North Shore snow dump!

The North Shore gets it's snow for winter sports this year. It might well be a promising year for XC skiing and winter sports in general. So far so good for snow. No more 80 degree March weather please as happened last year. I shouldn't even mention such things. Bad luck!

Christmas Season in Grand Marais, Mn

Santa on a float goes flying past during the Grand Marais Christmas parade. Gosh we thought they have a long parade for such a small town?
That is inpressive! But wait? We have seen this float before, they are going around a second time. But do the kid even know? Do they care?
It's all great fun and entertatinment on the holidays.

Looking alot like the holidays now.

Very holiday like with decorations and fresh snow.

Here it comes! Bring the snow!

The ski season begins with the holiday snowfall.

The ski resorts are open with man made and now a bit of snow from nature this holiday weekend. It's a welcome drop of snow and a good start. After last year's early end to the season the Northland is due for a strong ski season.

It's time to light the Christmas Tree

At this time of year in Grand Marais it's time to go down to the park and light up the tree. Santa will be there and the shopping season begins. Support the area and buy a few gifts when visiting. The Ben Franklin is a favorite of mine. Everything you can imagine is packed into that store.

November

I enjoy the strata you find along the road on the north shore HWY 61.Cutface overlook and the Cutface wayside has interesting rocks. The Harbor Inn cam today really was showing November skies. It's only a matter of time and holidays and serious snowfall.

November sky

It's looking Grey and November now with the leaves gone. This vantage point is above Grand Marais,Mn from Pincushion Mountain Overview.

All the leaves are brown and the sky is grey.

And just like that we are into late fall and the leaves are gone. Thoughts are to Thanksgiving and even snow season. That is the Cutface overlook just south of Grand Marais. Even if the leaves are gone it's still nice to take a stroll in the woods. The sound of the crunching leaves is nice.

Flurries today but what about the winter?

There has been a few flurries here and there. But my thoughts are to the winter and possible snowfalls. According to NOAA it's below average in the long term forecast. Which isn't good for skiing and snowsports. We all recall last March with 80's and no snow. Lutsen kept a few runs open with great effort to make their April 1st goal of staying open I recall. Resorts are working on the XC trails. Brushing is the term they use. Hopefully NOAA is wrong. The winter season is very important to the resorts.

The North Shore is calling....

The North Shore is calling again. I'm going to take another fall trip up the coast just because it's wonderful. The weather may or may not hold and perhaps there will even be a few flurries but it's still a good time. Tamaracks should be a lovely gold right now. You could even see a Aurora or a Moose? You just never know? But what is for sure is it's a nice time dining and sightseeing no matter what season. Winter is coming.

Hovland Minnesota

Coming down Fire Tower Road just off of the Arrowhead Trail in Hovland you can see Russia. Well no, it's Canada in the far distance. It's great fun to go exploring during fall color week. Finding new roads and vistas all over the Arrowhead Region.

Minnesota Peak Fall Color Week

Sawbill Trail,Shovel Point and HWY 60 just off the Gunflint Trail.
Just a few of over 200 pictures taken while touring around Nothing much can be better for me then clear sky and great fall color. Perhaps the dinners in the nice resorts!

Peak fall color is almost here on the NorthShore of Minnesota.

Last year I took this photo from Lookout Mountain in Lutsen Mn. We were there right at peak color and the weather was fantastic. I've got the cabin booked again for this year. Hopefully the weather is just as good. You have to guess the peak date for color of course as there are many factors in the timing. I have heard that the Pink Salmon are already running in the rivers. About a week earlier then last year. I'll be taking hundreds of photos again. I'm very excited, it's the best time of the year in my opinion.

Early fall on the Northshore this year?

Oh my the leaves are changing fast this year. A bit to my upset as I have reservations in the future for leaf viewing. It is a guessing game to time the peak. Last year we nailed it right on the head and were blessed with perfect weather. It's hard to do with drought and crazy climate this summer. But there will be leaves of some degree no matter what so it's always a good trip.This is a shot from Eagle Mountain looking at Moose Mountain at Lutsen Ski resort.

Blue Moon Weekend on the Northshore

A wonderful Blue Moon shining on Lake Superior.

Betty's Pie back when it was Betty's Cafe

Back before the modern Betty's Pies it looked like this, Betty's Cafe. Now there is a newer modern building just north of Two Harbors Mn. on HWY 61. Even the newer larger building is just jammed packed on summer weekends and fall. Ive not stopped for quite awhile as my Grandma used to say, it's so busy that nobody goes there anymore.But we knew what she meant by the comment. She would make Yogi Berra sounding quotes.

http://listverse.com/2011/04/13/25-funny-quotes-of-yogi-berra/

Research Vessel Kiyi is back in Grand Marais, Mn.

http://www.inlandmariners.com/Special/Special_Kiyi.htm

Very interesting what they do! Click on the link!

August in Duluth

This fellow in Duluth has the best idea on a Friday afternoon. A view, a book and a nice day.

Breakfast with a Caribou

When touring around the Northshore and visiting festivals you can have breakfast with a Caribou at the Cascade Lodge Restaurant. There is also a Moose mount, a wolf and a few bears.

Fisherman's Picnic Grand Marais, Mn

Something you don't see everyday, log rolling at the festival. Many activities to be seen as you walk around during the weekend. The young log rollers were so good it was hard to believe.

Sunset around the region tonight.....

Next week I'll be touring around the South Shore and North Shore of Lake Superior. It's peak summer season and now is the time. Festivals, events,cool clean water and air. Frankly you don't have to do anything. Just be.......

Here are sunsets from the region via live cams. Traveling by desktop tonight as I have to wait until next week to do it in person. The next best thing.

Cascade Creek at the Cascade Lodge, Lutsen MN.

Don't let Cascade Creek fool you, it looks pretty docile most of the time but it can roar. I have missed the flows twice this year. Too early in May and I missed it too late in July. A good downpour on the North Shore really gets the creeks and rivers rolling. Waterfalls are great in this area. You can rent cabins right on the creek at the Lodge and listen to the water at night from the deck or even the living areas of the cabins. Pretty pleasant considering the noise we put up with the rest of our daily lives.

Grand Marais Harbor sunset

Really a nice evening sunset at Grand Marais Harbor tonight. The site of the up and coming Dragon Boat Races.
http://www.northshoredragonboat.com/

Cool Weather Tourism

Everybody checking into North Shore lodging recently were making all the same comments. We are escaping the heat in the Cities. Oh is it hot! Even in Northern Wisconsin it's quite hot. Records are being set all over the country. It might go down as one of the hottest summers in history. This is a real bonus for the North Shore of Minnesota. It's not only the Festivals and events that are drawing people it's the cool blue waters and breezes off of Lake Superior. When on the harbor in Grand Marais people just linger by the shore. Artist Point is very popular in hot weather. There is a lyric from a Bluegrass tune I heard recently: Cool water is going to open up her arms and take you in......Steep Canyon Rangers....Open Country.

Big view of Downtown Grand Marais MN.

The best view in town is the roof top of the Gun Flint Tavern. Great place to have a margarita and just take in the wonderful weather.

Summer Holiday trip

Fourth of July week on the North Shore of Minnesota was simply wonderful. Weather was great while the rest of the country was setting all time record high temps. The blue sky and blue water at the mouth of the Cascade River was really stunning. Touring around, hiking and of course eating in the fine lodges and restaurants for a week really is pleasant. Lets play where is the moose game? Anybody make a guess? There are alot of moose mounts on the North Shore and Boundary Waters area. So where is this one? And we managed to see two real live moose on our tours. Always surprising to see a real moose as you just don't expect it. Both were cows.

Cooler by the Lake

Are the key words for me this Holiday week. So I'm off to the Cascade Lodge in Lutsen Minnesota. I'll be sure to take alot of pictures for future use on the blog of the adventures.

Another flood result.......

It all has to go somewhere and sadly it's into the beautiful lake. It will settle in time but for the time being it looks nasty from the satellite shot and the shoreline as well.

Another Waterfall season

Cascade Falls, Cascade State Park.

Waterfalls are roaring again on the North Shore of Minnesota. This is the third time this year starting with a early meltdown in March. Then followed by a late May storm and now this huge rain this week. Sadly the nice waterfalls come at a cost to Duluth Minnesota with flood damages in excess of 100 million dollars. Duluth is really a nice city and one of my favorites. Some of the damage is hard to believe. Huge sink holes and gullies washed into the hillsides.

Moose Mountain lunch

The best lunch spot in my mind is at the top of Moose Mountain at Lutsen Ski Resort. They have a new mountaintop Chalet that was built just a few years ago. It is fantastic with a deck that wraps around the building. The views are wonderful and that is Superior National Golf course below. While you might think the burgers and snacks are a bit heavy on cost you must remember that they have to haul it up the mountain and that included in the lunch is a 100 mile view on a clear day. You can see Upper Michigan sometimes. Also the Tram ride up is great fun. Better then any State Fair ride in my opinion. The kids just love it.

Along the shore you find interesting things.

Along the North shore you find these little pot holes worn into the rock. The power of the Lake Superior waves grinds them out with the friction of the rocks swirling in the depression. The only question I have is how long does this take! They are often called grinders and perhaps other names? It's quite fascinating indeed.

Flat Calm Beautiful.......

I really like Grand Marais, it has that something called sense of place. Unique in it's scenery and it's vibe. It has a bit of everything for everybody. You can find about anything you like there.

Northshore Minnesota May trip before the big holiday.

The harbor at Grand Marais is very nice. They have created a wonderful park and many people have put in great effort to make it so nice. This location was a gas station the first time I visited Grand Marais in 1983.

The Cross River Falls can be seen right from a wayside on Highway 61.

High Falls at the border is the highest falls in Minnesota. Last week after we snapped this shot it rained hard and the waterfalls are just flowing at a level not seen in almost a decade. I recall being in Grand Marais about nine years ago on Memorial Day weekend and it rained 3" and the falls were huge. There is a new visitor center at Grand Portage and a very nice improved trail to the falls. The drive up to the border and back is fantastic.

Spring is here when the bears are about.

Time to put away the bird feeders and mind your trash cans. The bears are hungry and looking for a picnic basket Yogi. Rangers said hang your food in the food bag up the tree when canoe camping. When car camping put that cooler in the truck. If you're luck you might spot a bear on the back roads grazing in the ditch. They eat a great deal of things. This one looks to be about 300 lbs. A guess of course, could be more? Always enjoyable to spot wildlife in the Lake Superior Region.

Earth day,Gaylord Nelson and the Apostle Islands.

In Wisconsin when one thinks of Earth Day you think of Gaylord Nelson.

His daughter was on Wisconsin Public Radio recently talking about the programs and continuing efforts to preserve what makes Wisconsin great.

http://www.nelsonearthday.net/nelson/environmental-decade.htm

The Thurday Program with Gaylord Nelson's daughter on WPR:

http://wpr.org/webcasting/audioarchives_display.cfm?Code=dun