The drive up on Friday, June 30, was nicely uneventful with the usual stop at Duluth Grill for a delicious lunch. We arrived at Cascade River State Park in, what seemed like, record time.
Got the camp site set up and Maggie ensconced in the tent. It still stays light out well into 9pm hour. Got Maggie in her backpack and took a short hike along the Cascade River. We've been here a few times so rather than heading towards Lookout Mountain, we hiked along the north side of the river. To my surprise there was a fading Pink Lady Slipper right along the trail. This was my first encounter with the Minnesota state flower in the wild!
Lots of wildflowers including creeping dogwood, columbine, northern bluebells, wild roses, false lily-of-the-valley, and Clinton's Lily.
I had dinner at the Cascade River Lodge restaurant Friday night. Saturday, I made coffee while packing up to head into Grand Marais to meet my ex-boss from Nash Finch, Holly and her husband Bob. We met at Java Moose Cafe, of course (I follow the owner, Sarah, on Instagram).
Stopped at the Grand Marais IGA to pick up a few supplies before heading up the Gunflint Trail to Gunflint Lodge. We arrived to beautiful sunny weather. Jenny was ready for us in a lovely cabin. Maggie settled in and was glad to have room to roam, I'm sure.
Friday night, I grilled up all the meat (hamburger, brats, and turkey burgers) that I brought. Additionally, we made a salad with some very tasty homemade salad dressing.
The bed in the cabin has seen better days which resulted in a crazy-dreams night. Saturday, I made a big breakfast of scrambled eggs with a little bit of everything that was in the refrigerator.
Maggie stayed in the cabin while Jenny and I headed a few miles further up the Gunflint Trail to Magnetic Rock Trail. This is a relatively easy 3-mile roundtrip hike to a crazy monolith...and yes, magnets stick to it, but we didn't notice a strong effect to our compass. More incredible wildflowers including daisy and wood lily. Ask Jenny about the fellow hiker we met and the odd connection they have.
Saturday night we went to Poplar Haus down the Gunflint Trail. Our waiter did not seem so happy to see us, but he eventually warmed up. The bus boy was wearing a 99er volunteer shirt do I asked him how that adventure race went this year. My friend, Brett, was doing it again this year. Jenny ordered the BLT and claimed it to be the best BLT she has ever had!
The path was well maintained up to the BWCA entry point but after was very, very overgrown. We were hoping to gain some elevation for a nice overview but gave up on bushwhacking through.
No moose but lots of birds singing and a good trail except we did end up with ticks on our socks (me more than Jenny) but thankfully did a tick check before getting in the truck.
We stopped at the Loon Lake Lodge to treat ourselves to handmade ice-cream sandwiches. This resort is worth another check.
Sunday night I cooked up one of the grain meals I brought, added a bunch of the meat, and we ate heartily. I figured out the mattress by sleeping on the very edge.
Jenny got up super early Monday morning to meet students coming out of the BWCA (Project Success). Maggie and I packed up the truck and headed to Grand Marais for breakfast. It was very cold and foggy down by Lake Superior - a stark contrast to where we had just come from.
The drive down to Duluth was in intermittent downpours of rain. South of Duluth it started to get warm...very warm....and humid. By the time we stopped for a break in Pine City it was in the 80's with the same amount of humidity. It was crazy.
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