I slept in the hammock last night, the first time since Minnesota, shaded from the wind and with no mosquitoes. It was cold overnight, but putting my mattress under me kept me warm from the cold.
It is just about time for the sun to peek through the trees. I am enjoying the silent morning. Just birds and waves are all I hear. Most people are tent camping. There are a few small campers, and this place does not allow generators. Soon I will hear the kids in the loop up and playing. For the moment, I am alone in nature.
Nancy is picking blueberries for pancakes. This is a treat.
We are fed, and dishes are cleaned. We plan to hike to the shore. The trail today, Mosquito Falls, is a forty-mile drive. The road in is packed with cars parked on both sides, leaving barely room to drive between them. We park and begin the half-mile walk to the trailhead. A car that is going out stops to let us know that a few spots are now open, so Nancy goes back to drive the car to the parking lot. We start the hike on the overcrowded trail. With two options to get to the beach, I choose to hike out on the longer, four-mile, to the Falls.
We go by the group campground for hikers before reaching the beach. We climb down to the water and sit on rocks watching the wave rush up the sand and slip back to the lake.
We now have two return options without retracing the trail. One is a two-mile trail through the woods. The other is a six-mile trail. We choose the shorter option. Leaving the beach, we stop to help a woman find her way back to the trailhead. Her husband went to the beach; she chose to wait for his return. He soon comes back, and the four of us begin a lengthy conversation after discovering that Debbie and Nancy both went to Mount Holyoke College. Ted and I talk about touring, cycling, and woodworking. The four of us hike together back to our cars. This is when we find both our vehicles side by side. We exchange contact info. Hopefully, we will meet again on some other tour.
It is now late, 7 p.m. We drove past the campground and are now in Grand Marais. Dinner is at the brewery. They have a dog-friendly patio. Moe is joining us for dinner. Nancy chooses the ribs. I order the pork. This is the best pork I have eaten, tender and juicy, with wonderful flavors in every bite.
The moon is up, and Nancy stops the car so I can get a photo.
It is now time to sleep.
