Mom in the North Woods- July 2008

Well it is my mother's annual trip with me on the road. We started this last year when she came out to the Dakota's for a week and this year she chose a week in Minnesota. I made it a loop driving from St.Louis to Rochester, Mankato, Minneapolis, Duluth, and then home via Wisconsin (La Crosse and Madison) down through Illinois.
Vacation for my mom means two things; eating and reading books, and she did both with great gusto! I will post all the restaurants we ate at all week, but for scenery that was really at the end of the week when we made it to Northern Minnesota and then down into Wisconsin along the river road and toward LaCrosse.

The 1000' ships came in through the lift bridge in Duluth. We watched them right from our hotel room on Lake Superior

We woke on Friday to fog and 49 degrees. This is July!

First stop after Breakfast in Two Harbors was Gooseberry State Park. The sky was overcast but the wild flowers were still spectacular as was the waterfalls

The wild flowers are always a treat no matter where you go.

The Falls were very nice and running very well, so mom got a great view up close

Can you tell we are related! hehehe

Next stop was Split Rock Lighthouse State Park. Normally spectacular view of Lake Superior as far as you can see, but today, only your hand in front of your face.

We left Split Rock and headed back south for the long drive to LaCrosse WI., but not before stopping for pie at Rustic Inn, a must stop for food, desserts, and T-shirts

We made it to LaCrosse and the Presidential Suite at the Courtyard Marriott. And after a great dinner at Manny's Mexican Restaurant and a Lobster Burrito for me and Lobster Enchiladas for Mom we departed saturday morning. It was a beautiful day on the river front in LaCrosse.

Restaurant Recommendation-

Rochester, MN- City Cafe (by the Mayo Clinic)

Minneapolis, MN- Blue Point in Wayzeta

Minneapolis, MN- Maynards on Lake Minnetonka

Duluth, MN- New Scenic Cafe

Two Harbors, MN- Vanillia Bean Cafe (great breakfast!)

Castle Danger, MN- Rustic Inn, great pie!

LaCrosse, WI- Manny's Mexican Restaurant

CONGRATULATIONS CHRISTINE- July 7, 2008

Chrstine has been hired as a FULL time NPS employee in Great Smoky Mountain National Park. She will be a professional Crew Leader in the Park. Christine is the Trail Crew leader for the Chataloochee District in GSMNP

Linville Gorge N.C. and a hike on the AT in Virginia- June 2008

We planned to do 3 1/2 days in what is called the "Grand Canyon of North Carolina" Linville Gorge. This is a Wilderness area (with a capital W) which means no mantainence of the trails unless they are adopted by individuals. It was very pretty, but the trail was completely overgrown.


The trail that showed on the map to go along the river for miles, actually was about 700 to 1000 feet above the river and we had to "bushwack" through it.


The River was flowing well and when we were close, it was very nice.












Some of the rock formations where very imposing, with some rather narrow sections


Navigating the trail was not always easy... Trying not to hurt myself !


camping at the end of the day after going 7 miles in 7 hours

We got out of the gorge the next morning by walking up a very steep trail and then 5 miles of road walking that sometimes seemed to go straight up.

We spent the afternoon at Tupalo's in Boone N.C. a fantastic restaurant!

We re-grouped and spent the next night on the AT in Virginia at a very new shelter called Hurricane. It was 2 great days and one great night (it rained at night and the sound was very soothing)






Hurricane Shelter




Christine made a great fire, as usual


The morning was perfect


Comer Creek Falls was a great way to end the hike

The tiny colors where amazing along the trail

rhodo's

periwinkle's

fire paint

Mountain laurel... my favorite

There was also time for a little exploring in the cave at Konnarock Base Camp.

Trouble with Trees- June 2008

Christine had a little problem with this giant tree that had fallen across the trail. The trail was so narrow, there was not a way to go around.... only over!

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Music for this trip
The music I am listening too the most for this trip that has inspired me lately.
Artist: Geoffrey Oryema
Song: The River
Album: Beat the Border, Real World Records 1993

Artist: Peter Gabrial
Song: Whole Thing
Album: Big Blue Ball, Real World Records, 2007

Turtle in the Deep Freeze- January 2008

Our plans to thru hike the 100 mile Maah Daah Hey trail in Theodore Roosevelt National Park and Grasslands in western North Dakota, were postponed by an Alberta Clipper bringing -25 to -30 degree F windchill


Why "Turtle"? Maah Daah Hey means long lasting or enduring. The native american symbol for this is a turtle, which is burned into each of the mile markers along the trail



Hiking temperatures between -11 degrees F and 20 degrees F





Who are these masked people.. "we don't want your money, we want your heat!"