Journeys 3.1

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.

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.)

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.

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.”

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.

Stopped in Duluth for the night before heading up the North Shore. No hiking for me this year: walking is painful, though cycling causes no pain; time, targeted exercises, and PT should sort it out. While Dwight tackles the Superior Hiking Trail, I’ll be cycling the Gitchi-Gami State Trail. Tonight: Tex-Mex at Little Angie’s Cantina. It’s unfussy comfort food, our tradition for decades, followed by malt balls from this old-time candy store.

Tomorrow we’re heading up the North Shore of Lake Superior, so today we’re laying out stuff for packing on the guest bed. No matter how long the trip (one week, four weeks, or indefinite), we’ve settled into a pattern: one set of clothing on, plus four changes. Having access to laundry facilities and modern fabrics make all the difference.