Duluth

Awesome small town with nice bars and restaurants.
Rainbow at right lands in Duluth.

74 in a 45 construction zone

1 mph away from revoking my licence. Clocked me just as I was entering the zone.
The officer game me a break and wrote me a ticket for going 55 in a 45. $249.00 vs. $501.00
I was guilty for sure but the speed limit was 65 and I set cruise at 74, 9 mph over limit thats what I normally do.Costly mistake for sure.

US 1

There is a drive that goes from rt. 61 north out of Two Harbors to Ely. Awesome scenic drive that could be in any time period. There is nothing on the drive that would make you think you are in 2008. I would say its about 80 miles long, I decided to drive it about 2 minutes before I came upon it. I was driving along 61 ( the north shore of Lake Superior ) and saw the sign for Ely and turned. I saw maybe 5 cars/trucks during the drive. Most of its goes through U.S. forest land. Superior National forest. The are a few roadside bars and resorts but other than that its just a beautiful drive.

If you ever find yourself in the area, check it out. *** click on the bar picture ***

Dorthy Molter "The Roor Beer Lady"

The Root Beer lady lived on Knife Lake on the Isle of Pine in the BWCA. She moved there from Chicago to care for a friend Bill Burgland. Dorthy would make home made root beer to sell to canoest during the summer. During the winter with the help of fur traders and trappers she would cut out large sectins of ice and store them in sheds covered with moss and saw dust. That ice would last most of the summer and it was used in the root beer. People from far and wide would tell stories about seeing the Root Beer lady and her cabins. She made fences out of broken canoe paddles and planted flowers in old row boats. *** click on the cabin picture ***



The cabins were built in 1925-27 by Bill, a trapper,guide, game warden and lumber mill worker. After Bill's death in 1948 his family signed the cabins and islands over to Dorthy.



As a result of the wilderness act,Dorthy's property was purchased by the United States government but because her many friends circulated petitions she was granted a lifetime tenancy in 1975. Dorthy lived in the cabins until her death in 1986.

Harold Dewinter a guy that lived next to my Dad in Des Plaines Knew Dorthy and would have a drink with her whenever she visited Chicago.

A legacy of wilderness life.

Boomer II

Well, he stayed in the canoe and never jumped out the whole trip. He could not have been a better canoe dog. Even started to sleep and align himself down the center of the canoe so it felt more stable to him and us. We portaged and with each time in and out of the canoe it got smoother and more efficient. He loved the portages and ran ahead then slowed down and waited for us. He tried to catch chipmunks and said hi to any other canoeist we would come across. Only bad thing was scaring a small girl who did not know he was the friendlest dog. Boomer passed all aspects of canoe and camp. He will be invited back time and time again.

Boomer

Let me just start off by saying I already miss Angus.
He was a little under the weather when I left. I hope he is feeling better. I'm sure Kerry is seeing to that! Boomer is with me on the trip, kind of a big trip for a dog who is only 2 years old but I could not be more proud! He slept or just sat in the back of my Jimmy the whole way up here. He looks out the window as if he is playing piddle. We stayed in Superior at a Days inn and I left him in the room alone and he was good as gold. So I pulled up at the outfitter and Adam had all our gear packed and ready to go, all I had to do was get in his truck to go to the drop off point. I had to put Boomer in the back of his pickup and he jumped in and curled up in the forward corner of the bed along with the canoe and gear. Then we get to the put in point and we load the two Duluth packs in the canoe and its time to tell Boomer to get in. Takes about 5 minutes but he slowly steps in and after another 2 minutes I coax him to sit down. I get in and Adam pushes us off and jumps in. Boomer is not sure what to think but holds steady. I still have this feeling he could jump into the water at any time. If that happens there is no way to stop the capsize.

Is coffee in the morning really a big deal?

Yes!


Canoeing across Rose lake I just happened to ask Adam if he packed the coffee?
He did not. I tried to make like it was not a big deal but as some of you might know,I need my coffee in the morning. At our first campsight we looked into the fire pit that has a US Forrest service grate over it and saw some coffee grounds in the dirt in a nice pile. They seemed to be unused. What do you think we did?

Adam, did a great job getting ready for the trip.He really knows what he's doing up here. Proud Uncle Ron.

Boomer update next.

Java moose

70 degrees and very sunny on the north shore of lake superior!
Just about to start my trip up the gunflint trail.
The parking lot is filled with Subaru outbacks and Kia sports.
The drive up 61 today was awesome, I was in no hurry like years past.

I stopped 3 or 4 times ion the 100 mile drive to see old cabins and
trail heads. This might be the last place I have wi-fi for a few days but I
will keep a log and post pictures and updates back here at the moose on my way
back off the trail. ( I think I have driven about 530 miles so far ) Gas is going for
$3.65 a gallon.

Fairlawn

Fairlawn was built in 1891 for 150,000.00. Martin Pattison was a wealthy lumber and mining baron. The 42 room mansion was built in the popular Queen Anne Victorian style. In 1963 the city of Superior purchased Fairlawn for 12,500.00. Took 1.6 to return Fairlawn back to a single family home after it had been used as a home for poor children and unwed mothers. ( for 42 years after Pattison died )

O.k. so that's the educational part of my trip, that might be the only thing you learn from this blog.

Does that make me an Airline baron?

Golf clubs old and new

Went golfing Sunday with Kurt,Jimmy and my Godson Jeffrey .
Awesome day with tons of sun and fun. I have been playing with hand me down
golf clubs my whole life thanks to my older brother Mike. Sunday Kurt kindly pointed out
that the old clubs are cool but the new ones have a lot of technology working for them. I hit his driver and the ball went way farther. I used an Iron of his and the ball did what I asked it to.
I know i'm still not a good golfer but it was made clear to me that the club does make a difference.
A day out golfing with friends old clubs or new is better than, well just about anything.

BWCA here I come

coffee dream

I'm sure I'm not the only one who has done this but just before I fell asleep last night I was thinking about my cup of coffee in the morning. I thought it was kinda funny at the time but you know, not many things are better than a good cup of coffee. As much as I try to hate Starbucks they still make an awesome cup of coffee. I did my walk with Boomer to the local Starbucks. ( gave Angus the day off ) He was moving kinda slow this morning. Not many people were up yet so it was a nice quiet walk with my young buddy. I noticed about 5 houses west of me on the south side of the street they tearing down a house, rumor has it the house next door on the east side bought the lot and are going to make a play lot for their kids. Hum, a 400,000.00 play lot.

Mexican food in the burbs tonight,golf tomorrow morning and the 2008 Henderson st. block party in the afternoon. Monday off to the BWCA.

Good morning Gloria

Kind of a slow day today, I was sitting in the yard having coffee and noticed how out of control my morning glories have gotten. So anyway, here is a picture of my morning glories.

Errand day today and golf Sunday. Real vacation starts Monday.

Sox Win 15 to 3 Griffey hits 1st home run

Well, first home run as a Sox. It was really number 609 that ties him with the corker for 5th all time. I found out they also sell beer at the Cell, so I had a few. We played "pick to click " yesterday.Kurt,Mike and myself. Each guy picks 3 players and every thing they do at the plate could cost or earn you money. Yesterday I had Quentin,Pierzynski and Beltre ( from the Mariners ) Never really sure who wins or loses, the money passes hands fast. After the game Mike dropped us off and we walked over to Fernando's Mexican restaurant, a place I have not been for well over a year. It goes back to a day I was at the bar and they had the Cub game on all the T.V. sets playing a replay of a game earlier that day. I asked the owner to put the Sox game on and he said no so I left and said I would never go back. Never is a long time but I'm still not going back as often as I used to. Maybe i'll go again in 2010?

Max

Chicago White Sox

Going to see the Sox play Seattle today at 1 p.m. ( The Cell )
Gavin Floyd pitching, Sox are 20 games above 500.

30 days off

Going to keep everyone up to date on my 30 day vacation