Grand Marais Mn. Coast Guard Station

Today at the store I met a fellow who had served at the Grand Marais Coast Guard Station in the past. It was a random meeting at the Grocery store. How does that happen? I was wearing a Grand Marais hat. That started the conversation going which went for about 15 minutes in the produce isle. The station has been on the harbor a long time as the following postcards show. The last picture was just taken two weeks ago. The fellow recalled very fondly of serving at the station and living at Grand Marais. He also had spent some time at the Bayfield Coast Guard station. All of this because I needed some 2% milk....isn't life grand!

Fisherman's Picnic Grand Marais

This would be the place to be this weekend. Cooler by the lake and just a wonderful scene with things to do and eat. How about a Herring Burger?? Sadly I'm not there but I grabbed this shot from the Grand Marais Cam. I like the fact that somebody is flying a kite at the harbor. A nice breeze and wonderful spot to do so. Many events this weekend at the picnic. Click on the link below:

http://www.grandmarais.com/what_to_do/wtd.php?page=Events

North shore dining in the past.

Back before the present day Betty's Pies,Rustic Inn and Cascasde Lodge Restaurant they looked just a little bit different. Dining on the North shore drive is always a pleasure. You hike,sightsee and eat. The history of these places is part of the enjoyment of driving the famous HWY 61.

Roseway Rides on the last day in July.

No doubt some very happy and lucky people that are taking rides on the Roseway today during the Tall Ships Festival. The weather is perfect and it's a overall wonderful day to be in Duluth Minnesota. Add some beautiful ships to the formula and you have a real summer day.

Grand Parade of Tall Ships in Duluth Minnesota

What a wonderful day in Duluth Minnesota. Thousands lined the banks of Canal Park and the inner harbor. Eight ships came into the canal entry during the afternoon. I captured these shots on a I-Phone but better pictures and coverage are found on the link below:

http://www.duluthshippingnews.com/

Tall Ships in Duluth Minnesota.

The big Tall Ships Festivial is in Duluth Mn. this weekend. This is a huge event.Last weekend I saw two of the ships in Bayfield and this morning there were two more that spent the night and departed. Pictured are the Roseway and the Zeeto that once called Bayfield harbor home before it was sold.

Sundew

The Duluth Power Squadron had it's gathering this weekend in Bayfield Wisconsin. The highlight down at City Dock was the decommissioned Sundew. Once a Canal Park attration it was purchased by a Superior Trucking Company owner who is putting it back into shape and preserving a piece of history. I was lucky enough to be on board and see it again. The night was wonderful and the weather really nice. Full moon and all.

Kadunce River MN.

Just north of Grand Marais about 8 miles is the mouth of the Kadunce River. The pebble beach is very nice where the river enters Lake Superior. But even more fun is going up the river in the stream bed. Call it mini Canyoneering. Not really hardcore Canyoneering in the real sense with wet suits and climbing equipment but it's certainly just as fun on a smaller scale. After about half a mile up the river your rewarded with a nice little waterfall and a cave hollowed out by very high water in the springtime over many years.

http://www.topoquest.com/map-detail.php?usgs_cell_id=22976

Split Rock Light House

Just a fantastic day to be at Split Rock Lighthouse. And this year it's 100 years old.Looks quite nice for being 100 years old. Well kept and maintained. The most photographed Light house in the Midwest I read somewhere. I hadn't stopped in awhile and the visitor center had been upgraded and everything was looking top notch for the big birthday.

Superior Day

Palisade Head

Artist Point

Saturday:
•10 a.m. at Fox Farm Road Trail head, Knife River. Guided hike along new section of the Superior Hiking Trail.
•11:30 a.m. at the Great Lakes Aquarium. Lake Superior Magazine publisher Paul Hayden presentation on the Lake Superior Circle Tour.
•1:30–3:30 p.m. at Artists’ Point, Grand Marais. A nature walk to the lighthouse and Artist Point.

Sunday:
•10 a.m. – 3 p.m. at First United Methodist Church, Duluth. Love Lake Superior Artisan & Info Fair.
•11:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m. at Barker’s Island Festival Park, Superior. Lake Superior Day Celebration begins with a cleanup followed by family fun with a drum circle, live music, Moonwalk for kids, free hot dog lunch, educational exhibits, raffle for a composter and rain barrel.
•Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center, Ashland. Three films will be shown continuously throughout the day: “Paddle to the Sea”; “Unsalted,” about Great Lakes surfing; and “Mining Madness,” about mining in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula

Sky Dan the Airplane Man....

I think the best spot in Grand Marais is on the pebble beach in front of the coffee shop.

You can sit there and watch the world There were loons in the harbor,ducks and of course the float plane. Sky Dan was giving airplane rides and that was entertaining to watch him take off with passengers. He can get up speed and take right off in the inner harbor. Coming in looked pretty exciting also. I think it would be quite a thrill but I couldn't convince somebody to go so we went to dinner. Yes it's not cheap but not something you do everyday either.

http://www.skydanairtours.com/

Beaver House Grand Marais MN.

In Grand Marais Mn. is a unique fishing store. It certainly gets your attention and I'm sure dozens of people each day stand in front and take pictures. Even the side of the building is painted nicely. Inside is a huge inventory of everything you can imagine would be needed on a Boundary Waters fishing trip. I am a map person so like the detailed maps. As you walk into the store there is a very cute small puppy on a doggie bed. Your natural reaction is to reach down and pet the doggie as it's just that cute. But beware! Behind the doggie is a sign that says 25 cents per pet. That glass jar must have had $50 dollars in it and is good for a great laugh. It's a cash flow business for that cute puppy dog.

Jump for joy! It's summer holiday.

Summer vacation is here! We are on holiday and traveling. What else would make you jump for joy? Of course that is the Susie Islands in the background and Isle Royale in the far distance.

It was a wonderful day and nothing is more enjoyable then sightseeing and being on the road to more scenery. Canada is down the road and more adventure. So much to do and see, so little time before the summer is over and school starts again.

We spotted one also near the Susie Islands!

People have to take the time to linger and look and they might be rewarded with a sighting.

http://www.northshorevisitor.com/activities/whale-watching.html

Then and Now

I really like historic things and staying at places with history and character. The old lodges on the Northshore and in the Boundary Waters really have that appeal. To stay in a cabin that was built in 1923 and has been kept up all these years is a real treat. Cascade Lodge has several old cabins behind the lodge and a few newer cabins as well. All near Cascade Creek and trails that lead to the Cascade River State park with about five larger waterfalls and great hiking trails.

The weather was perfect and cool enough at night to build large fires in the stone fireplace.

This is what we were wanting in the evenings. Cool weather for fires at night. I found the entire Lodge and Cabins very enjoyable. I noticed online that people were complaining about the Lodge and cabins as being too rustic or rough. It's entertaining how fussy people are today. This isn't the Four Seasons? Your sort of on a rustic adventure in the Northland. And in a lodge of over 80 years old you might find some things worn a bit. It lends to the character of the place. The log book in the cabin had entries of people from all over the world. Even China and Russia. It really captures a kids mind to think they are somewhere special enough to draw visitors from all over the globe.

Icon of the Northland

How does the Gulf Oil disaster effect us in the upper Great Lakes? The icon of the Northland we all so enjoy hearing in the twilight hours migrates to the south for the winter.

The Common Loon we see on interior lakes in the Boundary Waters of Minnesota and Northern Wisconsin Lakes.

Sometimes they are spotted on Lake Superior bays as well. This is a symbol of the North. They winter in the marshes and coastal areas of the Gulf Coast. I wish them well as they are a favorite.

The souvenir place at the border.

Ryden's is the place for souveniers. You name it and it's in this store.
I find this very entertaining and you have to stop to do the walk thru. You might find something after all? Ryden's is located on HWY 61 right before the customs stop as you enter Canada.

>A souvenir (from French, for memory), memento or keepsake is an object a traveler brings home for the memories associated with it. Souvenirs include clothing such as T-shirts or hats, postcards, refrigerator magnets, miniature figures, household items such as mugs and bowls, plates, ashtrays, egg timers, spoons, notepads, and paintings plus many others. They may be marked to indicate their origin.

Artist Point Grand Marais Minnesota

If you take a walk on Artist point in Grand Marais you see that people often create a rock garden or build things with the stones. It's very entertaining. Some are more creative then others. I've not been there yet this year so will be interesting to see what can be found on a walk after dinner on the point. Hopefully a Moose will also be found on a drive up the Gunflint Trail.

This is a wonderful area with no shortage of things to do, matter of fact we will never be able to do it all. Which makes me happy as then we will have to return again and again.

http://www.grandmarais.com/

Lester Park Duluth

Back in the day Lester Park had a huge attraction. A massive wooden bridge.

What a stroll this would have been on this bridge. Really is a impressive structure.

Thanks to these old postcards we can see what was once there.

Trip planning and research

The big summer travel season is upon us. Those that are able to get away for a few weeks should make plans and enjoy the region. For me the planning is part of the process.I really enjoy thinking about things in advance and web surfing all the options. You have only so much time and there is so much. You could spend a month around Lake Superior and never see it all. Back in the late 1930's Grandpa and Grandma drove their Model A up the North Shore which I understand was gravel at that time. It apparently wasn't paved or blacktopped until the mid 1940's or after WWII. It was a true adventure back then. They went as far as Port Arthur Ont. This is now the city of Thunder Bay Ont. To the west was Kakabeka Falls and it was yet to be a Provincial park until 1955. There was a hotel at the falls back then. I wish they had pictures of that.This is the picture taken of them taken on a viewing pod back in the early days. I will recreate that picture in a few weeks with the great granddaughter.