8/14/08 Off the Gunflint Trail to Grand Maria and then a Quilt Shop

8/14/08 Off the Gunflint Trail to Grand Maria and then a Quilt Shop

Coming out of the wilderness is never as much fun as going into it. We have been in the wilderness in many states and this one is as gorgeous as we have seen. To think it is really so close to Duluth is amazing. Of course, our tow truck driver told us that there wasn’t much up the North Shore (where we have been) between Duluth and God. So Duluth natives consider this wilderness and out in nowhere. When I look at the map and see the amount of wilderness above Duluth and this part of Minnesota, I can understand the immense amount land between here and civilization in Canada. That’s a whole lot of empty land of people. This link will take you to information about this area. Totally cool! http://www.canoecountry.com/gunflint_lodge/index.htm

From wilderness to the lake shore at Grand Marias to walk the breakwater and gaze at the vastness of the lake and the beauty of the harbor. Kites, sailboats, kayaks and lots and lots of empty lake water. With the 40-50 degree water, there aren’t people water skiing and playing in the water. Terry commented that this is pretty, but he likes to be able to play in the water as well as on the water.

The same campground at Eckbeck State Park where we had the electrical trouble was the place that we are camped tonight. A very secluded site gives us a chance to run the generator and run the vacuum cleaner to clean air conditioner vents and do other general cleaning. Yep, housekeeping is important. The air conditioner hasn’t gotten any work in over a week since we have been in the Duluth area. The days have been in the 60s and 70s and the nights in the low 40s. Fall is definitely in the air. Campgrounds are beginning to thin out of people too.

The Behind the Seams Quilt shop was along this road and Terry humored me with my first quilt shop visit since we started the trip. The hand-piecing project that I brought with me is too intricate to do on bumpy roads so I bought another project to work on going down the road. I’m a happy camper now to have something to keep my hands busy along these roads. Terry got to tell our story to the quilt shop ladies as I browsed the shop, which kept him busy. He didn’t complain too bitterly about the stop! Good for him!