By the time we got back to our trailer and got unpacked, we
(I) decided it was too much work to think of dinner, so we had burgers at the
Grand Portage Lodge. The burgers are huge, hand-packed, and leave you
completely satisfied. If you’re in this neck of the woods you must stop in and
try one. After dinner, and just as we were settling in for the night, our
neighbor Don bought over some freshly caught lake trout fillets that he and
Dick, the Marina and RV Park manager, had just caught. YUMMY! We saved them for
dinner Tuesday night. (I keep them happy with cookies and whatever else I
bake—they keep us happy with fresh fish!)
I wanted to share a few facts about this area that we so
love—the Arrowhead of Minnesota, specifically Cook County. Cook County is
triangle-shaped, 3,339.72 square miles in size, bordered on the south by Lake Superior, the north/northeast by
Ontario, Canada, and the west by Lake County. Grand Marais is the County Seat.
Located on the northeastern part of the state, the year-round population of
this unpopulated county is just a bit over 5,000: 5,168 according to the latest
census. It contains Minnesota’s highest point (Eagle Mountain at 2,301 feet),
and Minnesota’s lowest point (Lake Superior at 602 feet). Cook County also
boasts the largest designated wilderness area east of the Mississippi: The
Boundary Waters Canoe Area. For you fishermen, Cook County also holds the state
record for fish caught:
Fish
|
Weight
|
Location
|
Walleye
|
17 lbs. 8 oz.
|
Seagull River (Gunflint Trail)
|
Lake Trout
|
43 lbs. 8 oz.
|
Lake Superior
|
Rainbow Trout (Steelhead)
|
16 lbs. 6 oz.
|
Devil Track River
|
Brook Trout
|
6 lbs. 5 oz.
|
Pigeon River (borders Canada)
|
Chinook Salmon
|
33 lbs. 4 oz.
|
Poplar River
|
Pink Salmon
|
4 lbs. 8 oz.
|
Cascade River (west of Grand Marais)
|
Menominee (Whitefish)
|
2 lbs. 8 oz.
|
Lake Superior
|
Don't cha' just want to get your
line wet and pull in a big one?
This entire week was sunny (finally!) with just a few short
rain showers thrown in to remind us where we are. The mosquitoes have done their
thing and have disappeared for the most part. Most days the temperatures
reached the mid-70s with just a slight breeze.
Wednesday Dick took a motorcycle ride into Southern Ontario,
taking a left off Highway 61 onto Highway 593—just a mere 90 mile round-trip
ride. He came upon the Arrow River, capturing these photos of the river rapids
and falls. He did encounter a few rain showers along the way.
Welcome to August…here’s hoping the warm, sunny weather
continues. Today, Thursday, is the start of the annual Fisherman’s Picnic in
Grand Marais. This 4-day celebration honors the traditions of the local
fisherman, who fished all year—even during the rough weather of the fall and
spring months—but took time off during the mid-winter and late summer to mend
nets, work on their boats, etc. Grand Marais was one of the major commercial
fishing endeavors on the north shore of Lake Superior (and it provided most of
the pulpwood from the area.) The Lake has claimed many fishermen over the
years, but it doesn't diminish the need to get out on the water to snag a big
one! We didn't take advantage of the first day’s festivities—Crazy Days
shopping—but did go in late in the afternoon to catch up on emails at the library,
catch a quick dinner, and head to Calvary Community Church to rehearse for
Sunday’s “Church in the Park” (where I played piano for the service again this
year).
While I baked and chopped, Dick took a really long 100-mile
motorcycle ride into Canada once again, this time to Mt. McKay Scenic Overlook.
This park is a sacred Indian site, where they hold Powwows, and other sacred ceremonies.
Surrounding a large fire pit are large signs stating their creeds of courage,
humility, love, respect and truth.
At the overlook you can see all of Thunder Bay,
Sleeping Giant Provincial Park, as well as just plain beautiful vistas.
 |
| View of Thunder Bay |
 |
| Sleeping Giant Provincial Park in the distance |
Saturday’s weather didn't disappoint. SUNSHINE! Already at 7:30 a.m. the
thermometer read 65 degrees. We lazed around for most of the day, at least
until we headed into Grand Marais for my class’s 45th reunion (to
which I was invited even though I didn't graduate with these guys), and my
family’s get-together on the beach.
Such fun to see the “kids” from my class, most of whom I
had'’t seen in 48 years! Most were easy to recognize, from their smiles. Such
fun! The class size was about 60—much smaller than my Cloquet graduating class
of about 360.
After spending about an hour and a half with former
classmates, we headed to the beach at my aunts' Fer'’s and Bernic'’s. This has
become an almost annual event during the Fisherman’s Picnic. A big fire is lit
on the rocky beach, and to the sounds of water lapping at the shore, hotdogs
and brauts are cooked over the open fire, supplemented with salads, chips, watermelon,
brownies, and whatever else is brought. The end of the picnic is celebrated
with s'mores: marshmallows browned to perfection, and chocolate bars softly
melting between layers of graham crackers and marshmallows. YUM! There were 30 to
35 people there, on a beach that has been narrowed due to recent storms.
Usually the beach is at least twice as wide. Sadly, many of the family members
weren’t able to be there but we still had a great time visiting—of course
there’s always a lot of laughing and
joking around, too.
 |
| My Uncle Erland, whose fame is noted by his making almost 2,000 loaves of bread with his 3rd bread-maker, which he's had for about 5 years. |
 |
| Left to right: Aunt Bernice, cousin Karyn, Aunt Fern |
 |
| Uncle Wally with grandson |
Sunday dawned really early. We needed to leave Grand Portage
by 7:15 a.m. to drive the 34 miles back to Grand Marais to set up at 8 a.m. and
prepare for the “Church on the Beach” service. The sun was shining with a very
slight breeze (rather than the 40 mph gusts we had last year!). What a pleasure
to play in the outdoors, with a backdrop of sailboats moored in the Grand
Marais Harbor, gulls squawking in the distance, and water lapping on the rocky
shore. Perfect.
Pastor Dale McIntyre delivered the message to about 150-200
people gathered there on the beach. I played, and the worship team sang. I'm
sure the entire downtown area was filled with music!
The following photos are random shots taken in downtown Grand Marais:
Afterwards Dick and I joined my brother Ron and his wife
Debby (from Roseau, MN) for breakfast across the street at the Blue Water
Café—the meeting spot in Grand Marais. We had about an hour and a half to kill
before the start of the annual Fisherman’s Picnic Parade, so we walked around
town, meeting and chatting with folks we knew. We spent most of the chatting
time with long-time friends and brothers Jim and Glen Larsen from Grand Marais.
Located in downtown Grand Marais, Jim and his wife Jackie own “White Pine
North,” a small boutique that offers distinctive northwoods gifts, specialty
coffees and teas, gourmet foods and chocolates, as well as selective clothing.
Glen and his wife Renee have recently retired to Grand Marais after spending
many years away. (There’s something
about this place that draws you back…)
Then, there was the parade…these are just a few choice photos...
 |
| My class's float |
 |
| The Shriners always entertain. |
Ron and Debby drove up to Grand Portage after the parade, to
see our site and trailer, now that we've been living in it for over a year. He
plans to retire from “doctoring” in about six years, so they’re exploring
options. He’d really like to purchase property in the Grand Marais area and
retire here. (There’s something about this place that draws you back…) We spent
just short of an hour at the Grand Portage Heritage Center, too, which they’d
never seen. You really need more time to go through it, but we took what we
could get before they closed at 5 p.m.
The sun was still shining and the temperatures were in the low
70s—lovely…
We returned to the trailer about 5:15, after which Ron and
Debby left to drive back to the Cascade Lodge, located west of Grand Marais,
where they were staying. Just before they left, our neighbors Todd and Candy
from Silver Bay, MN came over with fresh lake trout fillets. They told us that
if we kept them in cookies they’d keep us in fresh fish! What a deal!
That’s it for this week. We’re hoping the summer weather
sticks around for a while—at least until we leave at the end of the month.Oh, and next week is the annual Powwow and Rendezvous weekend here in Grand Portage. Stay tuned! We leave you with a sunset photo taken from our beach picnic.
Love and hugs to you all.
Dick and Gail
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