A large part of our summer was spent refining our hand-eye coordination in northern Minnesota. The mosquito crop around Ely, MN was a record breaker. Even the old timers can't remember when they have ever been so fierce. It is said that the mosquito eggs can survive for up to seven years, and we think the moisture this year activated about seven years worth! No body parts were spared, and the aerobic workout from slappin' and itching' was considerable.
Part of our summer was spent putting in two RV 30-amp electric outlets plus a new well at our cabin on Shagawa Lake near Ely, MN (our "official residence"). We're now set up to accommodate the APPLE plus another rig with a lakeshore view and all the amenities. Tom did a lot of digging, hauling and boulder moving. Thanks to his talented and helpful brother, Ernie, we have all the electrical outlets we need.
We enjoyed playing campground host at the lake for two sets of RVing friends this summer. We were delighted that Bob, Kay, Nick & Ryan Kniefel were able to come and spend a few days fishing and enjoying campfires with us. We have used their front yard as a campground in Lakeville, MN on several occasions, so it was nice to reciprocate. The fish were biting, the loons were calling and the stars sparkled like diamonds. In spite of the friendly bugs, we had a wonderful time.
At the end of June Ron & Sandy Hunter joined us at the lake. They are our wonderful Escapee friends that we met in Texas in February. Ron & Sandy also have a New Horizons rig, and while we were together, they finalized plans for their next, larger New Horizons 5er. We'll be anxious to see their new home later this year. While Ron & Sandy were with us, we headed for the north shore of Lake Superior for a fun-filled day of sightseeing.
We also enjoyed the International Wolf Center in Ely where we watched the feeding of the three resident wolves, Makenzie, Lucas and Lakota. It was fascinating to see the wolves up close.
While Ron & Sandy were with us, we travelled up the Fernberg Trail past many beautiful lakes, some of which are in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area. On July 4, a terrible storm came through the area and level about 1/2 million acres of the wilderness area. Our cabin was spared, but it will be decades before areas of the BWCA will ever look the same.
In July we traveled east with the Hunters to attend the Escapees Fun Days Rally in Escanaba, MI. It was our first Escapees gathering filled with lots of hugs and laughter. We were able to see several of our RVing friends that we have met along the way, and we made many new friends, too. We held an unofficial gathering of New Horizons owners and enjoyed touring about eight rigs. It's always fun to see other people's designs and get some good ideas.
On the way back to Minneapolis after Fun Days we spent a night at Copper Falls State Park. It is a beautiful park in the rolling, forested hills of northern Wisconsin. The water coming over the falls looked like root beer, but I suppose the person who named it thought it looked copper colored. We may go back there someday when we can spend more time.
In August we had a delightful visit with my friend, Jeanine Vincent, when she came to our cabin in Ely for a few days. While she was there we headed to the Vince Shute Wildlife Sanctuary near Orr, MN. About 80 wild bears visit this 360-acre refuge each year. It is a place where man and the black bear have declared a truce for over 50 years. The bears are free to come and go--no fences keep them here. Supplemental food is made available for the bears, and an elevated viewing platform has been constructed for visitors to easily and safely watch the bears in their natural habitat. This sanctuary which is now maintained by the American Bear Association has been described by bear experts as "the best place in North America to view black bears and their behavior." There were about 36 bears playing, eating and wandering around the evening we went to the sanctuary. Four bear cubs were resting in the forks of trees nearby. Some of the bears were playing "king of the hill" on top of a mound in the clearing. However, when 500 lb. Oscar headed for the mound, all the other bears split. He definitely was the boss bear. The volunteers answered many questions, and we enjoyed learning a lot about the black bear.
During the summer we also attended a family wedding, a class reunion and a family funeral. We had a wonderful chance to visit with family and friends and got to finish up a lot of "projects." We saw moose, wolves, deer, bears, loons, ducks, ospreys, eagles and lots of varieties of biting insects! Our friends, Barry, Nancy, Zack & Alex Przybylski spoiled us, when we parked in their yard in Lino Lakes, MN. We enjoyed our friendly campsite at Bob & Kay Kniefel's home in Lakeville, MN. And of course we were pampered a lot when we parked at my parents, Ken & Lu Stenulson's, home in Black River Falls, WI. Thanks to all of you for your hospitality!
As the summer came to a close, our wheels were itching pretty badly. The call to get back on the road became irresistable, so we hitched up and headed out. We had originally planned to head for the Adirondack Mountains of upstate NY for fall colors. However, the drought changed our minds. So, instead of heading east, we've headed west. That's one of the really nice things about this lifestyle--its flexibility! We're spending Labor Day Weekend in Park City, UT. Then we'll head for Lake Tahoe and Yosemite next week. It's time to get back to some exploring and serious photography. It's great to be back on the road again.
