Aug 2-3-4 Two Harbors

On the 2, we didn"t do a whole lot. It was a nice morning weather wise. We drove up the coast just looking around. Susan did find a quilt shop to go to and it was even for sale. Luckily she didn't really want to buy it . We came back home and I took a nap. Susan ran back to town to get a few things for supper and make a hair appointment. Later that evening we met our neighbors across from us. Lo and behold the lady was a quilter. She even has more sewing machines than Susan. They both have the same Husquvarna embroidery machine and also the same Singer featherweights. They drive a 43 foot motor home pulling an enclosed car hauler for his Mercedes.   Another neighbor I met whose name just happens to be Mike is a retired Exxon guy from Baton Rouge. They summer here every year. We have met a number of people who stay the summer somewhere in the north at one place. For sure it is a cheaper way to go but there are so many places I want to see. I think next summer we are going to stay in places longer and not travel so many miles.

Our campsite

  On the 3 we drove up to Hoyt Lakes just to look   around. It was again another pretty drive. We also hit road construction again. We didnt have to detour but did wait for awhile to get thru. Summer time is when they do most of the road repairs here. We found a really nice campground at Hoyt Lakes. Decided to move up here when we leave Hungry Jack. As we have seen, getting a place on the weekend without prior reservations is pretty tough. Looks like we may have to stay in a national forest campground for one night.  We found a couple of places on small lakes that will fit our trailer. The only thing is they have no hook ups. Really shouldnt be a problem cause the weather is so nice. We sat out awhile when we got home and then went in and watched the Olympics.

Quilt shop for sale

Don"t see much of this in Texas

    On the 4 we got up early to go do laundry. Susan dropped me off and she went to get her hair trimmed. After that we went home and relaxed there the rest of the day.                                                                                                        

July 30 -Aug 1 Travel to Two Harbors, Minnasota

We had a little rain last night but it was over by the time I got up. Everything was going well as I was hooking up the trailer until I was putting my Jumpstar/air compressor back into trailer compartment. It doesn't weigh much but the angle got me. I felt my back give and I thought Uh OH that's not gonna be good. That was about the last thing that needed done. We headed down the road, our trip was only going to be about 2 !/2 hours of driving time. We stopped in Superior,Wi to eat breakfast and I could barely get out of the truck  I managed to make it inside moving as if I was about 100 years old. I told Susan it was going to be interesting when we got to Two Harbors. She was going to get to set up the trailer.I started on a muscle relaxer hoping to help. When we got there I crept around instructing Susan to set up. She did a good job. When we were finished I layed down and took a nap. Woke up feeling worse. This may not be a good week for me. I started a predisone pac that my spine Dr had given me for just such an occasion.  This is the first time in a way over a year that i hurt my back. Hope it gets better quick. I'm going to take it easy this week as next Sunday we move up to the Boundary Waters to do some kayaking.
   Got up on the 31 moving pretty slow. I started using my TINS unit last night and it has helped. I just layed around most of the day. Not able to sit in my chair comfortably so I stay mostly on couch. At least the Olympics are on TV.Later in the day we went to the grocery store to pick up a few things. Was felling a little better by bedtime.

trailer set up and susan resting

susan can always find a quilt shope

land od 10,000 lakes

   On the 1st I was feeling  much better.We decided to do a road trip to Ely and back. We stopped in Beaver Bay as Susan went to a quilt shop. I eased around to a gun shop and talked to the owners for awhile. Actually found a Ruger 308 that I'm interested in. If it had been a lever action I probably would have bought it. We headed on to Ely taking a scenic route. The country was beautiful and mountainous with ,lots of little lakes. It took longer to get there than we planned due to about a 35 mile detour , 12 miles of it unpaved. Ely is a neat little town and the surrounding area very pretty.We decided that we would move up here when we leave Hungry Jack Lodge. Susan made a dentist appointment here, she has a filling that's bothering her. We looked around the area at campgrounds and then head home a different way. I didn't take my camera so I did't take many pic with my phone.. My back did pretty good so I'm hopeful to be back to normal by the end of the week.

July 29 Little Sand Bay

maggie getting a sun tan 

That water looks cold

clear cold water

It was another cool morning when Maggie and I got up. Just a little warmer than yesterday. We didn’t have to put on the furnace at all. I cooked breakfast outside, we had bacon and eggs. After breakfast we all took a stroll down the beach. The water was calm but cold. Maggie wouldn’t even try to get in the water.  The rest of the morning we just sat outside and read. Around 1 we decide to go Bayfield where we had cell phone signal and make a few calls to family. Then we found an ice cream shop and had some Mackinac Island Fudge.  Headed back to the trailer for the evening. It looked like we might get a storm but it barely missed us. Built a fire and sat out till dark

Little Sand Bay, WI

pretty rock formations

It was chilly when I woke up this morning.  About 50 outside and the trailer was 62. Maggie and I took a pretty nice stroll along the harbor. At 5:45 there was already a group of kayakers getting into the water. Lake Superior water temperature is about 61 according to the ranger station. It’s certainly wetsuit wear if you’re going out all day. There are several outfitters who take people on a 3-4 day kayak camping trip among the Apostle Islands.  We decide to use a cruise boat to see the islands. It left the Bayfield harbor at 10:00 am.  The weather was perfect and the lake was calm. The crew said yesterday it was a little too rough to get to all the islands. Today we saw all 22 of them.  There were four light houses we went past that was pretty. We also saw sea caves and lots of different rock formations. All in all a nice outing. When we got back to town we headed back to the trail for lunch and a little nap. Later in the evening we drove the countryside and just looked around. When we got back we built a fire, cooked supper and just relaxed.

ready to cruise

lighthouse above sea caves

another lighthouse

heading to the islands

sea caves

July 27--On to Little Sand Bay, Wi

We left Tomahawk this morning about 10:00 am. It was a tearful parting for some. We will not see the grandkids again until mid-September. We had a pleasant drive up to Little Sand Bay Wisconsin.  We went thru several small towns with the population from 346 to 1800. All the towns were quaint little places. When we got to the coast of Lake Superior we cruised the biggest town for the day, Ashland population 8200.  Little Sand Bay is about 45 minutes north of there in the Apostle Island area. The road ends at our campground. There is a small protected harbor and lots of beach. The campground is small with about 30 sites. The weather has been perfect here with a high of 74. We built a fire and sat outside for a while . Later we went in to read before bed. Its been a relaxing day.  Tomorrow we are taking a boat cruise of the Apostle Islands.

beach area

on the harbor

susan relaxing

July 26--Last day at Duck Point

Tomahwak War Memorial

Watching alll the action

Ashley

Mackenna

Zoe (first time to get up on skis

Sammi & Lily playing on beach

Well today was laundry day as we head out tomorrow. Susan and I left about 7:00 am. I helped her load all the washers and then I headed to get my oil changed. When I got back I walked over to the war memorial across the street. One thing I have noticed about the small towns up here is that they show respect and thanks to our veterans and the soldiers who sacrificed their lives for our country.Small town America is still present though shrinking.  We finished laundry and then headed to the grocery store to restock. Our next camping destination is a little more remote and not close to any big stores.We got back to camp around 11. Our son-in-law had rented a jet ski for the day and was pulling kids on skis. A couple of the little ones got up on skis for the first time. They all had fun today. I didn't get on skis but I did manage to get some kayaking in.  After that I started loading  the truck and trailer so I wouldn't have so much to do in the morning.

July 25 Duck Point

We had a pretty good rain last night. Things cooled off and it was about 60 when I got up. Sammi stayed with us last night and she got up about 6:45. Glad we have tv and dvd player. Susan got up about 8:15.After breakfast we carried Sammi back to her parents and picked up Ashley. Susan and Ashley went to a quilt shop and I went to Ace Hardware to pick up some wood screws  for a little project I have. Later Kristi called and wanted us to meet them at Pizza Hut for lunch . Mikes brother Chris and his family joined us along with his Aunt Margaret and her kids. Carol, Mikes mother also joined us. Pizza Hut didn't  know what hit them. 10 kids 8 adults for the lunch buffet (kids eat free). A really fun event. After we got back  I did a few little projects on the trailer. We both read and took a little nap. After supper I took Maggie for her evening walk down by the lake. When I got back we and all the kids went to an ice cream place for a treat.