[2013-western-us]

Day 48: August 3rd, 2013: Black Hills, SD to Mill Bluffs, WI

A river run-eth through it!  There was quite a storm last night from 2 to about 4.  When we put up the tent it was quite windy, so the fly and the tarp under the tent weren’t quite where they needed to be when the deluge began.  Brooke woke up with quite a puddle under her.  The thunder jolted me awake and then I enjoyed the show.  I drifted back to sleep sometime close to 4, but rain was sneaking in through the side of the tent where our heads were.  Consequently I enjoyed a fresh drip – drip – dripping on my head for awhile.  Apparently I was too tired to think of putting my feet in place of my head.  The kids didn’t show any signs of losing sleep over the storm and were running through the puddles as soon as they confirmed we would let them.  Scott did not get a good night’s sleep and he really needed one since he does most of the driving.  Thankfully Scott suggested we bring our pack towls (yes it is supposed to be spelled without the e).  I wasn’t able to dry the entire tent, but it helped soak up some of the mess.  Thankfully this is the first time we have taken on a lot of water.  In Alaska and Canada three years ago this was a regular occurrence without many sunny days to help dry things out.

[2011 Boundary Waters]

Boundary Waters 2011

Pre-trip

For years I’ve been saying that I want to take a trip up to the Boundary Waters.  I was fortunate enough to attend a presentation by the Friends of the Boundary Waters Executive Director, Paul Danicic, last night.  If you get a chance, check out this video Precious Waters, which speaks volumes to the threats to the wilderness from mining.

[2010 Alaska]

Day 77: Wednesday, August 18th – Jamestown, North Dakota to Home

I woke up shortly before seven Central time to what I thought were a lot of planes flying over.  After I thought about the multitude of planes in my semi-conscious state I realized that there must  be something else making noise since towns in the middle of nowhere don’t usually have a plane rumbling through every minute or so.

[2010 Alaska]

Day 9 – June 11th – Mississippi Headwaters – Itasca

We made it!  We traveled for eight days following the Mississippi River.  We started at 117,892 and we hit the headwaters at 119,000.  It has been a beautiful (slightly rainy) trip.

[2010 Alaska]

Day 9: June 11th: Guess what the weather is….

I have finally figured out Minnesota’s secret to having 10,000 lakes.  You guessed it, it never stops raining.

[2010 Alaska]

Day 9: Shelvin, Minnesota

Okay, so the town is really Shevlin, not Shelvin, but we got a good chuckle out of this.  Scott thought it said Shelvin and said his dad should move there.  Don is a super duper shelver.  He is so much of a shelf maker that the new owner of his old home, which happens to be in our neighborhood, asked Scott what was with all of the shelves.  Every nook and crany is filled with them.  He is very organized and everything has a place.  Well, sometimes a few of them.  Wendy, Scott’s mom, teases that some days he puts her under W for Wendy, M for Meme, or  W for wife.

[2010 Alaska]

Day 8: Thursday, June 10th: “Here Comes the Sun…” (Not really, I’m just trying to think positively…)

Brooke’s first fishing attempt on the spillway below the dam of Lake Winnibigoshish.  Try saying that three times fast!

[2010 Alaska]

Day 8: Thursday, June 10th: The Shower

Ahhhh……Can you hear me back in Illinois?  My shower was that good.  I haven’t had a shower since Day 3.  Brooke fell asleep on a scenic driving tour of the Mississippi headwaters or Itasca Park.  That was at about 5 pm.  She slept until 8 pm.  I only know this because Scott told me so.  I wasn’t there because he said the most beautiful words during dinner, “you can take a shower all by yourself if you want to.”

[2010 Alaska]

Mama, bear and Cody

We made it to the Mississippi headwaters (or at least the visitors center).

[2010 Alaska]

Day 7: Wednesday, June 9th - Continued

We tag teamed again today.  Scott stayed with sleeping Cody and I took Brooke on a several hour tour of a Forest History Center in Grand Rapids, MN.  Cody was not in same shape I left him when I returned, but we’ll get to that later…