I'M BACK! 
WARNING 
this is going to be a loooooonnnnnnggggg post
- I have a lot to catch up on
We ended up leaving on Sunday night - I was so excited to go that when everything was packed I told Em "let's leave" and we did
. I'm glad, too because Monday morning we got about 2 1/2 inches of rain. It rain down into our egress window and all over the basement. My poor daughter was home alone with Isaac - she was beside herself. Anyway, she got ahold of my dh and he came home right away. What a mess!!! He's now dug out or egress window to redo it and hopefully that won't happen again! I know that if we'd have been home we surely wouldn't have been camping - I'd have been cleaning up water mess!
So, we left Sunday late and made it about 1 hour north of Duluth and found a small campground to camp at for the night. Was nothing special - just a place to sleep. We did set up the solar shower so we could shower before bed. Boy that was something! Showering under the pine tree - BUTT naked outside - what an experience
. Sunday night was pretty uneventful. We had supper on the go (Burger King
), set up camp and went right to bed.
Monday morning woke up, packed up and hit the road. Stopped for Breakfast near Lutsen - eggs, hashbrowns, toast and sausage
was pretty good! Then hit the road - once again. We didn't really have any particular plan of where we were going to stay. We were just going to drive, explore the campsites and stay at the one that we liked the best. So . . .we ended up about 40 miles NW of Grand Marais - interpretation = out in the middle of freakin' nowhere! We decided not to go into the BWCA because I didn't want to do the whole canoe/portage thing - and didn't want to spend the $$ to rent the gear. Anyway, the first campground we found was supposed to be really private, but it was full - and on a lake that had some houses (about 5). So - not what we wanted.
We went back and turned down another road and found heaven
. There were a few campgrounds (if you can call them that) with in a few miles of each other. All of them were on lakes. The one had only one campsite on it - right on the water - was beautiful. Only problem was there weren't any tree's to provide shade. The area up there was affected by the Blowdown 7/4/99. So we moved on. We found our campsite and set up. Man it was so beautiful. And we were soooooooo alone! There were only two campsites at the campground we chose. Later in the evening a couple of guys came in an RV w/ their boat. They stayed that night and I'm kinda glad they did. It was pretty freaky being two girls out there all alone knowing that there isn't another person near by for miles and miles and miles. Anyway, that first night was uneventful. We were so tired that we had salad for supper, and went to bed before it was even dark out. Of course we had to take our wilderness shower first. Under the pine tree! What an experience! AND peeing in the woods - you haven't lived 'til you've peed in the trees
Tuesday we went back into town to shop the little shops. Nothing but a bunch of toursist trap crap. Didn't by anything
- well, 'cept some FUDGE
. On the way back we stopped at a beach along Lake Superior so that Em could swim. I know the water is BUTT cold, but she had fun. We picked up a bunch of rocks for her to do a craft project. She's going to glue them on a picture frame and then we'll put a pix of her collecting rocks in it. Should be cute.
After leaving the lake we headed back to camp. We decided to explore the side roads (if you can call them that) a little more. We headed up one for about 10 miles. Then came to a look out point. Boy was that worth it. It was at the top of the mountain and overlooked the Pigeon River. That is the river that borders Minnesota and Canada - it was absolutely gorgeous. You could see for miles and miles and it was NOTHING but trees and river. No roads, telephone poles, houses/buildings - NOTHING but wilderness. Was really awesome!
When we got back to camp our neighbors had moved on so we were on our own for the night!
Made supper (hamburgers over the fire and our camping potatoes -
), cleaned up camp, showered - once again under the pine tree, and sat around the fire. It was so relaxing and peaceful.
Now comes the fun part of my "camping story" - and there's always a story when you go camping! Anyway, yesterday we got up and decided to go hiking. Figured we'd hike along the Superior Hiking Trail. Got all ready, found the parking etc. Got down into the woods and Yah, Right -
there was no way I was hiking on that trail - was more like mountain climbing! I told Em that there'd be no way I could hike for a while and then climb that mountain back up to the parking area! She was a little bummed, but got over it. So we headed back to camp (once again) and on the way we saw a WOLF! THAT was cool. It just sat there, easy as you please and watched us. I was able to get some good close up pictures of it. Can't wait to do my scrap book pages for that one!!!!!
After that excitement, got back to camp and went berry picking. The blueberries were all ready. That was fun for Em. She got enough to make a small blueberry pie, so we're going to do that today. When we got back from berry picking I HAD A FLAT TIRE! Uff da! I have a built in air compressor in my van, so I thought, no problem, I'll fill it up and we'll be fine. No deal. Turned off the air compressor and you could hear the ssssshhhhhh of the air running out. Crap. Now I have to change a tire - but I am woman hear me roar! I can do this!!! So I did it. After getting that stupid doughnut tire on the van I decided that it was time to head out. I wasn't going to drive 40 miles to get the tire fixed, 40 miles back - only to head back the same direction the next morning. So . . . we packed up and headed out. Got the tire fixed and were home by 8:15. Quite the adventure.
Lucky - yup we had BEAUTIFUL weather the entire time. Last night was supposed to be in the 30's. We had warm enough stuff with, but I'm still glad I was home to sleep in my warm bed.
Way to go on the exercise - I still want to see someone work one of those big a$$ balls! Did you have a funeral for your other one
Thin - I'm soooooo glad that your mom is doing better
. Let us all know how you like that machine!
2Cute - We miss you!!!
Skittles - WELCOME to our group! Everyone here is so awesome! My new motivator/Get up and go is that I want to be able to backpack camp and hike with my kids. But, first I need to lose this extra person that I'm carrying around
!!
Kit - Glad you're back - I was wondering about you when I was catching up on posts this morning! My hubby won't allow wallpaper in our house! He's so funny. Being the artist that he is, everything has to be done by hand - a story for another time!
Scooter - where are you????
Kat - Welcome back! Don't I know it about your own bed and showers! AND - walking around in swimsuit - no words are needed there! We ALL know what that is like
Terri - my tomatoes are just turning orange - and our sweet corn should be ready any day! YUMMY!!!!!!
BarbPA -
Woo hoo on the Doc's appt. Glad that you went for that 2nd opnion. Have a blast in Atlantic City!
Andria - "Slug wannabe's" that's hilarious! I'm assuming you have teenage daughters? Don't I know how that is!!
To anyone I've missed I'm ever so sorry - most definately not intentional! And I'm not proof reading so if there's typo's
oh well.Hope you all have a great day and SORRY about the long post.
Love to all!
300+ And Ready To Try Again...#553
It is cooler today. The past couple have been 87 degrees with humidity to die in. Have I mentioned what a B1^@H I am when it's hot??? Well, I am and most people know to avoid me like the plague when it's hot outside.
I guess I'll have to break down and take something for it. It's one of those "I can function" headaches because my neck is so tight. Can you say STRESS???
Well, not really. I have a lunch job and one more little one to do today. 
ya bunches.
Sorry that I have been absent this week, but it's just been crazeee I tell ya *L* My son started skateboard camp on Monday for the week and the park is over half an hour one way, so I have spent at least 2 hours a day on the road, plus my running errands and such...need gas in the truck already and it's only Wednesday *LOL* I have also been making phone calls for my mom trying to get everything around for her move later this month or early next month. Then there has been the painting of the bathroom which we finished *YAY!*, and all of the baseboards and doors downstairs here, which I am still working on *BOO!* I sure have missed you gals though and trying to catch up on all that's going on in your lives...you all have been so busy! 
What a great motivator for you to keep on your working out and losing weight track too 
It would be much worse if she were lying around feeling sorry for herself and getting depressed, so kudos to your mom and your support for her in that! 
