Cliff Jumping

Big no no in the BWCA, if you get hurt nowhere to

get help. We scouted out area below with scuba masks before we jumped.

Plus we don't always do as we are told.

Swim Sticking

Not sure Adam came up with this but he sure does enjoy it.

I guess you snorkel around until you see a typical fish hiding area then you lower your Jig and lure the fish. I can't knock it Adam caught and cooked me a good bass dinner off Swim Sticking. I did use the mask to look around under water and its so clear you can see everything.

Ham Lake fire

Rebirth

Cigar on Sheridan

I get the feeling Ely is a town for cool misfits. I mean that in a good way. Everyone here is so nice. Take Rose the owner/manager of the Paddle Inn Motel. I was sitting out front having a cigar the other night watching the people go up and down the main strip in town. All kinds of people but I did notice a large number of Illinois plates. Anyway, I got to talking to Rose and told her I was going to walk down to visit a few bars and she asked me if I wanted her to let Boomer out in the morning? I guess she saw the puzzled look on my face and went on to say she has a Lab she will be walking anyway and as long as I don't mind my door opening in the morning she would love to walk Boomer. Well at 0800 my door opened and Boomer was taken on a 20 minute walk. I rolled over and enjoyed another hour sleep. People can be so nice, its trips like this the help me get through all the stupid people. *** Next will be the Trail Center restaurant, just not sure when I can post next *** Remind me to post about MN girls. ***

AT and T

Lost my new AT and T air card.
It was not working well anyway but i'm sure its not free to replace it.

I'm heading up to see Adam this afternoon, so its back to the Subway napkin.
I will stop at the Java Moose on my way home for one more update.

Becca the Ranger

I stopped in the Kawishiwi Ranger Station to see if I could get a suggestion on a good 6 to 10 mile hike. Becca, the Ranger pointed me to the Bass lake loop. Bass lake is about 6 miles north of Ely and from what Becca said " is just what I'm looking for" This hike gave Boomer a few chances to go swimming and there were a few times I'm sure he needed it. The hike was a good workout with parts getting very rugged and steep. Running 10 miles does not test your VO2 max like a hike. I could tell Boomer was having a hard time breathing and on a run he does not have a problem. This lake is Historically and ecologically unique, back in the 20's lumber Jacks built a dam between the two lakes to help float logs down lake. Then in the 40's when they moved out the man made dam gave way and one of the lakes drained. Its a cool story and I'm sure I don't have it right so I will try and post a link to the story. Anyway, after my hike I went to a bar I have passed for years and never stopped at. Talk about history, this place has it. Knotty pine on US 1. I had two to cool off now its back to Grand Marais.

Lodges and Bars

From Grand Marais to Voyager there are Lodges and Bars that I'm sure 90% of the people that come to the Gun Flint Trail never get a chance to see. I took the time the other day to Stop at as many as i could find and have a beer. Bearskin, Heston's, Trail Center, Loon, Outtertrack are just a few of the ones I remember off the top of my head but there are some awesome places if you take the time to stop in. I tried beers from the area at most of them and even a bottle of Dorthy's root beer at one. ( to be continued )

Boomer and the Bear

For years I have been wanting to hike in the Boundary Waters. This year I have my chance. I got to the Base of the Gun flint Trail on Saturday afternoon. Stayed my first night in Grand Maris and checked into the Alpine Inn for a shower and good night sleep. There were no more dog friendly rooms available so I had to sneak Boomer in. For those of you that hear me talk about Boomer all the time, know how I did it. Anyway, I woke up early Sunday and drove up to Voyager were my Nephew Adam works but he was out hired as a guide with a group of canoeist. I'm sure, doing a good job showing people the Boundary Waters. Can't help but make me feel proud, I'm the one who showed him the Boundary Waters. ah its good to be an Uncle! Well, I found out Adam will not be back from the outing until Wednesday so I have time to check out the trail I normally drive past on my way to and from the outfitter. I found a USFS Campground and set up camp. Then headed out to hike for the day. I headed to Magnetic Rock trail and off we went! Its an awesome day and the hike is going well. I past people about every hour or so, its not crowded at all. I know your not supposed to but I let Boom off leash and he looks back at me, like, really? and I say go! He runs ahead for a while but then settles back at my side and we go on our way. All of a sudden he darts from my side and off into the woods. I call him back to me but it does not work. I look up and see him chasing a Black Freaking Bear! (no joke)I'm in shock and this time yell with everything I have. "Boomer Front!" He turns and comes back to me where I snap on his leash. This is the first time out of all the years I have been up here that I have seen a Bear. I'm going to guess Boomer came within 10 yards of the Bear. The Bear was running but Boomer seemed to be making ground on him. I'm so glad I sent him to school for recall, I know at some point the Bear would have turned around and Boomer would have tried to make friends but I'm not sure the Bear would have been willing. It sure does get your blood going just to see a Bear in the wild, its not like seeing one in the Zoo. **next, GFT Lodges**

Back up and running

Laptop fixed, thanks to Wolfland computers.


I have been keeping track of what happened on a Subway Napkin.


First Story to be posted: Boomer and the Bear.

computer crash

Laptop is down

Air Card

Got my new ATT and T Aircard. Total access from the road, lets see how it works.