Halloween Day

Well, we're almost buttoned down for the winter. The water lines are drained, the canoes are stored, and the new septic system for Cabins 4 through 7 is just about in! The electrician was here yesterday, just before last night's snowfall, so the new pump is all hooked up.

We got a new camera yesterday, so I can share a photo of our new mound - Mitch and Mike really did a great job - we'll plant a few more trees and we won't even know it's there!

Putting in the new system was quite a job - the weather hasn't exactly cooperated. Lots of rain and not what you'd call warm weather didn't help. Mike did a lot of the "grunt" work so he's pretty worn out... digging trenches, filling in trenches, crawling under cabins to unhook and hook up plumbing etc. wasn't a lot of fun. He's also been working on some cabin foundations - as long as he's under there anyway, why not?

We're hoping to make our annual trip to Mountain Iron with used canoes next week, it's always a great visit with friends and Lin really likes shopping in Virginia. We'll have a whole stack of new Kevlar canoes next spring! In the meantime, isn't the little creek between Cabins 3 and 4 beautiful?

October's Here - and so is the snow!

Well, the cabins are closed for the winter, the water lines are blown and dry... and it's a good thing! We awoke yesterday morning to a light dusting of snow - no big deal, about 1/2 an inch, and it was gone by midmorning, so Jeremy and his group decided to go on out into the BWCA to fish and maybe camp. After all, our moose hunters are still out there ... have been for a week... so why not?

They - and we - woke this morning to about two inches of new snow at their campsite- and it's still snowing! They shared these photos - the first of Rockwood when they arrived back - the second of a portage on the way out this morning. At least the lake was nice and calm! And... they had a great time... lots of good memories to share for years to come!

Incredible Weather

It's been a totally WONDERFUL September. It's so nice... the ducks haven't left yet, they're still lining up every morning at each dock quacking "isn't it breakfast yet?" I fed three when I came down at 7 this morning, and another six at 7:30... good thing there's plenty of leftover "duck bread" that's come in uneaten from canoe trips!

The daytime highs have been in the 70's and the nightime lows - well, it dipped all the way to 47 one night this week. Considering that we occasionally have snow by the 23rd of September... this is awesome! Only fly in my ointment is that my camera died, so I can't share photos of how beautiful it is... the trees around here aren't turning yet, it's so warm!

Still fantastic for canoeing or cabining around here - and the moose are coming out of hiding. There was a big bull wandering along the side of the Gunflint Trail very near us yesterday morning!

Labor Day Weekend

What an incredible morning to start the Labor Day weekend - gorgeous sun, clear skies - and a lake like a mirror! Beautiful! The forecast suggests that this will continue all weekend - that would be fantastic!

We've been very busy, our student helpers, Sean and Brandi, went back to college on Aug. 20, so we've been doing a lot of helping, packing, cleaning, etc. It's been great to have so many wonderful people around - we've had guests recently from Germany, Oregon, New Mexico, Colorado, Ohio, the Virgin Islands... as well as Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin! After a slow start, it's turning out to be a great summer.

Happy Labor Day Weekend!

Beautiful mornings!

August is here... and we're pretty busy! Lots of canoe trips, lots of people having great vacations - it's being a great month! The early mornings have been beautiful - gorgeous mist on the lake. It's wonderful to be here!