North Shore

Three weeks ago or so, we all went up to the north shore for the inline half marathon and the wheels off half marathon.  We were able to get a reservation at Gooseberry Falls State Park for Friday night but not Saturday so we weren't entirely sure how long we'd be there.  We got to the park as soon as we could hoping to snag a non-reservable site for both Friday and Saturday, but they were all gone by 12:15.

After setting up camp, the gals headed back to Duluth to pick up their race packets, leaving the boys at the park.  We filled the time by hiking a trail we had never done (altogether we hiking almost 4 hours, I don't even remember how many miles)...

The amount of time alone in the northwoods gave Luke time to take more pictures...which he's enjoying.

The trail we were on gives you views of the mouth of the Gooseberry River across from Agate Beach and the Picnic Lava Flow.

And gave Luke time to take more pictures...

To get back to camp, we had to hike through the falls area (too bad...I know)...and Luke took some more pictures...

Kieran isn't always excited about Luke taking so many pictures...

Of course, before getting to camp for the night, the boys had to check out the 'tadpole' place...all sorts of nooks and crannies that are filled with water and tadpoles if you're there in late June...

We woke up the next morning not really sure if we'd be leaving that day or not.  The kids and I were going to drop off the racers and hope we'd be able to snag a non-reservable site for that night.

Getting a non-reservable site was entirely new for me.  The park office opens at 9:00, we got in line at 7:15, just a few minutes before the 2nd group of people.  By nine o'clock, there were at least 8 different groups waiting for a site (turns out there were only 8 potential sites available).

We figured that at 9:00 we get a site...doesn't work that way, they make a list at 9:00 of people who want sites - first come, first serve.  They assign sites at 11:00 and you must be there at that time or you miss out.  So we would not see the race, we were back at 11:00 and got a site for that night...now all we had to do was get to Duluth, pick up Sarah and Maddy, and get back to switch sites.

The second site was a better site anyway...just had to tear the camp down and set it back up again...quick...

Sunday morning we spent walking the falls area.  I happened to bend over to pick up a rock (to try to splash the kids) and found a neat little agate.

Kieran was upset that I found one and he did not...he immediately went to work looking for one...he didn't find any as big as mine (not that it was that big)...

Before we left the area for home, we made a quick stop at Split Rock Lighthouse State Park on a scouting mission.  I had never been there and wanted to get some information (and maybe a new perspective on the lighthouse)...

We'll be back at the park...

A quick dinner in Canal Park and a look or two at the ships (both Salties) waiting to enter the harbor and we were heading home...

Maybe you can make out the red water from the St. Louis River entering the lake...much easier to see in person...