A Superior Vacation

Back from our week in Duluth on the shores of Lake Superior.

Our beach house/cottage combo was groovy.  A good hike over the dunes and we were right on the shores of Park Point - the largest freshwater beach in the world.  The decor was eclectic and I loved it - lots of little collected treasures and original art.  The kitchen was better than mine at home!

Can't go to Duluth without spending time in Canal Park.  Here are the cousins doing what the Corps of Engineers expressly forbids - hanging onto the famous lift bridge.

Of course there were campfires and s'mores.  One night all the kids and I even got the wild idea to sleep on the beach.  But the wind proved too strong and I froze my ass off and went in at 1:30am.  We Minnesotans were put to great shame when the NYC kids lasted out there until 5:30am.

I could watch these ships all day.

No trip to Duluth is complete without some time on the rocks of Canal Park skipping stones.

We had to try out the new Alpine Coaster at Spirit Mtn.  Here I am about to have a cardiac arrest. 

       

Headed Up North

Packing packing packing for our week-long visit to beautiful Lake Superior.  We're meeting Johnny C's NY Italian family there.  As I told you here, they are very different from us, so this should be interesting.    We've got a beach house almost directly in from the rainbow pictured above.

We plan to spend lots of time on the beach.  Otherwise we'll be hiking and picnicking.  What will we eat you ask??  Cuz that's pretty important in my world.  For the first 24 hours I'm packing homegrown lettuce, beans, and basil.  Also homemade pasta salad, egg salad, pesto, cookie dough, burgers, etc.  And plenty of coffee and iced tea - you betcha!

And in case you're wondering Dr. Monkey, we should make it home just before the first blizzards of winter.
See you all next week!

Today, I'm glad I don't live in Duluth

Duluth Minnesota is one of my favorite places on earth. In fact the whole North Shore ranks right up there. But today, I'm happy with our cold April rain and high winds. Northern Minnesota/Duluth is having a major blizzard with 50mph winds driving over a foot of snow with more snow on the way. A gale warning is posted for Lake Superior where waves up to 16 feet are expected. Thousands are without power.

HOWEVER, I'd really, really like to be holed up in a cabin with wood heat and hot coffee, and just sit and watch Mother Nature and powerful Lake Superior in action. That lake just speaks the language of my soul and I can't wait to go back. It must be in top form today.

Addendum at 9:30pm: it's snowing here too. Drat.
Addendum #2: this morning everything was coated with cold snow and the gray wind is harsh. For obvious reasons the pretty spring birds are hiding and the only ones visiting our trees are the scary crows and blackbirds. This Spring is starting to feel like a Steven King novel.