Up North

I'm going to try to keep it brief, since this is actually the pared-down set of photos and I do have clean sheets calling to me...
We just got home from our last big (lots of time in the car) trip of the summer. Here's the run down:
Day 1 (last Sunday):
We drove to Minneapolis where we stayed at Will and Sandy's. Rob, Carrie and Eleanor were already there. We all met up with our friends Tod and Sue for dinner at an awesome place called Brasa (no photos).
Day 2 (Monday): We drove from Minneapolis to Will and Sandy's property. This is one of my favorite parts of the drive...past Duluth. The tunnels let you know you're getting closer to Grand Marais.
And then past Grand Marais the roads become a little more rustic....much much more rustic than shown in this photo.
Once we got to the lake the cousins started swarming anyone who had food.
Henry found a new little spot to sit. He thinks Uncle Will should add a slide and turn this into a play house.
Day 3 (Tuesday): Rob made us breakfast.
We ate in the screen tent.
This is a view down the hill from the deck area to the tent area. You can see the lake between the trees.
Clara enjoyed playing in the tent.
This little frog enjoyed hanging out on the wine which was chilling in the lake.
Pete brought the frog up for Nature Study.
All four cousins are pictured here, hard at work helping Uncle Will and Uncle Rob finish the picnic table. Baby Dee is also helping. Other activities of the day included napping, canoeing and fishing. Pete and Will caught several fish, but no keepers. They also reportedly saw otters, loons and 3 moose.
Day 4 (Wednesday): Clara slept in...due to being up late the night before. She has trouble knowing how to settle down in the tent. From her perspective it's one big play mat! Here she is, finally making her way out into the morning.
We bummed around a bit longer and then headed into Grand Marais after lunch. We checked into our cabins, napped, and then met up with Rob and Carrie for dinner at the Crooked Spoon.
Then it was to the harbor for rock throwing.
Here are Clara and I enjoying a pleasant moment.
Oh, no, wait...I'm sorry....I was trying to enjoy a pleasant moment, but Clara kept wanting to put rocks in her mouth.
The kids crashed easily that night and we spent a relaxing evening in the cabin. We were back at Trailside, where Pete and I stayed with Henry a couple of years ago.
Day 5 (Thursday): We discovered the reason for the annoying tone-sound we heard all night. Fog! The harbor sure was pretty, though.
We stopped at Java Moose for our coffee.
And then hit World's Best.
Oh the choices...
We took our donuts over to the East bay.
Rob, Carrie and Eleanor met us shortly and after donut eating, rock throwing (and sucking) and goose-dodging (my pants did not get away goose-poop free) we took a walk out to the lighthouse.
We played in some puddles along the way.
Then we shopped around a bit. Clara enjoyed the flowers outside the bookstore. We also hit Sivertson's, where Pete and I got a new print which is supposed to be motivation to finally get that paint up on our bedroom walls. (Hopefully there will be a post on that before Christmas)
Thursday afternoon Mom, Will, Sandy and Anders came in to town to use our showers. We all went out for dinner at the Angry Trout for a bit of a shared anniversary dinner. It was amazing food as always. I had the grilled herring. (Thanks Mom!)

I love the stained glass over the kitchen area of the Angry Trout.
Afterwards there was more rock throwing. Clara enjoyed dipping her feet in the water...really!
Day 6 (Friday): After more donuts and more rock throwing we left the far north and started the long drive home. We didn't have a plan of where to stay, but got very lucky with this awesome campsite in a place called Brunet Island State Park in Wisconsin. It was the last one left. We think someone had canceled.
We roasted some weenies for dinner.
Then took a quick dip in the river.
And then made s'mores.
It was a gorgeous night and we had a lovely view of the stars.
Day 7 (today/Saturday): Henry awoke first, but he colored and read in the tent while I drove off to use the showers. When I came back I fixed up a box of cereal for him....sugared cereal in little boxes! The best part of camping!
He did a few casts off the shore, but when Pete and I started packing up, the kids just wanted to climb into the car. The drive back wasn't bad at all. Before leaving the campground we stopped at the play area and scoped out the beach...in case we ever go back there.
Things at home are looking fine. We already have a few loads of laundry done. I caught up on most of my personal and work email (oh yeah- school...I guess that's starting again...) but am looking forward to one more real day of vacation before I really get serious.
And that's it for this post.
Shwoo.
Also: here and here are posts from our trip up there 3 years ago...Henry's first. You'll see food from the Angry Trout and pictures from the last time we had dinner with Tod and Sue!