alexandriacardinals

Yes, it’s the penultimate day.  And in that afternoon, all heck breaks loose – from Carnival, to Regatta, to Safari Night, to Campfire . . . woo-woo!

[What’s next?  Huh, huh?]

[Regatta warm-ups]

[Digesting lunch]

[The Biddies go for one last spin.]

[Maybe we can seek asylum at Osthoff?]

[An APB was subsequently posted . . .]

[But then they returned on their own – it may have been Happy Hour?]

[I had to admire their agility in getting out of that thing!]

[Well, someone has to keep an eye on the lifeguards?]

[The supervisor selects a box seat for Carnival.]

[It begins – each age group of kids competes in water Olympics before a packed throng, while proud parents wield cameras.]

[Katie’s group enters the fray.]

[It was a relay in which the handoff were an excessively-large man’s shirt and pants (I thought someone had raided my footlocker!) that had to be re-donned.]

[Run, Katie, run!!  I believe she caught him at the end by taking the inside (i.e., shallower) lane.  🙂  ]

[Older kids, you’re next!]

[It’s a relay . . .]

[You swim out to the raft . . .]

[Where you drink a Coke as fast as you can . . .]

[Sometimes all the Coke doesn’t make it all the way back to the dock in its new “container.”]

[Karina takes her Coke shot.]

[The canoe race.  Four people in each canoe.  At each whistle, all must exit the canoe, then get back in again, and resume paddling.]

[Do not do this without a note from your primary care giver!]

[The winners!]

[Katie’s group watches sailing practice.]

[Then comes the greased watermelon contest.  If you watched water polo in the Olympics, you get the idea here.  Oy, the humanity!]

[This was a NCer – the staff was younger and fitter than the campers.]

[Andre throws out another jump ball after a staffer score.]

[GOOOAAAAALLLLLLLLLLLL!!!]

[Practice, practice, practice]

[Celebrate]

[Good-bye to the swimming area until next year.]

[Keeping an eye on the lifeguards, again.]

[OK, let’s get this regatta thing going?]

[Mount your sailboats!]

[I want the red and white one!]

[Yup, that one!]

[Chris and Katie team up.]

[So, cheer, cheer for the ole white and blue!]

[The yacht club claims front row seating.]

[Why yes, I do believe that is Thurston Howell III, Lovey, and Mary Ann!]

[Positioning begins . . .]

[ . . . and THEY’RE OFF!]

[Go Katie!]

[Go Chris!]

[First time campers, Jack and Phyllis, make their regatta debut (obviously).]

[Chris and Katie make their move.]

[Let’s tack back . . .]

[The experienced Team Van Kooten makes a move.]

[So, seen any good buoys lately?]

[Phyllis and Jack finding their sea legs.]

[. . . and away they go!]

[The younger Van Kootens paddle out to see how mom and dad are doing.  Incidentally, Caitlin now lives in Minneapolis and works in the IDS Tower.]

[Chris and Katie working hard to overcome a bout in the “doldrums.”]

[We’ll make it.]

[Rita checking on Chris and Katie’s progress.]

[Everybody got “hung up” in this windless area.]

[Once out, streak to the other side of the lake.]

[Tiffany and Brad are first to head for home.]

[Still keeping an eye on the lifeguards.]

[Stephen and Caitlin paddle for home.]

[And here come Mary and Rick.]

[And we have the winners!  🙂  ]

[Mary and Rick sailed in for 2nd.]

[The Return of the Lifeguard!]

[Grin and bear it! . . . ]

[But next time I want a speed boat!]

[Jack and Phyllis finish their first race.  They were from Clarksville, Tennessee, on the staff at Austin Peay University, with no connection to IU.  They just Googled a family vacation spot, with daughter Cheyenne, and discovered Brosius.  I mentioned their university has the most famous cheer in all of sport – back in the day when their star basketball player (may have led the country in scoring) was Fly Williams, the cheer would be “The Fly is Open, Let’s Go Peay!”]

[Thank you, Waterfront Staff!  🙂  ]

[Then it was time to go on safari, i.e., dress the part, have a “cool one.”]

[Roping up to be led into the bush . . .]

[DOM, a/k/a Thurston, and Cassie, head staffer.]

[DANGER ahead!]

[In the bush now.]

[The supervisor has always loved a good safari!]

[A wild cat – placated by offering a treat.]

[Jungle fowl – one bears a striking resemblance to Kailyn?]

[And tall giraffes . . .]

[We’d better caravan back to camp.]

[Ahhhh, made it!]

[The supervisor got her picture with Andre.]

[I got my picture with the supervisor.]

[Let the Par-Tay begin!]

[Where’s Will?]

[Where’s Sam?]

[Where’s Ollie?]

[Turns out, Kailyn has grandparents in Nashville, IN.]

[I could get used to this!]

[Katie fixes her hair  . . . I believe that’s what it’s called?]

[It’s time for last night . . . Campfire!]

[John Jacob Jingleheimer Schmidt . . .]

[Mr. Dale captures the action.]

Video of Katie’s group:   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ON3n0mYODgU 

[Three bumps on a log – this is the 34th campfire for the bumps on the right.]

[Four bumps on a log.]

[Indiana, O Indiana!]

[Here come the ‘skeeters!]

[Let’s get out of here!]

[The morning of departure – waterfront doesn’t look the same.]

[On the way out, staff is already putting the canoes away for the year.]

[The Wisconsin River on the way home – the drought has really affected the water level.]

[Home, sweet, home with our sad old elm.]

[Coming soon . . . more stuff!]

Before we move on to the great issues of the day, we have to finish camp.  So here’s how camp begins every day.  The flag is raised – and then we sing the birdie song.  I think the supervisor can sing the birdie song – I, like most things, have already forgotten the words.  Something to do with flapping your wings and stuff to greet the new day.  This photo was taken later in the week – it looks like mostly staff, so the children have decided it’s better to sack it in.  I probably captured this on the way to the office to get a better WiFi connection.

[Then we do the lake walk – see opening Camp story.  Like an Olympic marathon, the pelaton tends to spread out, i.e., older people being in no great hurry start to lag behind.]

[Early on we come upon the reader.  She has graced the path for several years.]

[Some lake views as we continued the trek.]

[One household provides a sculptured kaleidoscope for hikers’ viewing pleasure.  The viewer here is the IU faculty member who gave a presentation on international law.]

[Nice lake view there too.]

[The frolicking bears.  And whom amongst us doesn’t like to frolic?]

[I do believe the Johnsonville Brats household received inspiration for the champagne drinker from the reader.  🙂 ]

[They also had a nice turtle.]

[Camp comes into view – we’re now on a faster pace as the supervisor wants to get back in time for coaster making class!]

[Camp sweet camp.]

[I can smell the cookies!]

[Let the games begin!]

[The horseshoe competition was gender specific.  Don’t know why – the women probably would have kicked butt!]

[Our guy Scott (r) gave it the ole IU try on behalf of the protected age group but came up a tad short.]

[I think the women’s championship went into OT.  Irina, from our old hometown of Arlington, Virginia, eked out a close one.  She is a big Washington Capitals fan – and goes to the games with Alex Ovechkin’s mother!  They even went up to Madison Square Garden for the playoff games against the Rangers.  🙂  ]

[The cornhole competition is co-ed.]

[Vickie threw a 5-spot at us at the end of the game to send us to ignominious defeat.  OK, maybe it was just minious?]

[The Biddies checking out the fishing.]

[The ceiling in the dining room . . .]

[And then it was time for the Talent Show.  Remember that issue about no A/C?  Well, I decided not to go this year for that reason – it was a hot night, and it gets really hot in this room.  Ergo (i.e., pretty much the same as “thus” and “therefore”), the supervisor took all these photos.]

[Katie!]

[And following in a supervisor video!]

The video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FLQNha0gAIs

[And following in a supervisor video!]

The video:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pIJoCDtMnJo

[Our porch – likely hosting a euchre game.]

[Our totem – well, it’s right outside our door.]

[Rita enjoying the “napping room.”]

[Kailyn and me.]

[We think this was our camp kids tubing.]

[We snuck into town one night for dinner – at the aforementioned Lake Street Cafe.  Several other campers had the same idea.]

[Front row seats!]

The next morning began the final day of competition:

[The day begins with the lake swim.  The pontoon hauls the contestants to the far side of the lake at 7:00 am for the one-mile swim back to camp.  Rita and I always think about doing this but usually opt for pancakes instead.]

[The bobbing heads are the swimmers coming across – they are chaperoned by the pontoon and other boats.]

[Then came the William Tell Open.  Danny won the men’s competition last year, so I felt compelled to try to defend his title.]

[One of the campers did a Hunger Games pose for several photographers.  Her resemblance to Jennifer Lawrence was striking.]

[The last time I had touched a bow was probably 1960, making me an odds on favorite.]

[I’d had already pulled out the ones in the bull’s-eye.  And I spotted the field an advantage by performing in the base instability of Indianapolis Colt Crocs!]

[Beth and her husband Chris, who arrived mid-week.]

[Lookin’ good in the neighborhood.]

[Fans are overwhelmed by the skills displayed.  Occasionally someone would actually hit the target.]

[The supervisor keeps looking for the perfect angle – but here catches the arrow at release!]

[OK, I tied for 2nd on the men’s side – but well behind the champions in both the men’s and women’s divisions.  Next year I wear golf shoes!]

[Lunch before the afternoon’s festivities, which will be the subject of the final camp posting (I heard that!).]

Editor’s note:  We’re taking a short break from “Camp” to address subsequent local issues.  It is now dark when I go out to get the paper in the morning, camp is over, the Resorters is over, and we’re leaving our windows open at night for the first time in two months.  It’s time to prepare for the change of seasons.

[Since girls’ high school hockey is now just around the corner, it was time to get out and dust off the ole video camera!  (Photo courtesy TRMS.)]

[With the end of the Resorters began the reconstruction of Hole No. 7 at the Alexandria Golf Club.]

[As you learned in the preceding posts, I was at camp during the Resorters this year.  Thus, the only coverage I can provide is second hand.  It was a great year for the locals in all flights.  The Echo Press provided photos of Maggie Leland and Steve Herzog, the women’s and senior’s champs.]

[The first job on Hole No. 7 is draining the water hazard.  Then the crumbling “walls” will be removed.  The hole will be filled and the new green, still in the shape of Minnesota, will be moved back closer to Lake Darling.]

[During reconstruction, the par-4 8th hole will be a par-3 temporary 7th hole.  The temporary 8th hole will be a par-3 from behind the original 8th green to a temporary green beside the 9th tee.]

[Original 8th tee is taken out as an equipment pathway for the reconstruction.]

[Dusty Johnson tees off on the temporary No. 7 to the original 8th green.]

[By special request, coaches Ally Teclaw (l) and Dani Bany (r) directed the Alexandria girls’ U-14 softball team to a tournament title.  Ally and Dani were teammates on the Cardinals 2010 high school team, a Super Fan favorite.  (Echo Press photo)]

[Before we leave the golf course, two deer decide to play through on No. 4 . . .]

[. . . and Robo admires their form.  Photo by blog contributor, A. Grundei.]

[This Just In:  Camp Ballantine Claims Deer, Lawsuit Expected!  Thomas:  FYI….those deers on #4 are part of CB. In the a.m. they are grazing in our backyard. Whether they are the same “guys”, we have had this group since 2005. Regards, Santa Claus  P.S.  Ribs on the Green Egg on Wed. Mmmmmm]

[Meanwhile, Thursday night, back at the Maritime Museum . . .]

[The very first concert at the brand new, if still a work in progress, Maritime Gardens.]

[Our very own, locally-grown, Uncle Willie’s Gutbucket Blues Band (Terry Kennedy, Al Lieffort, and Erik Schultz) was the opening act.]

[Pretty nifty stage, huh?]

[The irregular crowd shuffles in . . .]

[Then came the pride of Emporia, Kansas – Kelley Hunt!  🙂 ]

[The sun setting on a perfect evening.]

[The band was delighted with the Minnesota weather – they said the temperature was 103 when they left “home.”  As the sun began setting, jackets came out!]

[Great sky!  Her guitar player was from Detroit; her bass player and drummer were from Nashville.]

[Deb Trumm angling for a backlit shot.]

[And thanks to Deb and Paul for co-sponsoring this event.]

[Intermission]

[Kelley is terrific!  It was a high energy show with a nice variety – but an emphasis on boogie-woogie!  🙂  (p.s.  I didn’t take any videos – no time to ask.  They were a half-hour late – had the wrong starting time.  But they played that extra half-hour.) ]

Here’s a video of her from YouTube – the same three guys backed her here.  She pretty much burns the place down  🙂  :

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4EAeLhkYjA

[Friday night was a visit to the Methodist church for one of the five programs in the annual Festival of the Lakes program.  Classical music performed by the state’s finest.]

[Well, at least it’s a photo of the venue!]

[Saturday morning, out the back window on beautiful Lake Darling.  (OK, it’s Mt. Baker from Seattle blog contributor, Terry Lang – picky, picky, picky.]

[Off I went to see the new sculpture by Marcia McEachron in Big Ole Park.]

[And later, it was off to the winery for an afternoon with the Salty Dogs, starring Erik’s best side.]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1eYZCHiQNfk  (“If I Had a Million Dollars”)

[Then, as the sun began to set on Broadway, downtown Alexandria (OK, it’s Manhattan (from TRMS). . .]

[ . . . we headed downtown to SAWA for an evening with Lila Ammons (OK, it’s Rosario Resort on Orcas Island (the San Juans), from T. Lang).]

[Lila Ammons (stock photo), jazz and blues singer from The Cities.  We were kidnapped by gypsies on our trek from the winery to SAWA, so we arrived only in time for the final hour + of her performance.  Thus, I was not able to get the requisite clearances for videos and photos.  At the end of her performance, noting that she had sung Killing Me Softly, I did relay to her that I had personally discovered Roberta Flack in a small Georgetown bookstore in the mid-60’s before she was discovered by the rest of the word. 😉  ]

Here is a stock YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Cp-M5Qlsgi0

We’ll look forward to future “visits” from her!

[Today we were late arrivals at the winery.  Josie Nelson was the talent.  Rain had been predicted for the entire day, and we didn’t feel like sitting inside.  By 4:30, still no rain, we decided to go out there to see how Josie was doing – and get a pizza (they now have food).   We were joined by Judy and Dwaine Berger and got seats right in front of the stage.  Josie, now a seasoned and polished performer, greeted we strangers with a “Hi, how are you are?”  She reported she turned 13 on August 6 and was still making adjustments to being a teenager.  Oy!  I’m pretty sure I have boxers older than 13!  She only played until 5:00 (she is only 13!), so I wasn’t able to garner (i.e., find her parents) the requisite clearances (again?) for videos.  But she already has many on YouTube.]

http://www.youtube.com/guitarjosie  (Josie on YouTube)

And finally, the son-in-law from Indiana is in-state again to check on their northern property.  Here is his report:

After a couple days of working at the Harn it was time to head up to Moose Lake for a Rocket Stove Workshop.

I drove from Alida up through Ely to Moose Lake (5 miles from Canada) today and it was a fabulous drive along MN 1 to Ely, up 169 to a gravel road and a few minutes later I arrived. I did make a stop in Tower, MN (record -67* in 1992) as they had a farmers market going on and the cinnamon roll was about my size (round) however the peaches are ‘low sugar” according to the Amish woman who provided them to me.

Here is some of the scenery of MN 1 and the Canadian Border Outfitters (my new vacation destination). I’m far enough North for Northern Lights this evening!

[New portable shower at the harn (house/barn), where there is no plumbing.]

Opening Ceremonies at Camp Brosius:

[OK, it’s the Olympics.   In our many years traveling the Final Four circuit, we would occasionally meet folks who would become part of the “group.”  One such fellow, with his friends and family, was an attorney from San Francisco.  He was obviously well connected.  There came a time when Basketball Dan’s wanderlust was such that he felt an urge to leave the Continental 48.  He happened to mention to this fellow that he always wanted to go to Wimbledon but tickets were impossible to acquire.  The fellow said, “Oh, I can get you tickets.”  Thus began Basketball Dan’s annual adventures to merry old England (he also goes to the US Tennis Open every year).  Anyway, this is that fellow’s photo from the Olympics opening ceremony – no, neither B’ball Dan nor I were there.  But, back to camp . . .]

Our mornings would begin by tumbling down the stairs to waterfront for coffee, then breakfast.  Staff would be hard at work preparing equipment and facilities for camper abuse.

[The Sunfish were beautiful in the morning.  No, I didn’t ever use them – one could get hurt!]

[The Round House on the point – where morning coffee was available.  Three staffers roomed upstairs.]

[Andre, a/k/a Slim, from Indianapolis, prepared the boats.]

[Young Will, age 10, from Nashville, Indiana (yes, Rita’s home town), was out early that first morning.]

[The supervisor and I were out pedaling around, trying to keep up with Will.]

[Here we’re approaching the swimming area – that’s the Annex in the middle through the trees, and our cottage, Rappaport, is on the left.]

[The swimming area and our cottage.]

[Will, going strong.  Boats producing wake cannot go on the lake until 10:00 am.]

[Will heading home – we couldn’t catch him.]

[Then he decided to head back out again – the scamp.]

[And my favorite photo from the trip – Will standing on his board as a heron flew by!  🙂 ]

[Just a man and his board in the middle of a lake.]

[Will’s younger brothers, Sam (age 9) and Ollie (age 8) join the fray – hide the women and children!  😉 ]

[The boys’ grandma, Cindy (on the left), also from Nashville and who has been to the shores of beautiful Lake Darling; their mom, Kerry; and Kerry’s significant other, John.]

[Long-time “last week group” camper kayaking.]

[Beth and the supervisor – I believe it’s called swimming.]

[Sailing campers – I always thought it was just a good way to bang your bare ankles and shins on hard plastic!]

[Staff on child patrol handle the kids by age groups – bucks, braves, warriors, etc.  I believe these were munchkins.]

[Long-time “last week group” camper later achieved a bucket list item by golfing at Whistling Straits – just a 3-wood and a wedge from camp.]

[And here he “exposes” his noodles?]

[The supervisor covered Zumba – here’s Karina.]

[Andre led the class – the supervisor, and the other ladies, apparently found that attractive as they asked for, and got, another session later in the week.]

[I’m back in charge of the photography.]

[Outside cool (?) down – remember no A/C here, and in the afternoon these rooms were like steam baths.]

[The aforementioned Cindy’s husband is professional artist, David Dale.  Thought it a neat truck.]

[Our porch, and all others, feature hanging towels and swimsuits all week.]

[The path from waterfront to the swimming area.]

[Coming back from the swimming area to waterfront.]

[The 74 steps!!  Try covering those bad boys several times a day!]

[Campers can sign up for field trips.  Here we went to Abler Art Glass Gallery in Kiel.]

[I’m sure I’ll find additional use for this art.]

[The supervisor from above above; Rita from above below.]

[Glass blowing is seldom done in the summer – too hot!  The kiln area above and below.]

[I wasn’t going to let The Biddies be the only ones to have their photo taken with “her.”]

[This is a sculpture – I walked by it several times before I realized such.]

[Glass in-lay patio]

[A country church on the way back to camp.]

[More of the baled field.  Well, I thought it neat!]

[Almost back to camp – reminded me of the golf club’s “3 Gals & a Guy” tournament.]

[Back at camp, Cindy and David were voted cutest couple for their coordinated outfits.]

Still way more to come!  🙂