North Shore

We made a trip up to Beaver Bay, MN (population 175) over the long weekend. For such a sparsely populated area, we actually stayed in a rather luxurious cottage right on Lake Superior. It's a nice little place called Cove Point Lodge, and we've been going there since I ran Grandma's Marathon back in 2008. The week before was pretty stressful, and when Friday came around, we almost decided to hold off the 3.5 hour drive until Saturday morning. But we rallied, and Colette seemed like she would sleep most of the way up. So around 8pm, we headed north. Our Subaru looked like the total cliche....roof rack with two bicycles and a Burley wedged in the back.

We hit massive storms for the first part of the trip, and then sailed through Duluth with none of the traffic we expected of a holiday weekend (thank you state government shutdown?). Unloading the car was quick, and Colette seemed like she would settle back to sleep (she did, after an hour and a half). Completely spent, Nate and I sunk into a very plush bed and went comatose. Of course, way north...the sun rises veeeery early. So we were awoken by one word being shouted over and over, "duck!". We arose to a spectacular view of the lake...one that takes my breath away each and every morning I see it. Colette shouted "duck!" over and over until breakfast (apparently anything and everything that floats in the water is a duck. Monty Python logic).

The weekend was spent alternating between complete laziness eating heavy meals and bursts of activity. A nice bike ride on the trails, a quick run while swatting away biting flies, hikes along the rocky shoreline. We also got some bad news. Those storms we passed through on the ride up had spawned a tornado that hit near our cabin in Wisconsin. Nate's parents were spending the week there and called to report massive amounts of trees down, no power (which means no power to operate the pump in the well) and several trees on our cabin, their cabin and several neighboring cabins. The roads were impassable in areas. But everyone was okay. Just stinks that their relaxing week at the cabin was now going to be spent cutting and hauling wood.

It wasn't until after the weekend was over and we were back home, did I realize how much relaxing I actually got in. Being home, we are once again bombarded with the airplanes flying overhead, and are faced with many many house projects. And work.

So as much as I grumble about disliking the cold and missing New Orleans, I have to say...Lake Superior in the summer is one of those magnificent sights and experiences that is not to be missed. The sheer size of it confuses the mind. You look at it and think "ocean? sea? what the hell is it?" because "lake" doesn't even enter the mind. I spent many hours sitting on the deck staring at the water, expecting to see a whale breach the surface or dolphins frolicking near the shore. If you have the chance in your lifetime....get thee to the North Shore of Lake Superior. I promise you will not be disappointed.