The Gitchi-Gami Girls

Fall colors were in the past-peak stage in Up North, Minnesota, last weekend. There were plenty of yellows but rarely any oranges or reds. Everything looked basically dull the first two days, but then Saturday, the sun came out and color popped. And my camera clicked.

A few views for you of nature along the North Shore ...

We had an inlet outside of our AirBnb that reflected some pretty colors when the sun came up. We had a campfire ring down there, too, but it was much too windy all weekend. And well, cold. Even though fires should warm you up.

Hanging out under a bridge where the Stewart River flows into Lake Superior, somewhere near Two Harbors. Kinda felt like a troll under there, but what a cool view!

Shoreline looking north. A smattering of color. And cold waves.

 

This gull fancied himself a super model. Wait for it...

Yup. Perfect pose!

So we other super models (haha) had to follow suit! My twin and me (R7 and R8).

Rachel (R6)

RoAnn (R4)

Rayna (R1)

Renell (R3) and Romey (R2)

I could see pretty rocks in the clear water but didn't spot any agates like Lake Superior is known for. I also didn't look very hard.

A wild mushroom makes a nice bed for a fallen leaf.

On Saturday we went to Enger Park where the Enger Tower was. I thought all along my sister was saying Anger. So our Anger Management for the day involved climbing to the top (yes, I did) and checking out views from there and around the park. Even with past-peak colors, it was still a gorgeous view of surrounding nature and the lake they call Gitchi-Gami!

Occasionally we'd see those just starting to change! Like barely!

A ship in the harbor. Not sure if it was the one we saw come in earlier that day.

Now I see why I was a bit freaked driving over that big bridge! Very high.

I think this is the land mass they call Wisconsin Point, coming out near Superior. Or was it Minnesota Point, coming out of Duluth? Or both?

Another loner. One single leave was willing to start autumn and the rest are holding out!

There was a peace bell and Japanese peace garden as part of the part. This is the river of pebbles.

Oh kids these days on their phones!

We also saw some wildlife on our wild weekend...

Finally a moose with horns!

And Sasquatch was hanging out everywhere!

My favorite colors were the sunset on our last night. No filter here. Just a color palette in the sky on Island Lake. 

Thanks, Mother Nature. The Gitchi-Gami girls were pretty happy with your work!

Alaska Day 10 :: Sisters R Home

As of midnight last night, the sisters going wild were done and home – with all three of our t-shirts in the laundry soon after. Thanks again to my friend Cindy for helping me create these. They were a conversation starter more than once – and helped us keep track of each other when we got distracted by moose, pretty mountains or overpriced souvenirs.

I was slightly worried about my shirts – and suitcase actually – getting home. In our first night on the trip, I tried to pull up my very heavy suitcase onto a step so I could carry it to the third floor of our hotel. Nope, no elevatory. And nope, said my suitcase.

R-r-r-rip! The handle that helps you wheel it through the airport broke. Like came straight out with the plastic holding it in place breaking, leaving sharp shards of plastic inside the lining. It has survived so many miles and looked the part. Hubby said to trash it and get a new one. I was tempted. That gaping hole wouldn't make it through airport security too easily. But then I had an idea...

Duct tape to the rescue! Rather than buying a new suitcase at Walmart, I knew where their decorative duct tape was sold, so I spend $4 on that instead and fixed up the hole. No would suspect anything untoward in rainbows and unicorns suitcase! And no one would steal it either. So we were off!

First, we had to say goodbye to Ed.

Thanks for the 1,186.7 miles of memories, Ed!

It was time to exit the Last Frontier.

I had hoped to sleep on the plane, but there were little ones who didn't want to sleep during the 4 hours and 35-minute flight. Dang. Was grateful my niece Caryn picked us up at the airport, took me to my car at the hotel from the previous week (seems like months ago) and I could hit the road to Rapids by 8:30.

No offense to Ed, but little Black Betty Deux was so much easier to handle. Still, by habit, I was saying, "Help me watch for deer, Ed!" I did see more deer between Minneapolis and Rapids than I saw of any other wildlife in Alaska!

Was grateful to arrive home safely at the stroke of 12 and fall into my heated bed (thanks, honey) for a good night's sleep after an amazing, amazing, amazing, not enough amazings, vacation! And grateful I had a deep-tissue massage scheduled for today. 

Traveling isn't just rough on old luggage, folks!

Orange Friday

While many people (maybe me) are already getting excited for Black Friday and all of its Spend To Save possibilities, in Wisconsin, that excitement is surpassed by the preceding Friday -- that's Orange Friday for those unfamiliar with the annual gun-deer hunt!

And it's TODAY.

My hubby does not hunt. And I do not come from a family who hunted. But as someone traveling a hundred miles a day on a country road or two, I fully support their efforts!

Funny thing is, we see so many deer on our commute, I am always stumped when I hear how challenging hunting is. But now I get it. All week we've seen dozens of deer eating in the fields by the road on our way home. Tonight, not a single one. Zip. Zilch. Zero.

They are onto us.

I guess if they start seeing blaze orange in stores and hear about Hunter's Widow events, they know something is up. And they scatter.

I do hope that you hunters have a safe and successful 9 days. And please do your part to keep the roads clear!!

Deer don't pay attention to "Deer Crossing" signs anymore than we do. I tell you, though, when we were in New England, they take that very seriously. Among the "Moose Crossing" signs were a few strongly advising drivers to pay attention in order to save their lives.

I guess banging into this big fella would smart a bit!

 

This is our friend we saw along the Ausable River in upstate New York on the last full day of our trip.

As I mentioned in an earlier blog, we were continually warned to be on the lookout. And as the passenger, I kept my camera handy and kept looking!

On that particular day, we were taking pictures of the river and learned of a moose upriver. So we drove up and stopped with all the other motorists to take pictures. He seems far away. But he really wasn't once we moved up the road a bit.

See? He's just across the stream!!

 

...Eating his lunch!

When I zoomed in closer, I see he's got a battle wound... maybe from a hunter (they have a gun season like we do for deer), maybe from a car or maybe from Rocky or Bullwinkle.

Either way, if I saw something this big when I was out hunting, I'd probably just shoot it. With a camera, that is. And move on.

To see what's at the next crossing.