Cabin life
After we got Boscoe out of Hell Ditch and back into the truck, we did what any self-respecting and traumatized hikers would do: We drove down Lake County Road 7 to the Trestle Inn, ordered a couple of Molsons, and had lunch.
The Trestle Inn is a homey, back-woodsy place on a dirt road outside of Finland. It has great Trestle Burgers, Canadian beer on tap, and a steady and devoted clientele who are mostly clad in camouflage and ballcaps (and, in the winter, snowmobile helmets).
After that, we went back to the cabin, took a nap, and started the vacation afresh the next day.
Other highlights from the week, as recorded in our journal:
A much better hike. We went back to George Crosby Manitou and took the Yellow Birch Trail--flatter and less rocky. Boscoe did fine. It was a beautiful day for hiking--diffused sunlight, a slight breeze, maybe 55 degrees.
The boys like their new purple collapsible water dish.
Doug has a tick embedded in his thigh. Ouch. Off to Zup's in Silver Bay, for tweezers.
It's a beautiful morning, warmer than what we've had--clear skies, brilliant blue lake, gentle breeze. The tops of the tall thin birch trees outside the cabin are just beginning to glow with an early spring green.
Not much wildlife around this cabin. Just that odd rabbit we saw the first night, which might not have been a rabbit (it was very dark out, so it was hard to tell--it looked bigger than a rabbit, but it ran like one), and usually a deer or two along the road. But no squirrels or chipmunks, and not even many birds, outside of the brilliant white, screeching gulls that soar over the water. It's odd to have it so quiet. ...
A very good hike this afternoon, about six miles, the Britton Peak Trail off the Sawbill. Boscoe did great. Riley chased three deer but came back quickly each time. Two and a half hours, all told.
The sky over the lake is pale blue, lightening almost to white and then to pale pink at the horizon. The lake is calm and sparkling. Another beautiful day. We gave the dogs a break from hiking--well, we gave Boscoe a break. Riley probably wanted to hike.
Instead, we drove to Ely. A pretty drive, out of Silver Bay and along Lax Lake Road (where we saw deer, and the boys barked) over to Highway 1, and up through Finland and Isabella to Ely.
Only 50 miles, but the road is so twisty it took two hours.
Very similar to the Gunflint Trail in some areas--tall pines pressing close on either side of the road, and occasional glimpses of blue, blue inland lakes. But much windy-er and twisty-er.
Riley does not relax in the car--he stands the whole way and leans his head against Doug's arm, or on my shoulder or, if he can sneak halfway into the front seat, my chest, and needs to be petted. For two hours. ...
After lunch in Ely, we stopped at a tall piney forest outside of Babbitt and walked the boys for a half hour. A sign there said that the area had been devastated by forest fire years ago and was replanted by locals in 1916. The thousands of seedlings were transported seven miles by horse and wagon, and then another eleven miles by canoe.
After the hike, we got back on Highway 1 and came home--Riley standing the whole time.
A couple of deer on the trail, at the start. We've seen more deer on the trail this year than ever, and they all look thin and patchy. Maybe the cold, late spring makes it hard for them to find food. Things are still not yet greened up deep in the forest, and it's almost June.
Dogs: Sleeping.
Doug: Showering.
Time for tea.
Big ol' 1000-footer gliding past, heading out. A fishing boat was perched off Palisade Head earlier this morning, probably pulling in herring. Overcast and blustery today.
Another terrific hike. We drove out Cook County 7 to the trailhead that goes toward Bally Creek Road. Just as we got there, an old beater car careened into the parking area and a woman got out. She was wearing sunglasses and jeweled flip-flops and had a fussy little purse and two tiny miniature pinschers on a double leash.
Clearly, she was not there to hike.
The dogs had rhinestone collars, and a few minutes later one of them apparently got free and came out of the brush and sniffed hello to Riley and Boscoe. They took one look at the rhinestones, and they were not impressed.
18 comments:
sounds like some one had fun.
Nothing like a fine new water bowl to turn a guy's ear inside out! So Riley has heeler in him as well as coon hound and collie? I once rescued a red heeler and he rode in the back of the car for over a 100 miles without ever lying down.
Do the Boyz have their vacation spot picked out for this year?
What a great adventure you had! I am looking forward to getting out in the woods with my baby! Summer is here!
Great pictures. It sounds like a lovely get away. BTW-I bow to you in respect to the curls. You win. That is some curly hair which makes my own curls appear as mere waves. I bet you win in the curl taming product collection too.
Great pictures of the boys. And your eyes -- they're so blue! Doug really does have that Tim Robbins thing going on, even in the ball cap.
Maddie wears a rhinestone charm. Maybe the boys would just think she's pretty.
Catching up on blog reading....
What a great trip! Except the part about Boscoe getting old. It sounds like he had fun most of the time, though. They're lucky dogs, and you're lucky to have them.
mike, yep, we all did.
faye, heeler? it's entirely possible. he's got so many different breeds in him, what's one more?
murphy's mom, well, summer was here. it's cold again. blustery and overcast. i had to wear Polarfleece this evening when i walked the boys.
rudee, i try, but there is no taming them.
kaycie, the blue shirt makes them look bluer.
amy, yes, it was a great trip. despite the anxiety.
Sounds fabulous. And I love the picture of you and Riley.
All that hiking sounds like fun, but absolutely exhausting and I used to hike a lot when I was a youngster, ha ha! Poor Boscoe and I would like the little bitty hikes with lots of rest stops and lots of flat terrain.
Life is harder when you still carry some extra kilos around with you, although I suppose I would lose them quickly if I hung out there for a month with you guys. How about it? Is there room for a two pack a day, coffee drinking, slightly overweight woman in that cabin?
I forgot to push the email follow up comments button.
Sounds exactly like my idea of a holiday. What bliss to sit on the step of the cabin, in my PJs, looking out at the wilderness and having my morning coffee. Bliss.
Oh, and Nora, that spare room in the cabin next year is already reserved for me. ;-)
the cabin had two bedrooms. one bedroom had a double bed, and the other room had four bunkbeds. so there's plenty of room for all.
Man I love cabin camping. So relaxing, so much fresh air, but with soft beds. My first husband and I spent a couple of years when my girls were young staying at all the state parks in Virginia that had cabins. Then after the divorce, I took my youngest to one in WVA. Those were great vacations. I need to do that with my best husband now!
I've had a lovely time reading your posts - nice pictures! - it's been like a little holiday :) And France as well, cor, good for you.
That cabin in the forest looks cosy, a perfect break, glad the dogs coped.
I'm envious!
Laurie - your week sounded lovely. I had to go away and not come around for a bit because I was so worried about Boscoe. It made me cry.
Glad he was up to the rest of the hikes.
And rhinestones?! Pffft!! Everyone knows a real lady wears diamonds.
aw, aims, you're sweet. he's fine. just doesn't have the endurance he once did. he turns 13 on July 4. hard to treat him like an old man, but i think we have to now.
nora, i'm about 10 pounds lighter than i was last fall when we went hiking. and i feel much stronger. amazing what a difference a few pounds makes.
rose, i tent-camped for years and years. backpacked and slept on the ground. now i've gotten spoiled. cabins are soooo nice.
merry, thanks for popping around! nice to see you again.
All that hiking sounds fabu. Especially the temps -- 55 degrees -- niiiiice.
This looks idyllic. Years ago, my husband spent two weeks near Ely on an Earthwatch trip, tracking timber wolves. Sadly, I've never been there...
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