2 Forests, a continent apart. Day 30, July 20, 2017

What a difference a continent makes.  For those of you who travel on the west coast, you have not seen this sort of forest. Very few evergreens.  All deciduous trees and most of them are second growth (having been logged out).  What a beautiful place this is.  As Russ would say: “ I can’t imagine walking through this forest – the brush is too dense.” Maybe that is why hunters in the Midwest use tree stands.  In any event, this place would be paradise if it wasn’t for the BUGS!   Yowzer. There are so many and they are all so hungry.  I put spray on myself but I bet I will wake up tomorrow, covered with welts nevertheless. 

The forest is so QUIET.  I don’t want to turn the music on, I just want to enjoy the QUIET!

We left our A/C life at the county park in Minneapolis on the hope and trust that we would find a camping spot in the National Forest with no electricity but cool enough to exist.  Headed forever north to the lakes section of Minnesota – real close to Canada.  Sure enough, we found a campsite for $9.50 a night (senior pass, don’t forget) at a campground at Cadotte Lake. 

Not too many people here.  Did I mention, the BUGS are voracious?  We met a couple who were from Duluth and were on their first night of “full time camping.”  They had just sold their home to their kids and left in their 24’ travel trailer for the rest of their lives.  Can you imagine??  Wow.  I can’t remember their names but I think tonight will be amazing, one way or another, for them.


Here are some photos of where we are:

The obligatory rules and regulations 


Cadotte Lake

Groundcover in the Forest

The path to the lake

Tomorrow we will take a drive along the scenic byway beginning at Ely, MN and ending in Duluth. 

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