Gold Medal Park’s origins
Gold Medal Park was looking very fine today from our home, though it’s a reminder of excessive healthcare profits. It was funded by a former CEO of UnitedHealth, the world’s largest healthcare company, headquartered here in the Twin Cities. When he retired, he walked away with an enormous haul, fueled in part by backdated stock options. Even after repaying roughly $600 million, he had plenty left for local philanthropy. Tomorrow, we sign up for our 2027 health plan through a Minnesota nonprofit, definitely not UnitedHealth.
A primary-color pit stop south of Duluth
On our way home, we stopped south of Duluth at the Purple Car Cafe, which had a fun grade-school vibe with bold colors and handwritten chalkboard signs.
A different way up Moose Mountain
Dwight and my brother-in-law went off for a hike, while I contented myself with gentler horizons. We’re in a ski area, so I took a gondola to the top of Moose Mountain. I’ve hiked up this mountain and to points beyond many times, but today I satisfied myself with a seat in the cafe at the top, admiring the view.
Lake Superior sunrise
Sunrise over Lake Superior this morning from our unit as we prepared to check out, meet up with our brother-in-law, and head to Lutsen for a change of scenery for a couple of nights. (Photo by Dwight.)
A beautiful fall ride on the Gitchi-Gami
I felt my age until I got on my bicycle on this beautiful fall day. While Dwight hiked the hills, I explored a short section of the Gitchi-Gami in the opposite direction from yesterday, staying a little closer to Lake Superior this time.
Deep hollow river
Dropped Dwight off at the Sawbill Trail trailhead for the Superior Hiking Trail. Went for a short ride on the Gitchi-Gami Trail, which goes right past where we’re staying. Here, I’m looking down at the Temperance River, so named because there is no sandbar (“no bar”) where it flows into Lake Superior. I’ll go with the Ojibwe name: Kawimbash, meaning “deep hollow river.”
Back at Bluefin Bay
We’re back at Bluefin Bay on Lake Superior’s North Shore for maybe the twentieth time. The unit has a kitchen, but we usually eat breakfast and dinner at the resort’s restaurants. Tomorrow, I’ll go for a bike ride on the Gitchi-Gami State Trail while Dwight hikes the Superior Hiking Trail.
