Tuesday, April 4, 2017

Book Trailer!


Only 60 books left if you want a copy!

Canoecopia 2017!

Late post, but we were so happy to be back up in Madison WI for the ultimate annual gathering of paddlers in the middle of March --- CANOECOPIA! We loved getting to set up a display with our DVDs and books at the MTI Adventurewear booth. Who could have guessed that our life jacket sponsor would become such a great friend!

We love seeing owner Lili every year, connecting with other adventurers, and hearing inspirational stories. This year we were especially excited to meet Paige Norman and Emma Burgeson, who became the first all women team to complete the world's longest canoe race, the Yukon 1000. Impressive to say the least.
And as always, it was a delight to catch up with Dave and Amy Freeman, the Environment's Favorite Power Couple.

Monday, October 31, 2016

A Fresh Coast Weekend!

We were excited to have the opportunity to share our documentary twice in one weekend recently! The League of Women Voters - Lake Michigan Region was holding their annual meeting and we were invited to screen our film to a crowd of impressive women, all involved in helping to protect the watersheds around Lake Michigan. They gave us a hearty welcome and even made table centerpieces featuring mini Makebas! Thank you for the endless work that you are doing to ensure that our Great Lakes are preserved and respected for future generations.
The next morning, at 3am, we hit the road for the Upper Peninsula. Up to the first annual Fresh Coast Film Festival in Marquette, MI! We were honored to be included in a lineup of 50 adventure films, celebrating the outdoor lifestyle, water-rich environment, and resilient spirit of the Great Lakes and Upper Midwest. If you missed the festival, you can watch a few of the films that are available online here.

Everyone enjoyed our film and the rest of the festival, plus we were able to sell a few of our books. We only have about 100 left, so grab yours quickly at lakemichiganinadugout.bigcartel.com!
Marquette and the rest of the UP was on fire with fall colors. What a perfect getaway of films, friends, hikes, waterfalls, and a few fresh coast waves! We can't wait to go back next year for Fresh Coast 2017!







Wednesday, July 20, 2016

The Books Have Been Printed!

After years of planning and countless hours writing, designing, and editing we now have 360 fresh copies of Lake Michigan in a Dugout: The Log!

Working hard to get all of our wonderful preorders ready to ship by next week! 

Wahoo!

You can buy your own copy of our book here: lakemichiganinadugout.bigcartel.com




Thursday, March 31, 2016

Some Recent Fun!

This March we were able to bring Makeba on the road with us!
We attended the snowy Quiet Water Symposium in Lansing, Michigan. The trip went off without a hitch! (...though we did have minor trailer issues, but that's a story for another day!) Everyone enjoyed seeing Makeba alongside the other wooden boats displayed.
A newly created documentary DVD stand also made it's debut along with Mini Makeba!
The following weekend, we attended Canoecopia in Madison, Wisconsin. This event is always a blast - being the largest watersport show in the US, it's a show full of new gear, new boats, new adventures, and new and old friends. Our buddies at MTI Adventurewear were gracious enough to let us set up Makeba on the corner of their booth. We helped them sell some of our favorite pfds in return - look who it is!
We were happy to finally be able to include Makeba in all the fun. Many people who had heard our talk in previous years we excited to see our craft in person. We also got to share our documentary on Sunday afternoon to a large crowd.
 (I guess we wore the same outfits both weekends? Just like our trip...)
We are also happy to announce that we were recently awarded Best Amateur Documentary in the National Paddling Film Festival! The festival is usually overloaded with whitewater kayaking films and male filmmakers - so we're ecstatic to get in the lineup with our documentary! Check out all the other films that won awards here!

Log Jam

Dear friends near and far,

First off, we can’t thank you enough for your continued support and enthusiasm, without which our dreams would be much harder to accomplish and pursue day in and day out.

Due to unforeseen delays, we have had to push back the printing of the Log. Since first deciding to turn our trip journals into print, we've devoted countless hours to brainstorming, writing, revising, illustrating, and designing a book to share with all of you. Believe us when we say we want to see this book in our hands just as much as you. Most of all though, this book is meant to be shared with friends and family, and those who may just need that last push to start off on a journey of their own. We don’t want to sell ourselves, or you, short on quality. Don’t worry, the book will still be on its way shortly. It will just not be in your hands, ready for page turning, by March 15th as originally hoped.

It’s more exciting this way, isn’t it? More of an adventure. Where is my book now? Does it know where to find me? Is it traveling safely? You never know when that package will make its way home, but you know it will.

We are hoping to send the final files to the printer by the end of March, so…we don’t want to say exactly when the UPS man will come knocking at your door, but you can count on it being a spring surprise when he does!

The Log of our journey is a combined illustrated journal that tells the story of how Mary got the big idea to build a dugout sailing canoe and how Amy agreed to take the tree-boat 1,200 miles around their backyard, Lake Michigan. Filled with sketches, watercolors, and photos, this book is very much a relic to our story and what this experience has meant to us. The 6x8.75" book will contain full color illustrations and entries by yours truly. You will receive a signed and numbered edition of your Log, jam-packed with after production markings and creative add-ins. Your book preorder will help offset printing costs for a small batch edition of 250 copies. Orders can still be placed at: lakemichiganinadugout.bigcartel.com

We hope you understand. Thank you for your help in making the first print a success. Along with you, we are hoping this book is worth the wait!

Cheers,

Amy & Mary

Wednesday, February 17, 2016

Dig the Dunes!

Dig the Dunes is a unique social media platform that uncovers all the hidden treausures of Northern Indiana and Southwest Michigan - from trails and beaches, to people, to events and even the history and geology. We were recently featured in their "Meet Your Neighbors" segment where they interview interesting people who have a connection to the dunes area. Be sure to visit their page for fun facts and new adventures for you to embark upon!

http://digthedunes.com/meet-your-neighbors-amy-lukas-and-mary-catterlin/