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The outdoors that we drink in will create a whole new look when our lens has a different pace.  Follow nature in motion on this otherwise simple scene of life.

From Flickr.com

When it comes to priorities for boaters, having the right sort of dock comes in near the top.  Dock varieties come in many flavors:  wood, aluminum, steel, and even concrete and plastic.  Whatever the material, the purpose of a dock is to create an artificial extension of the land to permit solid footing alongside water that is deep enough to secure and board a boat.  Without it, a boater is at the whim of the shoreline. 

In the freezing regions, lake cabin owners mark the beginning and end of the season by when the dock is in and out.  As part of the support scene for all waterfront activities, the dock is the visual and functional hub at the water’s edge. We need these pedestrian walkways for our fun.  Yet in spite of this recreational reliance on docks, few are enthused at the twice annual (for most of us) “messing with the dock.” 

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Up at five a.m.  On the water at six.  Then a full morning of sun, wind, and adventure putting fish - or in the case of this picture - chinook salmon - in the box.  Lake Superior is no place for fisherman to show up without a night of rest.  A pleasure to be sure, but trolling on this grand lake is no nap. 

But even with energy levels high at the start and the day a success, there is always - hopefully - the small if not tiresome matter of cleaning the catch when you land at the dock.  Short of having a first mate, there is no way around some gutsy hands-on work to get the final task done.  Fillets don’t just happen. 

Fish-cleaning in my childhood revolved around a short stack of wood peach crates located in the mosquito infested woods by the water alongside my grandparents lake cabin.  Gutting and scaling a summer’s day catch of sunfish was an end-of-the-day torment as we stood defenseless against the waiting armies of skeeters.  The imprint on my sporting self was of course that the satisfaction of fishing ended when the catching was over.  That has changed. 

It started with setting up the proper cleaning station in my new fishing port many years hence.  Build it right.  Three feet high with an unshakeable base and a fine ample cutting board on top.  Locate it right.  Near water for easy cleaning.  Near open air to keep flying critters at bay.  Use it right.  Clean your catch when they are fresh off the boat.  Develop a finesse at the cleaning craft and pride yourself on honoring the fish caught with making beautiful fillets.  Fish-cleaning has now become a ceremonial celebration of the bounty brought home, rather than a butchering buggy brawl to be endured.

In Minnesota, the Land of the Lakes people rightfully claim the highest per capita boat registrations in the country.  One out of six people have a personal affiliation with watercraft ownership.  Compared to car registrations this is not high, but the figure makes boating the #2 outodoor recreation activity in the state – just behind walking.