Camping up the Gunflint Part 2

A trip to the beach.  Sam perfected his stone skipping.  He reminded me so much of my dad because he would get dozens of skips by the time his arm wore out, just like dad.  

Camping up the Gunflint Trail

After 2 nights at a neighboring campsite, we got to move into our favorite one.  Small world that it is, the neighbor on one side of us had just delivered dirt so the loggers could get into the family hunting land.  Mom and Dad's favorite site was empty more than it was open. 

This was a great week for me.  I was pain free and felt as close to normal as I had in a very long time.  Thank God!  This campground is a place of rest for us and we thoroughly enjoyed this week.  Fishing, reading, napping, and enjoying the area around it. 

This was the inaugural trip of our new collapseable boat, which rides on top of the camper.   

 No Sam did not carve this, but thought it was funny that it was a new addition to our favorite site. 

Home Improvement Part 1, 346, 344

Darren did a beautiful job with the new stair railing.  We really love it.  

Happy Fourth of July!

Day 8--Corn Corn Corn

And now for the roadside attraction that we promised Sam would be unbelievable.  He still can't believe it.  Let the corn jokes begin!

     The last time I was in Mitchell it looked like this.  I did not remember it at all.

The corncob dude was not very perky. Must not have been pollinated yet. Yes, probably the worst mascot job in the United States.

 

Of course we had to do this!  The little NIBLET (sorry Sam) wouldn't, of course.  We appreciate the humiliation he suffered to take this picture. 

Darren and I both remembered that the murals went all the way around.  Not so, since the City Hall looked pretty old.   We couldn't convince Sam to stick around for the Corn Movie, even though you could have popcorn or other assorted corn or corn syrup snacks while watching it.  We wandered the largest corn themed gift shop anywhere.  Who knew you could get that many different kinds of corn cob salt and pepper shakers and don't get me started on the collectable thimbles. 

At this point Sam was shaking from friend and video game withdrawal, so we grabbed a terrible latte at a coffee house about a block from the palace and headed for home.  Mission accomplished.  Sam's first long road trip.  Good times. 

Day 7--Goodbye Custer, Hello Fireworks

We felt like we had run out of things to do and I was really ready to get home, so we packed up.  Here are a few pictures of our campsite.  It was really nice.  Huge and private.  We sat a lot at the top of the hill on the tent pad and watched for critters.  The view from up there was great.     

This was the loud neighbor.  There always is one in a campground, isn't there?  When people on other sites would sneeze, she would holler, "God bless you."  When they weren't at their site being loud, they left their loud dog locked in the camper to stand in for them.  We especially enjoyed their 11 pm wood unloading from the back of their truck.  Joy. 

This site belonged to the park volunteer that checked us in.  She sure was a character.  I would imagine she was about 80, wore great big sunglasses with rhinestones, and had three dogs who traveled with her.  I wish this picture did her lawn ornaments justice.  What a hoot! 

The Goodbye Buffalo.  We think he's remote controlled and starts walking the road right after you check out.   

I loved the little cabins in the park.  Right on French Creek.  Really cute. 

And so we left the park and the quest for fireworks began.  Old Glory was pretty run down.  Not how I remembered it.  And it smelled in there. 

And then another stop at Wall Drug for a pair of Skull Candy headphones that Sam had spotted.  Used to be rubber tomahawks, now he's on to bigger and better souvenirs!

We liked the little Wall library. 

And finally....FIREWORKS!

And back to civilization.  We decided to check in the Holiday Inn Express for real beds, Chinese food, and a trip to the Corniest Palace around.  Sam could hardly contain his excitement (insert sarcasm here). 

The bike enjoyed the accommodations as well.