Boundary Waters Canoe Area, BWCA, Wilderness trip

Another great trip to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area wilderness. Adventurers this year were regulars Jenny and Brian. Our new adventurer was Martha. Her last trip to BWCA was 25+ years ago.

We spent Saturday night at Jenny and Andrew's cabin on Gust Lake. Our entry point was Brule Lake which was only 5 miles from the cabin.  Our destination was north of Brule in Davis Lake.  The first three portages were paddle-thru because the water levels were so so high from all the spring and summer rain.

The happy campers at Brule Lake entry.

Jenny and Brian powering through rapids.

It took 4 hours to get to Davis Lake. The last portage was kind of tough. Long (165 rods) and steep was a challenge but it was the only real portage on the trip.  Sunday turned out to be the warmest day on the trip so the swim felt really good.

There were only two campsites on the lake. We were able to get the one we had planned which was a good thing. The other site was really not usable. The second campsite was in a burned out area with no trees and no protection.

Lots of blueberries at our campsite.

Our campsite on Davis Lake.

Tuesday we hiked the 305 rod portage to Kiskadinna Lake. This trail has not been used very much. It was very overgrown. We saw several moose tracks and poop but no moose.  There was a fantastic pond and lots of water cascades along the trail.

Davis Lake paddle.

Back on Davis Lake we paddled to the east end and walked to Pup Lake view. It was beautiful view of smaller lake.

Pup Lake

One of many frogs we encountered. This guy was very photogenic.

Hiker fashionistas.

Dramatic sunset (not fire).

End of the trip...back at cabin.

The map of our trip. The big lake is Brule where we put in.

Minnehaha Park and Falls with Dave

Road my bike to Minnehaha Park to meet my friend Dave for dinner. The park has a popular restaurant. So popular in fact that the line went on and on.

Save estimated that it was well over an hour wait. So we decided to get a beer, get caught up on each other's lives, then to Capp's for barbecue.

It was a wonderful evening.

Summer blooms

Diverse Sunday

Very interesting and diverse Sunday in Minneapolis. My friend Stephen and I rode our bikes to Lake Calhoun for the Aquatennial Celebration day's events - milk carton boat races and sand castle competition.

Then from Lake Calhoun to Lakewood Cemetery. They are right next to each other. Lake Cemetery is a large, beautiful resting place. A new and modern mausoleum recently opened.

Then to Uptown for the Bastille Day block party at Barbette's. Big crowd. Fun music.

Stephen and I at Bastille Day block party

Bastille Day crowd

Lake Wood Cemetery new and modern mausoleum

Milk carton boat race

Milk carton boat race

Sand castle competition

Sand castle competition

Metal tie at Bastille Day vendor booth

The oak tree, Mr. Burr

The backyard oak tree is doing super well this year. He seems to be having a second growth spurt with branches growing extra 8 or 10 inches of new leaves.

Mr. Burr casts a legitimate shadow this year which means shade in the backyard.

More of Artie and Carol's visit (July 3rd)

I took half day off from work on Wednesday, July 3rd, to play tourist with Artie and Carol.  We went to the Walker Sculpture Garden, Basilica of St. Mary, Guthrie's Endless Bridge view of Mississippi River, downtown Minneapolis and the skyway system.

Allison got us into the Metropolitan Club at Target Field where we had great food and watched the Twins lose yet another game with the Yankees....ugh.  The game was followed by fireworks right near where we were seated.

Another self-portrait with spoon and cherry at Walker Sculpture Garden

Carol and Artie on the Guthrie Endless Bridge with Gold Medal sign.

Carol, Artie, Allison and me in the Metropolitan Club at Target Field.

Fireworks after the game on 3rd.

Twins sign at Target Field.

Artie and Carol decided to head home on July 4th instead of waiting for Friday. Artie had a class to teach on Saturday and driving that far in one really long stretch was just not practical.

It was a wonderful visit. I am so glad that some friends are willing to make the trip out.  We are now planning on the 2014 All Star event hosted by the Twins, Target Field and Minneapolis.

July 4 at the Taylor's

Another fun and patriotic Independence Day at JT and Linda's wonderful home on Crystal Lake in Burnsville.

A boat ride to the beach for root beer floats. All the other boaters voted us "most crowded" vessel.

Our boat was second in line in the boat parade around the lake and definitely the loudest.

 Hanging out on the well decorated boat and enjoying the sun and breeze.

I didn't make it through to the fireworks. I was tired from a week of entertaining guests and watching the Twins lose game after game.  But I sure enjoyed floating in the lake...and getting buckets of water dumped on me.

Happy July 4th

Twins game with Artie and Carol

My karate instructor from 40 years ago is visiting.