Jeff and Ethan went fishing in the canoe while we were gone a caught a couple of smallies.  Madi and I paddled a mile and explored some sweet bays while Brooklyn, Jeff and Ethan played on the beach.

The water level dropped another two inches today.  Our lake path is just about dry. 

Fishing on the pontoon last evening was challenging with a bit of wind.  As luck would have it, the fishing guide and his clients used their trolling motor and pretty much circled our pontoon.  It’s funny…they were pulling in the walleyes, but we were hardly getting the bites…Lori won the first and biggest fish contest for the day with a 2.5 lb smallie.

Now we are all showered up and fed and will settle in with a glass of Gunflint Red and a few games of Bananagrams…unless as promised Ethan has the border ready for us on the 300 piece puzzle.

Having a blast here at Bearskin!

Brooklyn on her way!

Yeah!  Our first day was action packed and fun-filled!  Madi, Ethan and I went kayaking into the bays of lily pads and then parked the canoes and explored the campground and the sites we would like to rent when we come camping some time…real camping that is!  

Brooklyn took us all on a nature hike of her own, being the line leader that she is.   She has control over us all here at Bearskin.  She says “I can do that because I am four”.  But the next minute, she says “Hey, you can’t leave a little child behind!”  We’re all confused.  Oh, and also, she says she knows everything because she’s 4.  She’s having a ton of fun.  

Apparently Brooklyn didn’t get enough reading done with the Hotel Nightstand  BIBLE at the hotel on Friday night, because WE FOUND IT IN HER DUFFLE BAG upon unpacking here at Bearskin!  Yes, I guess the B-I-B-L-E, yes that’s the book for Brook…Makes sense that she’s preaching to us all.  I was wondering why that bag was so heavy.

Grand Marais and the Gunflint Trail had 5 inches of rain during a storm last week.   During last week the lake rose 20 inches.  Our lake path that takes us to the cabins is under water, so we have to walk through above ankle water to and fro the beach, lodge, etc.  They hurried to construct wooden “docks” to get us over the walkway to our docks, which have helped.   It’s nature.   It has receided (sp) quite a bit already, but still ankle deep near our dock.  Our Keens coming in very handy!

More soon! Here are some pics of the day!

Lori

Stopping at the Dock

The ducks loved Madi especially when she had food!

It’s sad to leave, but we have lots of memories from this trip and this year we were able to try some different things.

Yesterday we canoed a couple of miles to a portage that would take us to Crocodile Lake – supposed to be good walley fishing. Well, the portage was 120 rods, up hill and pretty rocky.  But we did it.  It was just a little too windy for four of us in the canoe on that lake.  We paddled back, did the portage in reverse (downhill) this time and paddled back.  Sore muscles all around today!

Another fun-filled vacation.  I feel renewed.  Ready to start (something) again!

Love to all at Holiday Resort – Happy Birthday to Grace! Have a great vacation everyone!  Enjoy!

Yesterday we went to the new Chik Wauk museum on Saganaga Lake – at the tip of the trail.   History of the Gunflint Trail and BWCAW.  It just opened the fourth of July and is very cool.  From there we went on  Long hike in what they refer to as the “Burn”.  We were hiking to the magnetic rock, where magnets actually stick to this rock and compasses go crazy.  Well, we decided not to go the full  3 miles, but we managed close to 2.  The burn area is where the fire was – there’s little green starting to come up, but its basically wide open - lots of charred trees, dead trees, etc.  Sort of like a bald head.  We picked blueberries like crazy, and had Blueberry Pancakes this morning with our fresh treasures.  I should have mentioned that Brooklyn dropped about 500 berries when she dropped the container in the  beginning of the trail.     That girl can handle tree roots and rocks like I’ve never seen!  Who knew?  I was the one that was always lagging behind on the trail.  I got to carry an empty cake pan that we were going to use to put extra berries in.  I felt like Alice (the Brady’s housekeeper) and I was ready to bang on it if I heard a bear.

We finished up the evening with a wine tasting last night, and of course Jeff knows the brother to the owner of Cannon River Winery.  Of course.  He’s our neighbor.  Who knew.    My new favorite wine is Gunflint Red by Cannon River.  Learned a lot from the tasting.

Today Ethan and I kayaked a  couple of hours and then Jeff went kayaking for a while.  Fishing not so good.  Brooklyn having a ball on the beach. 

Some of the burn area

Lunch at Trail Center

B finding her thrill on blueberry hill

Speaking of lucky ducks, Brooklyn, Ethan and I just painted up some rocks and added pom poms, and viola, our own duck keepsakes. 

The weather is questionable today, may go on a canoe trip in a couple hours…weather dependent.

Five litte ducks went out one day...

After fishing we played around with the ducks that were “wading” for us on the beach.  So cool to see up close and personal. 

Today I am going to a nature journaling class and then kayaking class later today.  BBQ on the beach tonight.  Looking forward to another fun filled day.  Weather looks great.

Check out the pic of our very friendly “chickmunk” as Brooklyn calls him.  He likes Lucky Charms, and even the non-charms.

Decisions are Difficult

CHICKMUNK!

Pro Ethan

If you give a little girl a worm...

Our first stop was on Highway 55 leaving Hastings – Brooklyn had to go no. 2.  We pulled into Arby’s, and opened the big heavy door right on top of her of her little toes.  She was wearing her flip tops.  Upon hearing her scream in pain, Jeff gets out of the truck, shakes his head and continues on  a mission to replace the flip tops with regular shoes.  He proceeds to climb in the back of the truck, but his motivation is cut short, along with the top of his had….ouch.  He decides to remove his hide, as he called it from the topper, and we continued on…:)

We drove to Moose Lake and hunkered down at the Americinn for the night.  Drove through a lightning storm, later to find out that someone in Mosse Lake at the street dance, was actually struck! 

As I write this, we are approx 10 miles south of Duluth driving in pouring rain, and Brooklyn predicts it’s not going to stop for a while.  She’s our tornado watcher.

Lori Busse

labusse@rconnect.com