreation: y

2 Dockside ◆ Fall 2010

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Dockside ◆ Fall 2010 3

DOCKSIDEPublisher: Jennifer Sorenson [email protected]

Editor: Angelo Gentile [email protected]

Designer: Brian Sorenson [email protected]

Photographer: Loren Jones, Prior Creative Images

Contributors this issue: Vicki Bont, Richard Crawford, Laura French, Sara Glassman, Judy Monn

Advertising Sales: 952-345-6477

Dockside is published quarterly by South-west Newspapers. For advertising infor-mation, call 952-345-6477. For general comments and questions, send e-mail to [email protected] or call 952-345-6676.

Visit us online at: www.docksidemagazine.mn

All contents copyright © 2010, Southwest Newspapers.

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departments

on the cover

featuresLaunch 6

Fishing by the numbers, Jared Allen gossip, Taste of Home cooking show, and more…plus a calendar of selected events.

Marina 12Autumn CruiserSee the fall colors with a lake cruise on the Steamboat Minnehaha.

Dockside Conversation 30Sail OnCome sail away with Capt. Joan Gilmore, sailing instructor.

Season Preview 14Feels Like Fall

Five angles on autumn to help you make the transition

from summer.

Winterizing Your Boat? Consider these tips.

Recreation 26Fall PaddlingNow is a great time to be on the water in a canoe or kayak.

Lake Lifestyles 20The Lure of the Lake...In PicturesExtend the season: Fall Boating Tips.

On the Cover:

Sailboat racing on Lake Minnetonka every

week is always a highlight of summer.

Visit us online at www.docksidemagazine.mn


Editor’s NoteOn the water

On a recent visit to the scenic Betsie Bay/

Frankfort area on the sandy shores of Lake

Michigan, I was struck by the variety of ways

we all use to get out on the water.

Potent power boats in

various shapes and sizes

occupied hundreds of

slips in several marinas

that lined the harbor.

Graceful sailboats were

also in the marinas, as

well as anchored out in

the sheltered cove of

Betsie Bay. I also waved

to my share of kayakers and canoeists pad-

dling the waters. Plus, the waterskiing and

wakeboarding set could be found tooling

around nearby Lower Herring Lake next to

the Watervale Inn, where I stayed.

The scene is the same on “our” lakes, back

here in Minnesota. Along these lines, this is-

sue of the magazine features a few of the ways

we enjoy our time on the water:

■ Capt. Joan Gilmore talks about her love

of sailing and how she shares that passion

with those she teaches as a sailing instruc-

tor (Dockside Conversation, page 30).

■ The silent sports of canoeing and kayak-

ing are also showcased, including a brief

profi le of canoe racing champion Doug

Berg (Recreation, page 26).

■ We round out this nautical issue with a

photo salute to lake living, a glimpse of

the Steamboat Minnehaha, and a fall sea-

son preview that will help you get ready

for our annual seasonal shift.

As always, we welcome your thoughts and

ideas about this magazine. Contact me at agen-

[email protected] or 952-345-6676.

Angelo GentileEditor

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Launch

Angling in autumn

News • Ideas • Tips

Don’t put away your rod and reel just yet.

Several sources say that autumn angling

can be quite rewarding: fewer boats out on

the lakes, cooler water brings fi sh nearer

the surface, the fall colors create a scenic

backdrop…well, you get the picture.

Noted fi shing guide Gary Roach has

written extensively in Minnesota Sportsman

over the years about walleye fi shing. One

recent article extolled the virtues of fi shing

for walleyes in the fall at night on Lake

Minnetonka. He reported success slowly

trolling along the edge of the long point

that extends from Excelsior beach, after 8

p.m., casting crankbaits, and then doing the

same at the big sand fl at on the west side of

Big Island.

All About Fishing, at its website aa-

fi shing.com, recommends that, for fall, top

baits for walleyes are jigs, crankbaits, and

spoons. The website advises fi shing shallow

to moderate depths in the mornings and

evenings. As the sun rises move deeper

toward outside structures and use small

spoons or jigs.

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Fish by the numbersSpeaking of fi shing, Minnesota’s Department of Natural Resourc-

es always has a steady stream of fun facts and fi gures available. Here

are a few numbers from the DNR to consider when you’re drift fi sh-

ing along your favorite angling spots this fall:

158 Fish species found in Minnesota lakes, rivers, and streams

3,800,000 Acres of fi shing waters

5,493 Fishable lakes

15,000 Miles of fi shable streams

283 Minnow dealers in the state

832 Minnow retailers in Minnesota

And which fi sh are caught the most in Minnesota each year?

1st: Panfi sh

2nd: Walleye

3rd: Northern Pike

Black Bean Chili with Winter SquashThe creative foodies at Lakewinds Natural Foods in Minnetonka and

Chanhassen offer this cool weather favorite at the food coop’s website,

www.lakewinds.com. It lends itself to endless variations depending on

the squash variety used. Options include kabocha, delicata, sweet dump-

ling, acorn, butternut, buttercup, and red kuri. Cornbread squares and a

bountiful veggie salad turn this chili into a meal. Red and green grapes

make a refreshing fi nish.

Ingredients1 small or 2 medium winter squash or edible pumpkin (about 2 pounds)2 teaspoons olive oil1 large onion, chopped2 to 4 cloves garlic, minced1 teaspoon ground cumin1/2 teaspoon dried oregano2 (15-ounce) cans black beans, drained, rinsed1 (28-ounce) can diced tomatoes1 (4-ounce) can diced mild green chilies, drained1 green bell pepper, choppedSalt to taste

InstructionsCut each squash in half; scoop out seeds. Bake in a 350°F oven 30 minutes or until tender. (In a hurry? Place halved, seeded squash in a microwave-safe container with 1/2 inch of water; cover. Micro-wave until tender, allowing 2 to 3 minutes per half.) Cool, peel and cut into chunks.

In a large pot, heat oil over medium heat. Add onion, garlic, cumin and oregano. Sauté, stirring often, until soft, about 5 minutes, Add remaining ingredients except squash and salt. Bring to a boil; reduce heat. Simmer gently 15 minutes. Stir in squash; season with salt.

Source: Lakewinds Natural Foods185074


Jared Allen in the neighborhoodFootball is in the air these days in our

region, especially Minnesota Vikings

football, so we felt compelled to offer a

tiny news nugget on fellow lake dweller,

Jared Allen. He stars for the Vikings ev-

ery week as defensive end. Last year, for

instance, he had 50 tackles, fi ve forced

fumbles and an interception.

He had a busy off-season on the do-

mestic front. He bought a six-bedroom,

six-bath home on Lake Lucy in Chan-

hassen, in our Dockside neighborhood,

according to the Chanhassen Villager. He also got married, honey-

mooned in Italy, and, gulp, he even cut off his mullet.

Hungry for the holidays?Attend the Taste of Home cooking school

You say you can’t cook? Or, maybe you can sort of cook and

would like to improve your kitchen skills and cook some more?

Whatever your skill level in the kitchen, become a master just

in time for the holidays with a Taste of Home recipe demonstra-

tion and show.

For the fi rst time in the Twin Cities, the national company

will be sharing the food love on Nov. 6. (You’re getting advance

notice because they sell out quickly after tickets go on sale Sept.

18.) Every attendee gets a drool-worthy gift bag containing a

copy of Taste of Home magazine featuring all the recipes from

the day’s cooking demo,

product samples, useful

ideas and discount offers.

Enjoy an afternoon of

shopping local vendors

(handbags, jewelry, food

and beauty products to

name a few), grab a bite

to eat and then get ready

to enjoy the Midwest-

ern charm and humor of

culinary specialist Karen

Davis. She’ll demon-

strate eight “Made Easy”

recipes ranging from

Baked French Toast to

Mushroom Crab Melts to

Pear-Stuffed Pork Loin

to Outrageous Cranberry

Chocolate Cake.

Taste of Home has been

hosting cooking schools

since the 1950s. Karen

Davis has more than 15

years of experience in the

food business and cur-

rently lives in Iowa, where

her husband is the “chief

taste tester.”

Following the show,

you’ll go home with tons

of great ideas for cooking

and entertaining, a goody

bag and quite possibly

one of dozens of valuable

door prizes. With so much

knowledge, you’ll fi nally

be able to feel as relaxed as

you seem in the kitchen.

–Sara Glassman

Taste of Home Made Easy Holiday cooking demonstrationBrought to you by: South-west Newspapers, publisher of Dockside Magazine, and Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools Community Educa-tion

What: Shop local vendors, receive a valuable goody bag, learn new recipes and register to win door prizes. Food and beverages avail-able for purchase.

When: 11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 6

Where: Prior Lake High School, 7575 150th St. W., Savage

Tickets: $15, available 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18 at Southwest News-papers’ headquarters, 327 Marschall Rd., Shakopee and Prior Lake American/Sav-age Pacer newspaper offi ce, 14093 Commerce Ave. N.E., Prior Lake. 10 ticket limit per person.

One woman, one kayak, 1,007 lakesGarrison Keillor likes to crow about how he’s been to all 87 coun-

ties in Minnesota.

Mary Shideler can make a similar claim, although it involves just

one county and a kayak. Her accomplishment, however, makes Keil-

lor’s boast seem a little lame. Sorry, Garrison, just sayin.’

Shideler, this past

August, completed

her quest of dipping a

paddle and kayaking

in every lake in Itasca

County. If you think

that doesn’t sound like

much, well, think again:

she kayaked in 1,007

lakes.

As she told the St.

Paul Pioneer Press: “The county had a defi nition for a lake, and that

was it had to be 10 acres. I had some of my own rules. If it had a loon

on it, it was a lake. But I’ve actually kayaked more than 1,007 lakes

because some of them aren’t there anymore. They’ve dried up.”

Shideler, 48, started her pursuit in July, 1996. Along the way, as the

Pioneer Press reported, she crossed paths with cow and calf moose,

watched a bear swim across the Bowstring River and just missed

stepping on a whitetail fawn. She’s had close encounters with otters

and watched beavers and loons swim under her kayak.

Itasca County, located in northern Minnesota, is the third largest

county in the state, covering about 3,000 square miles. Grand Rapids

is the county seat, which is also where Shideler lives.

As she told the Pioneer Press, she has had people tell her that she

has inspired them to take up kayaking or bicycling, and she is happy

about that.

She says that nature is out there for us to explore, experience, and

appreciate. All it takes is getting off the couch.

Read more about Shideler at marythekayaklady.com.

Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press


We extend thanks to

readers who continue

to send us photos.

This time, we received

photos of people as

well as dogs. That’s

a giant step for man-

kind! In this picture,

submitted by Jane

Crosson of Prior

Lake, we see Hailee

Hodgkiss, Elko, div-

ing into the inviting waters of Lily Bass Lake in

northern Wisconsin.

Of course we couldn’t resist at least one animal shot. In this picture,

submitted by Dockside publisher Jennifer Sorenson, her dog Kaja en-

joys a hot dog after a swim in White Bear Lake.

Send your photos to

[email protected]. In

the subject line, include

the title “Dockside

Pictures.”

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Ladies Night Out

Downtown Prior Lake

Thursday, Sept. 16

6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

For information, contact Prior Lake Chamber of Commerce:

952-440-1000; www.priorlakechamber.org

OCTOBERAutumn Foliage Ambles

Minnesota Landscape Arboretum

Chaska

Meet in Oswald Visitor Center

Saturdays, Oct. 9 and 23

10 a.m.

Watch the fall foliage show and

learn about nature’s rhythms on an

autumn walk with Arboretum natu-

ralist Matt Schuth. $10 member, $12

non-member. Register online or call

952-443-1422.

www.arboretum.umn.edu

NOVEMBERTaste of Home Made Easy Holiday cooking demonstration

What: Shop local vendors, receive a valuable goody bag, learn new

recipes, and register to win door prizes. Food and beverages available

for purchase.

SEPTEMBEROngoing Theater

“All Shook Up” (through Jan. 29, 2011) and “Stevie Ray’s Comedy

Cabaret” (ongoing) at Chanhassen Dinner Theatres (www.chanhas-

senDT.com). “The Dixie Swim Club (through Sept. 11) at the Old Log

Theater (www.oldlog.com).

James J. Hill Days

Celebrate the 36th annual community festival with a parade, activities

for kids, open-air street market, and more.

Sept. 10 through 12

Lake Street, Wayzata

www.wayzatachamber.com/jjhill.htm

Mark YourCalendar

26th Annual Excelsior Apple Day

A Main Street market featuring antiques, collectibles, crafts, farm

produce, lots of apples, and great food.

Saturday, Sept. 11

8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

35th Annual Antique and Classic Boat Rendezvous

Maynard’s Restaurant, Excelsior Bay, Lake Minnetonka

Saturday, Sept. 11

10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

www.acbs-bslol.com

Saturday, Nov. 6

11 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Prior Lake High School, 7575 150th St. W., Savage

Tickets: $15, available 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 18 at Southwest

Newspapers’ headquarters, 327 Marschall Rd., Shakopee; and Prior

Lake American/Savage Pacer newspaper offi ce, 14093 Commerce Ave.

N.E., Prior Lake. 10 ticket limit per person.


DECEMBERMaking Spirits Bright

“Great Hall of Trees & Land

of Gingerbread”

Minnesota Landscape

Arboretum

Oswald Visitor Center &

Snyder Building

Chaska

Nov. 26 through Dec. 31

Celebrate the holiday season at

the Arboretum: View dazzling

gingerbread structures and

festive holiday trees decorated

with natural crafted ornaments,

and enjoy holiday music, teas,

and special gourmet dinners.

www.arboretum.umn.edu

Christmas Events and Community Show

Excelsior Elementary School

Saturday, Dec. 4

1 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Want to include your event in our listings? Send an e-mail to:

[email protected].

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While the boating season on area lakes may

be winding down this season, there is still

ample opportunity to enjoy a cruise on Lake

Minnetonka that features a splash of history

and fall color.

The historic Steamboat Minnehaha features

fall tours on the lake that run into October.

“This time of year usually the weather is

still nice, the colors are turning and the lake is

not nearly as crowded,” says Jim Zimmerman.

“So it’s a nice time to be out on the lake.”

Zimmerman, a board member of the Muse-

um of Lake Minnetonka, the organization that

runs the Minnehaha, is a history buff himself.

His interest in history and his home on Lake

Minnetonka were the two key ingredients that

got him involved with the MLM.

“I love to see the Minnehaha on the lake and

I love history,” he says.

Judging by the growing number of people

who have boarded the historic steamboat in re-

cent years, there’s still plenty of interest in the

boat originally launched on Lake Minnetonka

in 1906.

This year, Zimmerman says the Minnehaha is

on pace to set a record for ridership. “We’re run-

ning about on pace with last year and some of

the weather was bad on earlier weekends.”

In 2009, about 10,000 people cruised on the

boat. With several special events planned in Sep-

tember, Zimmerman anticipates a new record.

Special low-price cruises are planned during

Excelsior’s Apple Days Festival and Wayzata’s

James J. Hills Days on the weekend of Sept. 11

and 12. The boat will be running hourly on those

days, offering 45 minute cruises for a reduced

rate of $5.

On Sept. 18, the Minnehaha begins its fall

color cruise schedule on weekends. All cruises

leave from the Excelsior City Dock for 1-hour

cruises. Departure times are 12:40, 2 and 3:20

p.m. The fall color cruises travel around Big

Island and back.

The Museum of Lake Minnetonka is a non-

profi t organization that is operated by volun-

teers. The cruise fees generate funding that

allows the organization to keep the Minnehaha

afl oat.

“Being over 100 years old, there’s always

constant maintenance,” Zimmerman says. “In

the winter months, there’s a lot of sanding and

painting.”

In recent years, more than $100,000 has

been spent on maintaining the wood hull.

The organization is always on the lookout

for additional volunteers who enjoy history,

boating, and Lake Minnetonka and opportuni-

ties are available that can accommodate almost

any skill set.

Whether you’re interested in maintenance

work, marketing, or serving on the boat as a

purser or a captain, the Museum of Lake Min-

netonka likely has a place for you.

Richard Crawford lives in Deephaven and is the

publisher and editor of the Chanhassen Villager.

Marina

Autumn cruiser

Steamboat Minnehaha cruise highlights history, colorBy Richard Crawford

Photo courtesy of RevAir SkyPhotoThe Steamboat Minnehaha, operated by the Museum of Lake Minnetonka, originally provided transporta-tion on Lake Minnetonka in the early 1900s. The re-stored Minnehaha has a capacity of 90 passengers.


About the Minnehaha• The story of the Steamboat Minnehaha starts with the Hotel St. Louis, which was located on a hill overlooking Carson’s Bay on Lake Minnetonka in 1879. Shortly after the hotel was constructed, the Chicago, Milwaukee, and St. Paul Railroad built a track westward from Minneapolis and connected to Minnetonka’s shoreline at Carson’s Bay.

• In 1905-06, the Twin City Rapid Transit Company bought the railroad right-of-way and began to operate a streetcar service from Minneapolis to the lake.

• The centerpiece of the TCRT fl eet was a team of six fast torpedo stern steamers that served lake residents by running a tight schedule similar to the company’s streetcars. The new boats even looked like streetcars. They were fi nished with the same canary yellow paint. They were named after major destinations on the TCRT’s trolley system: Como, Harriet, Hopkins, Minnehaha, Stillwater, and White Bear.

• By the early 1920s, the automobile was becoming the preferred mode of transpor-

tation in Minnesota. The number of motor vehicles in the state topped 300,000 -- a huge increase over the 7,000 automobiles licensed in 1909. It was the beginning of the end for Lake Minnetonka’s steam-boats.

• By the mid-1920s, ridership on the yel-low express boats had fallen way off. One by one, the boats were withdrawn from service until, fi nally, they stopped operat-ing altogether.

• In July of 1926, workers dismantled three of the fl eet’s seven boats: the Como, the White Bear, and the Min-nehaha. They fi lled the three boats with red clay tiles and other debris. The boats were pumped full of water and allowed to slowly sink to the lake bottom.

• The Minnehaha sat on the bottom of the lake for more than 50 years.

• It was discovered and raised from the lake in 1980.

• Restoration work began in 1990.

• Public cruises began in 1996.

Source: Museum of Lake Minnetonka

To see the fall cruise schedule and to learn more about the Minnehaha, visit www.steamboatminnehaha.org.

Photo courtesy Museum of Lake Minnetonka

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Season Preview

Five angles on autumn to help you make the

seasonal shift By Judy Monn

August/September is one of the three best bird-watching times of

the year in Minnesota (December/January and April/May are the

other two). And of 421 birds on the Minnesota state list, a whopping

81 percent have been seen in Hennepin County. Chances are, even a

fi rst-time bird-watcher (or “birder”), armed with a good fi eld book

and a pair of binoculars, can spot quite a few.

Lake Minnetonka Regional Park has trails that provide good

vantage points for birding. The combination of lake, woods, and

wetlands is an irresistible lure for tree birds and waterfowl. Start at

the 7,000-square-foot Visitor Center.

Carver Park Reserve contains lakes, marshes, woodlands, trails,

boardwalk, and is home to the King Waterbird Sanctuary. The bird

feeders at its visitor center, Lowry Nature Center, attract a

variety of birds, also. The Nature Center offers programs on

all aspects of wildlife, including birds.

Minnesota Valley National Wildlife Refuge covers a

34-mile stretch of the Minnesota River (north side) from

Bloomington to Jordan and attracts more than 200 species of

birds. Start at the visitor center; take the 34th Avenue exit off

Interstate 494.

State Fair. School supplies. The fi rst leaf on the lawn. The signs of autumn approaching are everywhere. Instead of viewing

the season as the gateway to winter, however, why not enjoy it for the multi-hued, roller-coaster ride that it is? Here are some

ideas, unique to fair fall.


Want to see the fall colors from a

completely different vantage point?

How about a kayak? Lake Minneton-

ka Regional Park, part of Three

Rivers Park District, is hosting

two “Fall Colors Kayak Tours” on

Saturday, Sept. 25. This isn’t a learn-

as-you-go; you must have previous

kayak experience and be 16 or bet-

ter. And you must make a reserva-

tion at threeriversparks.org, where

you’ll fi nd more information. From

9 a.m. to noon, it’s the “Fall Color

Kayak Tour on Lake Minnetonka for

Women,” while from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m.,

the tour is open to everyone. You’ll

explore secluded islands and bays,

with a stop at Wawatasso Island.

Trees should be just beginning to

display fi ery fall colors. Fun!

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There’s no shortage of opinions about the

best fall beers. In fact, descriptions of taste

and fi nish begin to rival those of the most eru-

dite wine connoisseur. Who should you trust?

How about your own taste buds? Here are a

few suggestions to get you started.

Local Surly Brewing Company issues Anvil

in September, Surlyfest during Oktoberfest

and Wet in October, but it’s Surly’s Darkness

that ranked No. 1 on beeradvocate.com’s list

of “Top Beers — Fall Seasonals.” Following

in the next nine positions were The Perfect

Storm (Pelican Pub & Brewery), Founders

Breakfast Stout (Founders Brewing Com-

pany), Arctic Devil Barley Wine (Midnight

Sun Brewing Company), Ten FIDY (Oskar

Blues Grill & Brewery), Berserker Impe-

rial Stout (Midnight Sun again), Ol’ Jack

Frost Imperial Stout (Minneapolis Town

Hall Brewery), Sierra Nevada Wet Hop Ale

(Sierra Nevada Brewing Company), Big Bar-

rel Double IPA (Karl Strauss Breweries), and

Coffee Oatmeal Stout (Good People Brewing

Company). The website GreatBrewers.com

adds Abita Fall Fest, Blue Point Oktober-

fest, Dogfi sh Head Punkin and Smuttynose

Pumpkin Ale, among others.

Colder weather seems to bring out the cook and baker

in everyone. There’s no reason to walk away from outdoor

cooking just yet, however. If you have an outdoor kitchen,

grill, or smoker, just remember to adjust your cooking

times for the colder air outside.

Smokers are gaining in popularity — they’re like a big,

slow cooker, and they make every kind of meat taste fabu-

lous. Once solely the province of the hunter, smokers have

moved mainstream and can be found in many an outdoor

cooking set-up. Here’s an easy smoker recipe to get you

started.


Easy pulled pork Pork shoulderWhite bread bunsColeslawBarbecue sauce

Place the pork on the grid of your smoker and cook for 90

to 120 minutes per pound weight of meat at 98°C or 215°F.

(A range of 93°C – 110°C or 200°F – 230°F is acceptable for

smoking.) Allow cooling for 60 minutes because this helps the

pulling apart; then serve.

Pull apart, shred or chop on a white bread bun, leaving the

diner to add the sauce of choice and the coleslaw.

Source: Barbecue-smoker-recipes.com

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Muffi ns In the fall, harvest fruits

and vegetables are in sea-

son: cranberries, pump-

kin, squash, sweet

potatoes and yams,

nuts. It’s a great time

to incorporate more

of these essential

foods into your diet,

and what better way

than in muffi ns? With

chocolate chips?

Serves about 36

2 cups brown sugar1 (15 ounce) can pure pumpkin puree (about 2 cups)1 cup light tasting olive oil2/3 cup water4 large eggs3 1/3 cups all-purpose fl our1 tablespoon ground cinnamon1 teaspoon ground nutmeg1 teaspoon ginger1/4 teaspoon allspice1/8 teaspoon cloves2 teaspoons baking soda1-1/2 teaspoons salt1-1/2 cups miniature semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line muf-

fi n tins with papers. In a large bowl, blend the pumpkin, oil,

water, and eggs until smooth. Mix all the dry ingredients

together and then gradually blend that into the pumpkin mix-

ture. Fold in chocolate chips (do not use mixer for this part).

Fill muffi n tins 3/4 full. Bake for 15-19 minutes, or until an

inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool on wire racks before

removing.

Source: Seasonalrecipes.com

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The 36th annual James J. Hill Days takes over Wayzata on Saturday,

Sept. 11 (10 a.m. – 6 p.m.) and Sunday, Sept. 12 (10 a.m. – 4 p.m.) with

something for everyone. There’s a parade on Sunday at 1 p.m., and a

fundraising Walk for Kids and Families. The Open Air Street Market

includes fi ne arts, crafts, antiques, vintage items, homemade products,

and more. The four-wheeled set can enjoy a Coaster Cart Derby and

an Auto Show.

Ironically, according to several published historical accounts, James.

J. Hill was not always the beloved elder statesman he appears to be

now. Irked at a lawsuit fi led by Wayzata demanding that railroad

tracks for his Great Northern Railroad be moved 300 feet from

the edge of Lake Minnetonka, he retaliated by moving the railroad

station a mile from town in 1890. It wasn’t until 1906 that the new

Wayzata Depot was built, and not until 1946 that the issue of the

tracks by the lake was settled.

Judy Monn is a Chanhassen-based freelance writer.

Introducing

Putting Community First

in the Southwest Metro Area!

Here’s how it works: Jeans Day - a day when employees may dress for work in jeans. In return, the employee pays one dollar, which goes to area non-profi t organizations.

Jeans Day is a way to raise funds for non-profi ts and at the same time boost employee morale. We like the idea of people of the Greater Southwest Metro area wearing jeans for area non-profi ts on the last Friday of each month. For the next four months we are proposing the following non-profi ts:

September: CAP Agency

October : Bridging – Serving Families in Transition

November: Feed My Starving Children

December: Carver-Scott Humane Society Southwest Newspapers will promote Jeans Day and all the participating businesses the

last Thursday and Saturday of each month’s event. We’ll provide you with Jeans Day stickers for your participating employees to wear. We also will give you “table tents” to explain to customers why employees are dressed casually. Southwest Newspapers retains less than 10% of the donations to cover the cost of stickers, mailings and other promotional material. Southwest Newspapers also donates all the ads placed in the paper promoting Jeans Day.

In short, this program will cost you nothing. It will boost employee morale. It will pleasantly unite all the of the Greater Southwest Metro area for a worthwhile cause, and hopefully will raise lots of money for local non-profi ts.

If your business is interested in participating in Jeans Day for Charity or have a suggestion of

a non-profi t organization to benefi t from these efforts, please contact Jennifer Sorenson at 952-345-6477 or [email protected].

510 North Street EastMaple Lake, Minnesota(320) 963-3039

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Yes, those are leaves you are noticing on your dock and deck of your boat in the morning. Summer will soon be a fond memory.

Minnesota’s sub-zero temperatures are not kind to boats, so winterizing your craft is mandatory. Here are a few items to con-sider when putting your boat to sleep for its long winter’s nap.

Checklist? Check.Be sure to have a good checklist to

follow, advises Boat/U.S. in a recent article from its website. Most marine stores and marinas have printed checklists available, or, as always, you can certainly fi nd some-thing online. But, as Boat/U.S. suggests, while these lists are reasonably thorough, consider creating a customized list that specifi cally addresses the plumbing, en-gine, electronics, and other systems aboard your own vessel. “Since it’s specifi c to your boat, you’ll have the peace of mind know-ing that every detail has been attended to properly.”

Fall is actually a good time for repairs.

Now’s the time to repair dings in the pro-peller, replace a corroded exhaust manifold, or order a new halyard, Boat/U.S. advises. Anything that is broken, worn out, or just needs updating is better handled in the fall than when the rush is on in the spring and boatyards and marinas are at their busiest.

Clean everything.Several online boating websites rec-

ommend a thorough cleaning: exterior and interior. Exterior cleaning should involve washing and waxing the hull, including the bottom and the deck, checking for damage, and fi xing anything along the way. Deep cleaning the inside affords you the oppor-tunity, as Boat/U.S. muses on its website, “to discover anything needing attention and dramatically reduces the likelihood of having to deal with foul-smelling surprises in the spring.” Enough said!

Storage options.Carefully consider where and how

you’ll store your boat, Boat/US advises. A dry, climate-controlled environment at an indoor storage facility is nice, and often gives you better access to your boat during

Winterizing your boat? Consider these tipsthe winter, but it can be costly. Storing outdoors, under cover, carries more risk of damage from the elements, but is more affordable.

Shrink-wrapping will keep your boat dry and, with proper ventilation, you’ll encoun-ter less of a chance of mildew, the website About.com points out in its section on

powerboating. Boat yards specialize in shrink-wrapping boats or you can purchase do-it-yourself kits at marine stores. The downside to shrink-wrap, of course, is you will be unable to work on your boat during the winter. If this isn’t a problem, then this option may be right for you.

Sources: Boat/U.S., About.com, eHow.com

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Lake Lifestyles

Season of Transition:A photo salute to our lakes

The end of summer means, for the most

part, the end of your usual activity on

the water. With that in mind, we offer

these photos, both as a fi nal salute to summer,

but also as a look ahead to a scenic, perhaps

more contemplative time of year, autumn, as

we make the transition, in summer’s wake,

to cooler weather and the anticipated winter

ahead.

Beyond the photos, here are some brief

items to go along with the pictures:

■ The lure of the lake

■ How to live on a lake

■ Boating on the lake past Labor Day

By Angelo GentilePhotos by Loren Jones


The Lure of the LakeLife at the lake means an ever-changing

scene outside your door and on your dock.

Think about those quieter times, such as

the stillness of a mirror-like, windless lake

in the early morning as you load the boat

for a pre-dawn fi shing outing. Or the time

you were surprised when you spotted an

eagle gliding overhead while you sat read-

ing on your dock.

Then there are the fun times, too, fami-

lies and friends getting together for swim-

ming, waterskiing, and wakeboarding.

The seasons come and go, and the lakes

change and adapt to those shifts. And,

yet, throughout these transitions—warm

waters and ice overs, brilliant sunsets and

stark moon rises, threatening waves and

tranquil fl atness—there’s something about

the lake’s presence that draws us to it.

What is that?

“The lure of living or spending time

beside the water is elemental,” says Konnie

LeMay, editor of Lake Superior magazine.

“The convergence of water, land, and

sky remains ever magnetic and magical.

Watching the dynamic interaction of these

elements—and of the people and critters

drawn to them—fascinates us.”

That magnetic pull of the water is also

quite egalitarian. Think about it. Lakes,

rivers, oceans, whatever, attract all kinds.

And everyone is welcome, too.

There are those who prefer the elegant

art of sailing: trimming and adjusting sails

to make the most of the available wind.

There are others who prefer slowly troll-

ing around a back bay somewhere in search

of walleye. Some get a kick out of towing

excited wakeboarders behind their high-

powered Ski Nautique. And still others

revel in the silent sports of canoeing and

kayaking (see related story on page 26).

This fascination or magic or lure or

whatever it is has drawn Joan Gilmore

to the water (see related article on page

30). She has lived, played, and worked on

various bodies of waters for years, includ-

ing serving as a tugboat operator and now,

more recently, as a sailing instructor.

Her preferences these days are to the

sailing life. She teaches sailing on a

number of Minnesota lakes, including

Lake Minnetonka and Lake Superior.

“As a sailing instructor, my pleasure is in

helping people enjoy the lake in its natural

state,” she says. “When sailing, you can

soundlessly glide up beside a loon before

it takes a dive. You can enjoy the beauty

of a fabulous sunset as your wake quietly

ripples its refl ection behind you. Sailing

lets you interact with the lake in a dynamic

way while not impacting its ecology.”

Still others enjoy a more active life on

the water. Mound resident Jane Norling,

for instance, acknowledges the quieter side

of life on the water: “Water is soothing,

which aids relaxation and even healing.”

Yet, she says, living on the water can also

be an invigorating proposition. “Living on

Lake Minnetonka means access to a whole

unique lifestyle. You can go out to eat,

visit friends, or arrive at a party by boat.

You call to reserve dock space, before your

table.”

Finally, beyond lifestyle preferences,

maybe this lure or magnetic pull goes

deeper. Maybe, as living beings on this

planet, we just feel some sort of kinship

with water.

Consider the perspective of Russian

Olympic swimmer Aleksandr Popov, who

was quoted recently in At the Lake maga-

zine: “The water is your friend. You don’t

have to fi ght with water, just share the

same spirit as the water, and it will help

you move.”


How to Live on a LakeDeb Kind is the mayor of Greenwood in the

Lake Minnetonka area, which, she says, “is a

very part-time job.”

She also works as a graphic designer. She

recently designed a note card that humorously

sums up, in a handy list, how to live on a lake.

Here’s that list:

RelaxListen to gullsPut turtles backGlideFloatSquish sand between your toesFish for sunniesExploreLaugh like a loonGo wide openExpect unexpected guestsProvide clean towels and salty snacksRide the windSkip stonesSeek simplicityEmbrace quietSki on glassDrink lemonadeSoak up the sunCool off with a swimPaint a sunsetBe dazzled by moonbeams on ripplesCount your blessings

Water is egalitarian. Lakes attract all kinds of folks: Sailors, pleasure boaters, swimmers, waterskiing performers, and even toddlers who seem to espe-cially like the sandy beaches that lakes provide.


Photo by Mary Sorenson Photo by Kristen Holtz


Boating past Labor DayTo twist up a Bob Dylan lyric just slightly:

Oh mama, can this really be the end…of

boating season? Let’s face it; boating season

is generally thought to be those days between

Memorial Day and Labor Day.

But many hardy boaters declare that fall can

be a great time to enjoy Minnesota lakes. Here

are a few reasons why:

Less crowded. Indeed, after Labor Day,

you will fi nd dramatically fewer boats on area

lakes, which makes time on the water that

much more enjoyable and stress-free.

Good fi shing. Fewer boats mean fewer

people, which can often mean fewer fellow an-

glers. Plus, a number of sport anglers claim at

least that cooler water often brings fi sh nearer

the surface.

Fall colors. While you’re on the lake in

the fall, you’ll be treated to beautiful, scenic

displays of leaves changing colors.

Mild weather. Sure, temperatures gener-

ally cool off in autumn, but most years bring

plenty of pleasant days in September and

October and, yup, even a few in November.

Simply stated: If your boat isn’t out yet,

consider a few more weeks to enjoy the lake.

Lake lovers have a variety of preferences: from hanging out on and around a pontoon on Prior Lake, to competitive sailing on Lake Minnetonka.

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Minnesotans and visitors to our state love

spending time on our lakes and rivers in their

kayaks and canoes.

Paddle sports are wildly popular here. The

U.S. Coast Guard and Minnesota DNR esti-

mate that close to 200,000 canoes and kayaks

are registered in the state. Plus, the Bound-

ary Waters Canoe Area alone attracts more

than 200,000 visitors each year who paddle its

more than 1,500 miles of canoe routes.

Most folks dip a paddle in the water in the

summer, but enthusiastic canoeists and kayak-

ers agree that late summer and fall are also

great times to be in the water.

With this in mind, we offer a tiny primer

on fall kayaking and canoeing. We include a

look at the cool new kayaks that are making

the sport more accessible (and where to rent

Whether kayaking or canoeing, autumn is a great time to be on the water

Story & Photos By Vicki Bont

Recreation

Fall paddling


or buy kayaks and canoes in the fall), a brief profi le of a 67-year old

canoe racing champion, and a quick tips list for fall paddling.

Cooler kayaksA growing trend in paddle sports these days is a turn toward

kayaking, and these are not the tippy, claustrophobic boats you re-

member. The recreational paddler is turning to short, wide boats

that are open and can accommodate up to two to three people, plus

gear. These kayaks are stable and are easy to learn to paddle.

Get your gear:To Rent: Tommy’s Trolley, 952-220-0101, [email protected], www.tonkatrolley.com

To Purchase: Even though it’s fall, Hoigaard’s always has a kayak or canoe hanging in the raf-ters for sale in the off season.

Other: Larger chain stores like Gander Mountain, Dick’s, Cabela’s, and REI might only have hunting canoes available at this time of year (late summer and fall). Call ahead.

Shorter, wider kayaks, seen here and on the facing page, are easier to control and gaining in popularity.

[email protected]

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“I’m seeing more people purchasing the short, wide recreation-

al kayaks (12- to 14-ft.) and canoes (under 11-ft),” says Jay Berne

of Hoigaard’s. “They give up some of the glide that produces

the speed, but they are better for touring.” He added that one

drawback with purchasing a basic boat is that it can be very easy

to outgrow. Still, they are great options for those just starting

out in the sport.

Tommy’s Tonka Trolley and Kayak Rentals in Excelsior on

Lake Minnetonka offers another option by supplying everything

a beginning kayaker needs.

Owner Tom Drummond explains, “For $15, we supply the life

jacket, paddle, a single kayak, and an introductory lesson. We

have our own dock to ensure a safe lateral transfer to the boat.

And we match the right kayak to the person.”

Indeed, Drummond also has several clients who have sold their

own kayaks for the ease of not storing or transporting them and

now just rent from Tonka Trolley.

Double kayaks are also available, and all of the boats are ocean-

style, meaning they are open on top. Drummond said they are

cooler, more comfortable, wider, and safer than the closed-in,

whitewater-style kayak that most people envision.

With all of these new-style kayaks in mind, anyone should be

able to go out and follow the general routes that Tommy’s crew

provides to Lake Minnetonka destinations such as St. Albans

Bay or Gideon’s Bay. When you’re out there, plan to stop on the

beach in Excelsior for a picnic.

Lake Minnetonka’s canoe champIt’s never too late to aspire to become a champion in the sport

of paddling a canoe. And especially if you are as dedicated and fi t

as Deephaven resident Doug Berg. At 67, Berg just returned re-

cently from the Big Five Challenge in Spring Green, Wis. Berg

and his paddling partner won their age category and handily met

the combined age requirement of 110 by equaling 127 in years.

Flat-water canoe races can be anything from a sprint distance

(40 to 70 miles), where teams try to ride on each others’ prow-

wake to gain advantage (much like bicyclists and runners draft

each other,) to multi-day events like the 1,000-mile race Berg did

on the Yukon River in the Arctic last summer.

In the fall, Berg usually starts cutting his water workouts

down to 10 to 12 hours a week in favor of conditioning he does

for his preferred winter sport, cross-country skiing. He works

out on roller skis. But he says he still really enjoys being out on

the lake and will continue paddling until the ice comes in.

He didn’t start out a senior sports superman, though he was

an outdoorsman. He taught at Minnetonka High School for 34

years. There, he began a very novel program for alternative stu-

dents that featured about 50 days a year camping, canoeing, and

backpacking to foster self-reliance and confi dence.

At 67, Deephaven resident Doug Berg is a champion canoe racer.


About 25 years ago, while still teaching, Berg says he picked up the

sport of canoe racing to supplement his true love, cross-country skiing.

“Now I also weight train in a gym. I’m in pretty good shape.”

Indeed he is, and, even though he’s “winding down” his canoe condi-

tioning during this time of year, Berg usually spends Labor Day pad-

dling a 100-mile race in Texas.

While Berg’s in Texas, the rest of us mere mortals can be content

to watch Minnesota’s unoffi cial state canoe championship, the 70-mile-

long races held on Labor Day weekend in Bemidji, which closes the

racing season.

Follow these simple tips for fall fun on the waterChampion canoeist Doug Berg thinks fall is a great time for people to paddle on the big lakes because they are not crowded with boats making waves. He says the main thing to consider is that the water temperature starts going down by Labor Day.

If you are planning some fall paddling, consider these tips from Jay Berne at Hoigaard’s:

■ Dress for the water temperature, not the air. On an Indian Sum-mer day in October the air temperature may be 75 degrees, but the water temp may have fallen off into the 50s. Wear microfi ber clothing designed to be lightweight and wick the water away. Natural fi bers are heavy when wet and retain water.

■ Have everyone wear a life jacket.

■ Stay close to shore; this is not the season for an excursion out to the Big Island.

■ Water, water, everywhere but, not a drop to drink… stay hy-drated.

■ Always know the weather conditions.

Vicki Bont is a Victoria-based freelance writer.

ATTENTION LOCAL BUSINESSES!

Show Date: Sat.,

Nov. 6, 2010

Doors open:11 a.m.

Show begins: 2 p.m.

Location:Prior

Lake High School

As a VENDOR at the Holiday Taste of Home Cooking show you will be able to demonstrate,

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audience of more than 1,000 people prior to

the show

VENDOR SPACE IS LIMITED!

Call 952-345-6477 or email

[email protected] to

RESERVE YOUR SPACE TODAY!

At the Holiday Taste of Home Cooking Show, attendees experience a 2-hour demonstration of exciting recipes they can

enjoy this holiday season.

Join us for the 2010 Holiday

Brought to you by: Southwest Newspapers and Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools Community Education

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Dockside Conversation

By Laura French

Captain Joan Gilmore didn’t take up sailing until she was in her 30s.

But after leaving her desk job to take the helm, it’s been smooth sailing.

Today, her Sail Away Sailing School offers Basic Keelboat & Cruising

courses on Lake Minnetonka and White Bear Lake, as well as basic and

bareboat chartering courses on Lake Superior and winter courses in the

Virgin Islands.

She got her start volunteering to crew for friends who would charter

boats in Superior and Bayfi eld. Once bitten by the sailing bug, she got

skipper certifi ed to charter. Then she decided to try for her Coast

Guard captain’s license.

“I thought it would be just a part-time thing, but it took over my

life,” she says.

Her fi rst full-time sailing job was as live-aboard captain of a 42-

foot sailing ketch owned by Camp St. Croix. Asked about the scariest

experience in her sailing career, she remembers the time she and the

teen-aged sailors were on the Black River when a bear climbed onto the

boat ahead of theirs and ate the leftover breakfast cereal off the picnic

table. Captain Joan loaded the fl are gun, prepared to fi re it at the bear.

Fortunately, a blast of the air horn was enough to scare the bear away.

Interestingly, she says that this experience was far more frighten-

ing than the times when 10-foot waves on Lake Superior were washing

over the top of the boat, or seeing six water spouts along the horizon.

Really?

“If you’re in a boat you trust, you’re okay,” she says calmly.

‘Like a little kid’Dramatic moments aside, Gilmore’s favorite part of her job is “the

teaching part,” she says. “I love seeing students feeling comfortable,

getting excited, taking the helm and controlling the boat. Every adult

looks like a little kid.”

These days, most of her students are “middle-aged couples, people

with desk jobs.” They’re people Gilmore can relate to. She had previ-

ously worked for a Japanese marketing group, providing high-tech and

automotive information. “Then the Internet took over,” she says, and it

was time for a career change.

“In middle age, you want to develop the other side of your personal-

ity,” she says. For her, that meant switching from the intellectual to the

physical. “Because I learned sailing in my 30s, I can remember what it

feels like not to know. That helps me in my teaching now.”

Captain Joan thinks that sailing should be part of every lake-dwell-

er’s experience. For those whose vehicles of choice are motor craft, she

challenges, “How close can you get to a loon? If you’re in a sailboat,

you can get up really close. You can hear a duck paddling in the water,

hear the whoosh of its wings as it takes off.” Night sailing is another

magical experience, she says. “It’s so quiet, and you see the moon on

the water, and it seems to follow you.”

Getting startedGetting started can be as simple as a basic 12-hour keelboat course.

Her students have a 98 percent passing rate after four three-hour ses-

sions, she says. With three students per boat, and all instructors with

at least 10 years of experience, students get lots of hands-on experi-

ence. For information, go to www.sailawaysailingschool.com.

The Upper Minnetonka Yacht Club (www.umyc.org) has several

kinds of boats for rent, and Captain Joan advises renting a few variet-

ies before buying. “There’s racing, cruising, you can get a bare boat

charter license to charter boats in the Caribbean.”

Sailing is even accessible to folks who can’t afford to buy and main-

tain a boat. The Northern Lights Sailing Club (www.nlsc.org) offers

trips throughout the summer on Lake Pepin and Lake Superior. A day

of sailing costs just $25 to $40 per person, Captain Joan says.

The best thing about a sailing trip, she notes, is that once you have

all your food and all your friends on board, you can get away from the

world. “It’s a Utopia.”

Laura French is a Roseville-based freelance writer. She wrote about the

historic homes of Lake Minnetonka in the last issue of Dockside.

Sail On Come sail away with Captain Joan Gilmore


Lakefront Property

LAKE PARK VIEWS

TOUR LAKE CONDOS BY APPT.Victoria Luxury Downsizing!

No work, 1 level condos adjacent to Carver Park Reserve. Enjoy miles of walk & bike trails. 24 hour fi tness center, spa, party room, walk to grocery store & restaurants. Building 95% sold. Final 2 lakeview condos available from $398k-$440k. Quality custom fi nishes.

Jeanne MilletHerbert Wensmann Realty

(952) 944-0025www.JeanneMillet.com Listen to the Real Estate Radio Hour

WCCO 830 Saturday 10:00–11:00am

400 ft. Lakeshore on Prior Lake

BreathtakingViews from

Almost Every Room

15291 Edgewater CircleHistoric property on Martinson’s Island plays host to over 400 ft. of manicured beach and majestic views make this very special. 6 car garage, circle drive, paved boat launch, amazing outdoor patio, 4 BR, 5 BA.

CHRISROONEY15870 Franklin Trl. SE #100

952-270-5595www.chrisrooney.com

Stunning home on 75’ of Prior Lake’s best shoreline. Gourmet kitchen! Two story walk-out with four bedrooms, four full baths, three car heated garage. 4,600 sq. ft. of fi nished elegance, granite center island, breakfast bar, vegetable sink, under the

$1,300,000

Jerry Young612-791-7366

175047

counter microwave, Sub-Zero fridge, dual dishwasher draw-ers, built-in warming drawer, appliance garage, refrigerator with matching wood panels, sliding spice racks, Viking range & custom hood and much more!


Landscaping & Garden Center

6055 Hwy 212 • Chaska • 952.361.9954LOOK FOR THE BIG RED BARN

Sign up for our E-Newsletter www.TheMustardSeedInc.com

OPENM-F 9-7Sat. 8-5Sun 11-4

“ROOTED IN INTEGRITY AND FOUNDED ON FAITH…”

As the crisp mornings and clear evenings and clear evenings bring us brilliant reds, vibrant yellows and

warming oranges may you fi nd joy in adding more

of these colors to your landscape. Visit our Garden

Center or call our Design Team so we can help you

get the most joy out of this fabulous season of

colorful changes.

THE MUSTARD SEED, INC.6055 Hwy 212 • CHASKA • 952-361-9954

FREE DELIVERY

of Premium Double Shredded Cedar or Hardwood Mulch with Purchase of 10 yards or more of mulch at Regular Price.

One coupon per household. Up to $75 value. Other restrictions may apply. Expires Oct. 31, 2010

THE MUSTARD SEED, INC.6055 Hwy 212 • CHASKA • 952-361-9954

Buy 2 Plants Get 1 Free!

Free plant must be of equal or lesser value. No warranty on the group of sale items. Other restrictions may apply. Exp. Oct 31, 2010.

THE Joys OF Fall

Dockside - Fall 2010

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Transcript of Dockside - Fall 2010