Aaand the Rest of the Up North Trip

Hi Guys!

Here are about a billion pictures from the time up

north in August.

We start with a photo of The Mom.

This is out on Park point where we went to eat our picnic.

It was great except for the part where we opened the

 cooler to get out our food, and the pre-formed

hamburger patties in a plastic bag leaked bloody  meat

juice all over every single thing in the cooler.

So so gross!

Did I mention there's not a single 

water spigot at that park?

Gah!

Luckily we had a full container of Lysol wipes in the car.

I wiped the most immediately necessary things down

with the wipes, and then everyone ate while I cleaned 

up the rest of the nastiness. 

Blech!

It was only then that we saw the bathroom across the parking lot.

It only had cold water and no soap, but it still felt good to rinse

my hands well after cleaning them with the Lysol wipes.

Party.

It was sunny and perfectly clear out on Park Point,

but as soon as we headed up the shoreline it was super foggy.

It was Super weird but crazy gorgeous!

We did the usual glass/rocks/driftwood

 picking and rock climbing.

When we got to our campsite the rangers warned us to be extra

extra careful about food and anything smelly because

the bears were unusually active as they fattened up for winter.

So Sam thought it would be a good idea

 to sleep out in his hammock.

I thought he was a complete crazypants.

When we woke up the next morning it was pouring rain and 

everything we owned was soaked.

Again with the party.

There would be no delicious sausage gravy

 over biscuits and cheesy scrambled eggs.

It just rained harder and harder.

We threw on whatever, as far as clothes, and 

headed north because the skies looked clearer.

And magically, we drove out of the rain.

We were hoping to find a restaurant to get some breakfast,

but alas!

We were far enough north that there was nothing.

We did do some great exploring though!

We climbed along the shoreline here and there

and went to Cascade State Park too.

All The falls!

It just cascades down and down and down.

Hence the name.

Unfortunately, we were starving!

Don't do it! It's not worth it!

And then we came to Grand Marais.

Quite the picturesque place!

And we are so fancy!

We went to the gas station for breakfast sandwiches

and miscellany for breakfast.

We were like a foot from these goofy ducks. They never moved.

We found a local park on the water with almost no one around.

It was great!

So beautiful and peaceful.

Many many rocks were skipped.

And then a few more rocks were skipped.

We hung out for a long time because it was just so nice.

Eventually we thought we better head back to camp

and deal with the plethora of wet things.

Ugh!

We took the long way.

For some reason I just love these cairns that people have built. They have a neat feeling.

Dad was the best sport alive, and offered to go dry

 all of out stuff at the laundromat.

Mandy, Mia, Sam, and I climbed rocks

 behind our campsite and hung out.

Then we walked a long way to the visitors center

across a bridge. This was the view.

Then we went back down by the lake.

It was getting later and later and still no Dad.

And he had the matches.

And the food was in the cooler in the car.

And Mandy's sweatshirt was in the car.

And it was getting cooler and cooler outside.

He he.

So we were stranded.

Meanwhile, poor Dad is driving all over the countryside trying

 to find a laundromat. The people at the visitors center gave him a

bum steer. He ended up driving a half hour north looking for 

the laundromat, then an hour south to where it actually was.

Then he still had to dry all the stuff.

Too much excitement.

But we survived and had a good story to tell.

We did end up having our sausage gravy and biscuits

another day and mmmmm!

Food cooked in cast iron over the fire is so delicious.

When it was time to come home we took the scenic route

to stretch our vacation as long as possible.

We found a local park by the lake that

 I don't think I've been to before.

The only other person there was someone with

 their artist's easel and paints.

It was a wonderful place to hike and climb.

The only bad thing was that the whole beach was small rocks.

Quite painful under foot!

All in all it was a really fun trip.

I can never get enough Lake Superior

and the gorgeous state parks up north.

I hope that the rest of you will be able to enjoy the beauty

of northern Minnesota again sometime.

As for me, 

I can't wait to go again!

Love you like a crazy!

(without the danger. Haha!)

You're the best ever!

Mom

A lake is the landscape’s most beautiful and expressive feature. It is earth’s eye; looking into which the beholder measures the depth of his own nature. ~Henry David Thoreau