TeamSPS 2021 Kubb Tournament
TeamSPS had a great time playing Kubb today, connecting with colleagues, and having a fun time. We weren’t able to have this event in 2020 due to COVID-19, but thanks to vaccines we were able to throw some batons together! Several people commented how much they loved this event. Here are some selected photos from Tim Van Cleave who was so generous to volunteer as official photographer! He has an entire album of additional shots as well.
You can also see the official SPS Tech Blog post on the Kubb event, and looks back to our 2019 and 2018 events. This event got real momentum after we did Kubb at Tech Jam in 2016. The first introduction was a Kubb Class in 2014 that was part of our SPS Charity Auction. Kubb has some deep roots with Team SPS!
Had a super evening with great MarketWatch friends. It has been decades since we worked together, but the stories are were as fresh as ever. Nick, Anna, Jim, Scott – you are all amazing! 🤩🥰
Had my mini studio setup today to present at the MnTech CIO Forum: Straight talk on emerging technologies event. Green screen, mic, key light improve things a lot!
Final stop Up North at the Great! Lakes Candy Company and then on our way home!
Stopped at Cedar Coffee Company in Two Harbors for the first time this morning. Delicious pour over coffee and a great breakfast burrito. We will be back!
Sunrise on Lake Superior. I always find it surprising how fast the sunrise happens. There are just moments from when you see that first glimpse of the corona peering over the horizon until it is fully in view.
Before that sequence the sky was filled with these tremendous reds.
North Shore Log
Weather: Still a lot of warmth. Morning was very windy. Sunny and warm in afternoon. Cooled down at night.
- Depart Wild Pines Cabin.
- Drive to Grand Marais
- Donuts at the Worlds Best Donuts.
- Walk the pier to lighthouse.
- Hike around Artist Point.
- Played with rocks at the shore.
- Lunch at Voyageur Brewery.
- Shopping at The North Country.
- Bought painting from Douglas Ross
- Visit Sugarloaf Cove. Hiked full loop. Stop at shore. Hiked out to point of cove.
- Quick stop at Palisade Head.
- Gas stop and beverages in Silver Bay.
- Visit Gooseberry Falls and see how the fraught has impacted it.
- Declined a 45-min wait at Rustic Inn.
- Back to Wild Pines Cabin.
- Ordered pizza delivery from Jimmy’s Pizza in Silver Bay.
- Campfire and S’mores.
Campfire and S’mores tonight on the North Shore.
We visited Gooseberry Falls today. We have had extreme draught conditions and the falls have been greatly impacted. The Lower Falls are completely dry. It was rather shocking to see. I renamed it Mini Gooseberry Falls this year.
We visited Sugarloaf Cove for the first time today. It has a nice loop hike and a fun shoreline. There is a trail that goes out to the point as well. I enjoyed hiking through the Red Pine Forest.
Hiking Artist Point in Grand Marais. We stopped for a 5-minute silent meditation at the very end of the point.
We walked out to the lighthouse on the pier in Grand Maria’s today.
Worlds Best Donuts in Grand Marais! 🍩🤤
Nice spot to watch the sun coming up over Lake Superior and enjoy my morning coffee.
We stopped at Love Creamery in Duluth after dinner at OMC Smokehouse. It was our first time trying their ice cream and we were very impressed. The Salted Peanut Butter & Jelly was amazing. We also had Nutella and Salted Caramel. 🍦
We had a delicious lunch at Home Plate Grill in Red Wing today. The Dugout burger was a great rendition of a smashburger. And the pretzel is giant and very good! 🥨
Had a fun family hike on Barn Bluff trail in Red Wing, MN today. We took the South Trail up and the Midland Trail offshoot on the way down. A bit over 300 feet of elevation gain.
Tonights plan: Old Fashioned and Romeo y Julieta. 🥃
Time to play some Kubb at Birchwood Acres! Lake Pepin in the background.
