Northern Minnesota

A quick trip to northern Minnesota up the North Shore and inland a ways to Jenny and Andrew's cabin at Gust Lake.

A typical northern Minnesota vista

Gust Lake at the cabin

The season up north is about a month behind the Twin Cities so in Duluth and the other towns along Highway 61, the lilacs are still blooming.

I have been up here in June before. The wildflowers and lupines are amazing. (I found out after returning to the Twin Cities that these lupines are not native to Minnesota and are considered an invasive species!) 

(non-native) lupines

(native) wild flowers

With all the rain up here, the rivers and lakes are full. But also the biting bugs are off the charts. Mosquitos and, what I've been told, sand flies are insane. Normally during the sunny part of the day, the bugs are not too bad. That is not the case this year. No matter when you were outside, the attacks were relentless.

Even with the bugs, it is just so beautiful. There are amazing views of lakes, rivers, trees and the sky with puffy or menacing clouds.

Raced to the end of the dock to catch this sunset before getting eaten by the mosquitoes

There was a fantastic storm Wednesday night

There were some interruptions of the relaxation with Jenny's work but we didn't let it interfere with our taking in all the outdoor beauty, piling firewood for the winter, and grilling.

Meanwhile, back at the cabin, Maggie enjoyed the catwalk for running and napping!

Maggie napping in the bottom bunk

Racing across the catwalk

We made it to Grand Marais a couple of times and had great weather while there on the shores of Lake Superior. While deciding between Java Moose coffee and The World's Greatest Donut shop, a seagull opened its bomb-bay doors and let go of a huge dump on my car! I was just so glad we were not outside the car at that moment.

Just a small portion of the seagull bomb drop

We were happy to be along the shore and not under the seagulls

Maggie and I drove back Thursday and had time to stop in Beaver Bay for a short bike ride. I need to figure out a way for Maggie to come along on the bike excursions.

Beaver Bay - top of the bike path taconite plant

Beaver River