Boundary Waters Trip - Day 1 "Getting There"

Friday August 20, 2010 we left Brainerd at 9:00 am.  We went to Deerwood and collected Dave, Ellie, their canoe and gear.  We left Deerwood around 10:00am.  We stopped at Betty's Pies by Two Harbors for lunch.  http://www.bettyspies.com/  When we got to Grand Marais we wanted to make sure we got a Puff taco but we were still full from Betty's.  So we each got them to go and ate them later that night and they were still as good, if not better, then we remembered them.

We drove down the Gunflint Trail and stopped at Chik-Wauk Museum but it was already closed for the day.

We had a site reserved at the Trails End Campground.  Here's the outlook from it.  You can see it was involved in the Cavity Lake Fire of 2006.

We settled in for the night with a campfire, a cocktail and a Puff taco.  Life is good.

Farewell to Uncle Irv

Irvin O. Rood Jan. 28, 1925 - Aug. 21, 2010

While I was gone to the Boundary Waters my Uncle Irv.

passed away.  I was a saddened that I missed the funeral.

Last week the city of Brainerd tagged Mike's huge Elm tree for removal due to the fact it had Dutch Elm Disease (DED.... yep she's dead).

Mike had til Sept 3rd to get the tree completely removed or the city would have it done for big bucks (added to your taxes).  So for much less than the city would have charged, Speedy Tree Service to the rescue.  Speedy himself climbs up there and starts cutting. 

Some 8 hours later.......

 Wow that roof came in handy.

Saws and Wedges and Hammers...oh my!

 After the tree is down there's the limbs to chip.

 And more chipping.....

 The trunk was a booger.  It was huge and the boys saws weren't "cutting" it.  But they remained persistent.

Some dumb ass thought he could help with the chipper.  I think he should have left it to the professionals.  He had to go in the house and get the grand kids to administer first aid.

 I may have mentioned that the saws just didn't cut it.  Had to turn the trunk to cut from the other side.

Mike's magic gloves helped get the job done.

Whew... it's been a long day.

Today's Birthdays

Today is my grandaughter Kiehra's 10th birthday.

Today is also my friend Marcia Chase's 50th birthday.  She's pictured here a couple years ago when we visited Idaho.  It was the last of the 50 states she had not been in until that day.

Jim's 70th

This past weekend we went to Minneapolis to celebrate Dave's dad, Jim's 70th.  Here we are at the Local (Irish pub).  I'm having a black and tan the others are all into the Big Gingers - a Local specialty.  From left to right: Ed and Rose Simpson, who flew in from Phoenix, myself, Makita and Jim.

You can't come to Minneapolis from another part of the country without going to the Mall of America.  Rose and I did some shopping and the fellas found this bar.  Then the shark found them. 

During Jim's birthday celebration.  Cheers!

More cheers......

Liquor kicks in.... not sure if Makita is dancing or ducking.

And it was Roses birthday just a few days before.  There was lots of birthday singing.

Camping with Kaylie - The Remaining Two Days

Saturday morning started out with french toast and sausage.  Kaylie was the official egg cracker/scrambler.

There was some modeling of the new swimsuit prior to going to the beach.

We're very serious about our sunscreen.  Kaylie piled it on before any fun in the sun.

It was a really warm day to play in the lake.

She even convinced gramps to join in.

Time out for a lunch break.

Most kids have buckets and shovels but not ours.  Oh no, they get empty food containers, cocktail glasses and serving spoons out of Eddie.

Kaylie made a couple new friends.  Boys just can't stay away if they think a meal might be in the make'n.

Saturday night we all went up to the Rangers station and made some crafty things (I'm about arted out by now).  This was the bird feeder they had the kids make.  It's a pine cone with peanut butter and bird seed stuck on it.

Then we made a critter out of stuff from outside.  Like pine cones and feathers and sticks etc.

Here is the finished critter project.  I wanted to name it Predator but she wouldn't let me.

We completed the evening of fun crafty crap with this thing.  Complete with sand and seashells.

After the art in the park thing, we had hot dogs roasted over the fire.

Sunday started with pancakes.  Kaylie is an expert pancake flipper.

Oh yeah.... 5 more hours of beach time.  The duck's a nice touch.

Kaylie goes out on the dock (or as some dim witted blond woman from who knows where ..obviously not from around here... called it "the bridge").

Camping with Kaylie - Friday Night

We took Kaylie camping last weekend.  Friday night started out with Kaylie doing some artwork.

At one point she needed to take a break and chill out in the hammock.

Kaylie is an excellent chicken drumstick barbecue'r.

Our night ended with more painting...under lantern light.

Kaleb's Racing

My grandson Kaleb, who is 6 years old, has entered into the world of motocross racing. Last week he raced his first race at the Stearns County Fair, then the next night he raced in the Crow Wing County Fair and then a couple nights later he was up in Bagley racing. So he's getting a lot of seat time.

 

Here he is at the Crow Wing County Fair at the start line with both mom and dad there to help him.

It would appear Josh (dad) has some encouraging last minute words for Kaleb.

Off he goes....

Looks like he's in the lead....go Kaleb...

Nice cornering...

Yeah!!!  First place!