Scenic is in the Eye of the Beholder, Day 31, July 21, 2017

We set out this morning to see what the “scenic byway” in upper Minnesota yielded.  Let me tell you, it’s not the Chief Joseph Highway.  Yes, it is pastoral and empty and GREEN but, through no fault of its own, it is hard to see the scenery.  Yes, this place is flat.  Every turn looked the same:  trees, trees and more trees.  Every so often we were treated to a peek at one of the multitude of lakes.  We also saw a couple of deer, which is more luck than we have had for most of the rest of the country (we have seen, elk, moose, mountain lion, buffalo and antelope but now, finally, we have seen deer).

We got a little lost (again due to the flatness of the terrain)  but ended up where we planned, in Ely, MN.  Quaint little town, we had lunch at a place called Boathouse and Brews .  We had a couple of sandwiches, both with Walleye fish – tasty --  and I enjoyed one of their home-brews.  “Yes,” the waiter Matt (the one with one of those circle things in his ear) said, “we are a brewery.  It says so in our name.”  The IPA was very good, not as good a Icky but workmanlike.


After lunch we searched for a hardware store so we could get something to help us survive 2 more days in mosquito and deer fly heaven.  Then onto the grocery store.  We found the local IGA store.  Also found out you do NOT buy beer (except that weenie stuff), wine or liquor in the grocery store in MN. Also, I got to go into the basement of this store because I had to use the facilities and I don’t think I have ever seen a more organized stockroom.  Sorry Mountain Hardware, you got nothing on this place.

Check this out UPA instead of IPA
(Upper Peninsula Ale)


Back on the road, after a liquor stop, and we got home in time to try out our new anti-mosquito fan which seems to work pretty well.  This being the deep woods, if I ever saw one.  Whew.
We did get a great sunset -- picture doesn't do it justice


Speaking of woods, the campground filled up this afternoon – well it is Friday.  Each site was filled and each group of campers started a campfire.  I am surprised that my smoke alarm in the trailer didn’t go off.  I thought there was a forest fire.  Unfortunately, the campfires were not to be.  Around 6 pm, the sky clouded up and I set about storing the chairs and stuff under the trailer.  At about 6:30, the rain came and now all I can smell is sodden and smoked wood.  I feel kind of sorry for the campers who hurried up here from the city to enjoy a weekend at the lake and now they are stuck in their tents (yes most of them are tenters).  Pretty sure they are used to it tho, after all they are Minnesotans. 

Russ cooked an awesome steak and now I am sitting here, listening to the wonderful rain, thunder and lightening while my chicken dog – Ceilidh – cowers in the bedroom.  Lots of rain this trip.  You would think she would be used to it.

Tip to traveling seniors – get to a camp site before 2pm on Thursday.  If you don’t, you will be sorry.  USDA campgrounds must have a certain amount of drive up or non-reservable sites.  There does not seem to be any formula about how many and each campground handles notifying prospective (drive up) campers which sites are non-reservable, but if you are traveling without a reservation – it is a MUST to get there before 2 pm on Thursday if you wish to find a space for the weekend (Thurs-Sat nights).


Tomorrow Duluth.

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