Vermilion Falls in Cook, Minnesota

There were a group of people picking blueberries near the falls.

We arrived at 4:30pm at Voyageurs National Park, the second time, in a different location.  The first visitor’s center at Ash River was closed on Tuesday and Wednesdays.  We had almost given up on trying to get to the Voyageurs National Park Junior Ranger badge.  Scott was searching for a place to cook up lunch when we ran into a National Park employee mowing the lawn. He assured us that the other visitor’s center at Kabetogama Lake wasn’t far.  So after already traveling an hour and a half we hopped back on the road in search of the open visitor’s center. We watched two videos, explored the exhibits, and completed the necessary pages for the badge all by 4:55.  The older ranger encouraged us to spend more time on the booklets and mail them in on our own time.  The younger ranger was willing to spend the extra time with us and have an in depth conversation about the material and answer the questions we had.  The younger ranger when we arrived was also the one trying to answer the phones, turn on the movies, help multiple couples with questions, and get us our junior ranger books. He went above and beyond. He made our three hour venture to meet Brooke’s desire for another National Park more than worth it.

Cody took his first nap of the trip on the way back home. We went through the town of Buyck (pronounced bike) there and back. One side of town has a pink bike on the town sign and the other side of town has a blue bike on the town sign.

While eating dinner we discovered a letter and notepad from our camp hostess, Nancy and Zumi.  We had left her a note on our campsite post and hoped to hear from her again.  The kids want to keep in touch with her and Zumi.  The letter left a huge smile on the kids’ face.  She left it in a Frisbee being used as a plate to hold a very scented plant that Nancy told us about and Brooke dried and crushed as an air freshener for our Nemo Bug Out.

6pm - We finally arrived back at the campground and had lunch/dinner.  Our fun camp neighbors came over and we jumped in the lake for a bit while the sun put on an incredible show behind us.  As the darkness wrapped around us we quickly threw on some clothes, climbed the large rock to soak in the last of the sun, and the kids commenced fire play.  I am happy to report no forests were burnt down in the process.  We were only an hour off in bed time.  The goal was 9, we were all in the tent shortly after 10.  Our camp neighbor asked if we were leaving early.  We both laughed.  She asked, “Ten?”  In fact, we rolled out exactly at 10 on Wednesday morning.

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