North Shore Camping - Day 1

Kieran, Luke and I left home last Monday (June 25th) for our annual week-long camping trip on the North Shore area.  Our first stop of the trip was just north of Duluth at Kitchi Gammi Park.  Massive rain amounts (over 10 inches) five days before we drove through washed out roads, flooded homes, and killed animals at the zoo.  I wanted to see if you could see the effects of this amount of rain from near Duluth.  As the picture shows, the water was very brown/red in color, the result of large amounts of sand, silt and especially clay being washed into the lake from the St. Louis River and other streams.

After showing and explaining what had happened to the area, the boys preferred to throw rocks into Lake Superior (it won't be the first time).

After an early lunch, we stopped at Agate Bay in Two Harbors.  It's easier see the ore docks from Two Harbors here than it is in Duluth.  You can also see the old tug Edna G. while watching trains from the Iron Range unload almost in front of you.

While looking at the ore docks and Edna G., the boys realized a 'laker' was leaving port (of course the loud horn blasts helped them to this conclusion).  We had to jump in the van to see the ship leaving from a different angle.

After a 1/4 drive we got to the lighthouse and boat access for Two Harbors which gave us the point of view that we wanted.  The comment that the boys kept repeating was 'these ships are big'.  And after being in Canal Park numerous times, this was not their first time seeing these ships.

Had to take this picture, in the foreground should be the first loon that we saw on the trip (you might have to look close and ignore the seagull).  We had a lot of discussions about loons throughout the trip, after seeing them on numerous occassions.

While watching the loon, Kieran and Luke realized that the second ship in the harbor was switching positions with the ship that had just left.  Let's just say that we spent a large amount of time in Two Harbors....

After leaving the harbor area, the boys reminded me that they had never been able to walk around the trains that are permanently parked near there.  We had to fix that of course, so we explored the trains and equipment that helped bring the iron ore to the docks in years prior.

After leaving Two Harbors, we were finally on our way to Gooseberry Falls State Park, where we would spend the first two nights of our trip.  Of course we didn't go straight to the campground, we had to see the falls first, especially since the area had received so much rain five days earlier.  It wasn't flowing like I though it would be, apparently the high flow last approximately 30 hours before decreasing.  The two pictures below were taken in front of the Lower Falls.

Of course, stopping here gave the boys an opportunity to throw more rocks into water....

Finally we were able to set up camp and get settled, but the boys immediately wanted to go on a hike.  They wanted to go to the picnic lava flow area near Lake Superior, which is a basalt flow that formed 1,100 million years ago during the Mid-Continent Rift event that effected areas from Michigan through Minnesota, all the way to Kansas.  Of course, the boys we're looking for areas where water was pooled in depressions in the basalt.

Their target was tadpoles....they know from experience that frogs/toads lay eggs in these pools and they can be easily caught when we camp at Gooseberry (this is the third year in a row that we've camped at the same site, at the same time of year).  They are going to be upset if we ever camp at Gooseberry in September....

I tend to look at the landscape around these particular lava flows while the boys search for tadpoles, especially the areas where the lake is weathering and eroding large blocks of basalt.  The boys do not get to come close to this particular area.....

After spending almost an hour and a half chasing tadpoles, we could hike the 1/2 mile or so back to camp to eat dinner.  Along the way, like most of our hikes, the boys played Transformers.  Kieran was Optimus Prime of course and Luke was Bumblebee, sticks were swung and blasters fired, I'm sure Megatron was defeated....

After dinner, we had to walk to Agate Beach at the confluence of the Gooseberry River and Lake Superior.  The goal was strictly to 'throw rocks' into water, it didn't matter if it was a river or the lake.

After the sun was low enough it was time to leave, but not before the boys got one last look at the lake for the day.  We had to get back to camp to get a fire started and make sure we were settled.

While camping, the boys have a goal of seeing 'the first star' of the night (or planet), they definitely did not this night, they were in bed early.  This worked out well as Day 2 led us to Split Rock Lighthouse, Beaver Bay and several long hikes around Gooseberry State Park.

To Be Continued.....

Fishing

Our goal wasn't to catch large fish.....just to hopefully catch a lot without having to be too patient (not a strength of Kieran's), keep him busy and happy.

We were at a fishing pier on Lake Waconia and did well in about an hour (two perch and probably seven sunfish).  None were very large, but Kieran was happy.

Kieran's 6th Birthday

It didn't go exactly as he had hoped, he woke up in the middle of the night with 'intestinal issues' but really wanted to go to school.  He had been looking forward to hearing his name on the daily announcements and bringing in a birthday snack.  He was home by 9:00 am, but after a three hour nap in the afternoon was much better for presents and dinner at the Pizza Ranch.

Of course he was okay for cake.....

He got the Captain America shield (with shooting pieces)....

And the Captain America helmet.....

Putting the whole ensemble together and we apparently have Captain America running around the house looking to defeat evil....

Fishing Opener

The MN fishing opener was Saturday, May 11.  We didn't spend it on a lake, but spent a little time on Sunday getting ready but doing some practice casts from the deck.

Let's just say we have some work to do before we catch anything but a dandelion.

Buyer Beware....

So Sarah occasionally buys swimsuits for work and leisure through some sort of 'grab bag' system.  As part of the 'grab bags' they are bought sight unseen.  Usually hasn't been an issue....

I'm interested to see how/when this particular swimsuit will be brought out....

Wonder how many more 'grab bags' will be bought....

T-Ball 2012

T-Ball practice doesn't start until the Wednesday after Memorial Day, the first game isn't until June 6th, but someone is a little excited.....

Team pictures are Wednesday, May 16th.....have to convince him that actual practice doesn't start that day....

Kieran's Swimming Lessons

Kieran's been taking swimming lessons for the last four weeks, two nights a week.  The class name was 'Puddle Jumpers 4' whatever that means.  I caught these pictures (with the phone across the pool) of Kieran jumping off the diving board on Thursday, the last night of lessons.
Getting ready....

Splash....

Trying again to get him in the air....

Yeah....missed it again....

Cologne's Easter Egg Hunt

Being 45 degrees and a steady mist to drizzle didn't stop the Easter Egg Hunt at the town's baseball field this morning.....

They have more than just the Easter Egg hunt.  Starting an hour later, they have other events or activities for the kids.  Like holding baby chicks....

And riding in firetrucks....

The 3-4 four year old group is off.....Luke carrying his bright red basket, with his Viking hat pulled down low.

Just like when he plays, he left the main group to be off by himself.....less people to bother him I suppose....

I have no idea how he can see any eggs with his hat that low....Luke was happy at the end....

Kieran's group went next, he's easy to find with his red fireman's hat.....

Kieran was cold and ready to go home when his group was done....

Have a good Easter.

Tenting in March

Can't call it camping, but the boys talked me into setting up the tent and sleeping in the backyard.  Started a fire, then cooked some hot dogs and beans over it.  Even followed our typical camping rules, bedtime when the first star shines (we don't count planets or the moon, we waited for Sirius), though we actually waited for a few more stars.  Of course the boys giggled and had the flashlight working for about thirty minutes before all was quiet.

High temperature for the day was 70, but of course we woke up to the morning low of 38.  Maybe we'll be able to sneak away for a night this week for a real camping experience....

Maple Syrup 2012

March in Minnesota means that it is time to gather enough sap from Sugar Maple trees that can give you enough Maple Syrup to last for the next year.  Conditions were a little different this year compared to last year.  Last year, there was nearly four feet of snow on the ground, this year, almost none.

Kieran being a year older also was helpful as he was able to carry out more tasks that were needed.  He insisted on using his hammer to pound the taps into the maple trees.  About one in every five swings of the hammer made contact with the tap, but the job still got done.  He concentrated most of his work on the first line that was put together, it strings together about seven trees (12 taps) over the course of several hundred feet.  Gravity should bring the sap down to the collection point near the road.

All together, there are currently 34 taps (37 at this point last year) along three strings.  My assumption is that the number of taps will increase within the next week or so.  With forecasts this week of high temperatures in the mid-40s and lows slightly below freezing, the sap should be running.

We are wondering how the January thaw (temperatures were similar, if not higher than this weeks forecast) will affect the syrup season.  I guess we'll see shortly.....