Sports Northland Outdoors

Summer paddle

A couple take a scenic kayak run on the Mississippi River.

062321.N.BD.Summerfloat1.jpg — Roxy and John Nordin kayak the Mississippi River Tuesday, June 22, 2021, on their way to Crow Wing State Park. The river level is low after several weeks without substantial rain. Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch

By Steven L. Kohls

June 22, 2021 at 4:00 PM

Roxy and John Nordin kayak the Mississippi River Tuesday, June 22, 2021, on their way to Crow Wing State Park. The river level is low after several weeks without substantial rain. Steve Kohls / Brainerd Dispatch

By Steven L. Kohls

I was raised on a farm in western Minnesota where I participated in 4-H, high school sports, and everything that farm kids do for fun after chores. Graduated from Ridgewater Community College with an AA degree and my first taste of newspapering. I worked a summer on the Ortonville Independent as a reporter and photographer.