So much of our favorite summer fun is just like ... riding a bike.
Which is exactly what Alex did, as he finally rode a bike without training wheels, starting and stopping all on his own!
We were super super proud, and now I owe this kid a dinner at Bridgeman's!
Other milestones were smaller. Here is one that involved "Piper's Big Bone." Piper got this bone for Christmas (Anna's is already chewed and gone), but has never chewed it -- just carried it around whenever she is super happy, particularly when someone has just come home. Anna seemed to understand that no one was allowed to chew "Piper's bone." But somehow, in July, the time had come (how dogs determine things like this is beyond me).
First Piper chewed a little. This seemed to give Anna permission, so she took a turn when Piper left.
And when Piper got up to walk away, Anna decided her permission ended, and everyone abandoned the bone.
And afterwards they were very tired puppies:
Now that Dad has his own house down the block, the pups often go to his house for part of the day so they aren't in kennels all day. It was amazing how quickly this became habit.
Less than 5 days into this routine, I went home at lunch to let them out, and Piper stood by the side door instead of the patio door, and whined and barked at me! LOL -- she wanted to "go for a" (ride/walk/anything) and go to Dad's house!
Watching their behaviors amuses me all the time.
What does NOT amuse me is whiny and tired children who apparently "can NOT" make it to the bus stop after Y camp.
I mean, I love these two, but getting home every day has been an extreme exercise in patience. I have to walk down two flights of stairs at the Y, sign them out, help them get all their stuff, encourage them to get ready, then cheerlead them up the stairs, out into the sun ("I'm so
hoooooooooottttt." "It's too bright! It hurts my eyes!") and to the bus stop.
One day they sat on the sidewalk on a street corner and flat-out refused to walk further.
One day we even had an unexpected adventure when Superior Street was closed for Sidewalk Days, we couldn't figure out how to catch the bus, and we had to wait for Dad to come get us.
Thankfully I do feel their camp days are memorable and that they get lots of sun and fresh air. After they return to the Y from Chester, they have toys and games and fun:
When the Y camp had a field trip downtown, I met them over my lunch break.
And watched them have fun twirling and playing:
They sleep really well at night, even if they sometimes sleep in weird locations (like on Piper's bed, camped out on my floor, or in Victoria's closet).
The summer bounty is in full swing. My garden plants are thriving with fresh compost and straw, and plenty of rain and sun.
And my summer farm shares give me vegetables, fruit, and flowers every other week!
On Friday, Mark and I took off for our Gunflint Trail adventure.
We stopped in Knife River to get his canoe, then headed up to the Canada border:
Also on that cell phone screen shot, you can see "No Service" in the upper left corner. No cell service anywhere!
We stayed at Gunflint Pines. Our camp site was right on Gunflint Lake. It was peaceful and gorgeous and perfect (and we had almost no bugs!)
My sweetie even got me my new favorite drink to enjoy:
On Saturday morning we headed out for a long paddle. It is shocking to see how, 12 years after the fire, you can still see burned-out trees silhouetted along hilltops
In this map from the Ham Lake fire, you can see the extent of those fires and see Gunflint Lake:
I had to google images from the fire, and I found this Pioneer Press image showing the resort we stayed at, with the owners packing up to evacuate:
And this MPR photo of Gunflint Lake during the fire:
The forest's regeneration feels awe-some. Trees have been regrowing, a few white pine giants remain, and the water is crystal clear.
We canoed to the east end of the lake. As we paddled towards the shore where we expected to find a hiking trail to Bridal Falls, we spotted a black bear on shore! We watched for a couple minutes, then decided to leave Mr. Bear for awhile and instead eat our lunch on this island:
After a half hour or so, we knew the bear had moved on, and canoed back across shore to where a creek flows out into the lake.
I'm guessing it was about a 3/4 mile hike to these gorgeous falls.
A perfectly beautiful day on the water!
Back at the campground, we joined other visitors for a community "s'mores-gasboard" and watched the setting sun.
I called the kiddos a couple times, using wi-fi at the lodge, and texted with Victoria a couple times. I laughed over the pictures she sent me of Dad's new couch, Alex watching iPad, the puppies ... and Simba:
In return, I showed them around the lodge and sent pictures of the resort springer spaniel, Shadow:
On Sunday, we felt like being lazier. We drove to the Chikwauk Museum to learn the history of the area.
After seeing the bear, loons, and eagles the day before, we couldn't believe our wildlife luck:
She was soon followed by twin babies!
We tried to calmly drive around them but seemed to spook them instead:
After the museum, we had lunch at Trails End Cafe.
This may be the best camping trip we've had yet, and we've already inquired about booking something next summer!
