Marion Patterson

“March 10, 1859:  I perceive the spring in the softened air…Looking through this transparent vapor, all surfaces, not osiers, and open water alone, look more vivid.  the hardness of winter is relaxed.  There is a fine effluence surrounding the wood, as if the sap had begun to stir and you could detect it a mile off.  Such is the difference between an object seen through a warm, moist, and soft air and a cold, dry, hard one.  Such is the genialness of nature that the trees appear to have put out feelers by which the sense apprehend them more tenderly.  I do not know that the woods are ever more beautiful, or affect me more.”  Henry David Thoreau.

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What is the reason to be so off balance the past several days?  Seems to go beyond wearing “The Boot.”

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A Bright Moonlit Night.

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“Regardless of the language, your intent will be manifested through the Word.  What you dream, feel, really are will be manifested through the Word. “

“Whatever life takes from you, let it go.  When you surrender and let go of the past you allow yourself to be fully alive in the moment.  Letting go of the past means you can enjoy the dream that is happening right now.”

Speaking of dreams:  Of late weird. Two men…hair color…TC at church helping me get to a room…missing medications.  All in color and all with motion; some with sound, taste, and touch.  Senses working overtime.  Which author wrote that dreams and those with mental illness are closer to The Thin Veil and to seeing beyond.  The author of the Harry Potter series used the Thin Veil.

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Silver Lake, Worth County IA

The trip seemed serendipitous from the start.  We left early under warm but comfortable skies and pulled into the Worth County park, Silver Lake, recommended by Dean Mueller.  Totally unexpected a sweet little park on a lake next to a private campground.  The lack of water actually made the stay! After looking around for a water source, I walked to the private park and visited with a man and woman who offered their water source and invited us back after dinner.  We took them up on it and ended up having popcorn and a gentle conversation about this and that.  Margaret, Darryl, and Dick are retired, come here for the summer and winter in Arizona.  “Our little slice of heaven,” sighed Margaret a young 75 as she and the men recounted visits with family in the area.  They knew of the ’08 floods, worked in mills in Michigan, and accurately and succinctly gave directions to the Interstate the back way!  It was like visiting with long-time friends.

All night a soft breeze whispered and the stars overhead were beautiful until washed out by the bright moon.  the only downside to the campground is a street light in the middle of a field lighting nothing and compromising the night viewing.  A good source of money savings would be to take it out and also reduce the mowing.  The next morning we headed out and had breakfast at Owatonna Family Restaurant just off the Interstate.  Friendly staff and decent coffee make this a return eatery for us.  Later Caribou Coffee in White Bear Lake proved just right, again off the Interstate which was only lightly traveled.

A new place to lose money

Well, I was impressed with the Grand Casino in the Indian Reservation and won some and promptly lost it.  Ah…at least it took longer than it does in Iowa!

Into mixed pine and birches, scraped land from glaciers and then, we descended into the Duluth basin.  The St. Louis River is large and the city is mix of industry and tourism.  While active, we didn’t think the restored waterfront was particularly crowded.  We took pix of the draw bridge where Nancy, at the OWAA conference there,  accidentally left her newly acquired sweatshirt and then retrieved it successfully because the kindly bridge attendant remembered her and saved it back.

Driving the Lake Shore was really pretty and birches dominated, rivers tumbled into the Lake and rocks jutted out.  An off shore wind kept the waves down, but the air was cool enough to be pleasant.  An eagle dropped down and paralleled us for a ways going about 45 mph.   We poked along and finally got to Lamb’s Resortin Schroeder.  Check in was easy and site 57 was a pleasant 75 foot walk through Salmon Berry with ripe

A River Ran Through the Campsite and tent!

berries peeking out from under the broad maple-type leaves.   Clouds gathered.  We walked the beach and met people who loved to talk about the rocks and water and agates.  Then, as we were preparing supper, the skies opened and a “river ran through” our site.  Fortunately we had our rain gear and the rain was warm.  But, the front turned the winds to on shore and the riffles turned to swells turned to breakers crashing on shore for two days!  And, to think this was a little storm.  The lines of rocks tossed up on the shoreline from previous storms was impressive indeed.  So, the next morning I went out in search of agates even though I know they are found more on the south shore as per information on line and from locals.  But, I uncovered so many wonderful rocks:  Some just right for stone massage so Hands In Harmony folks get dibs on them, others pretty lines and colors.  Some of the basalt that comprises the majority of the rock in the area is heavy, dense and solid.  Other volcanic rock is “incompetent” as geologists are fond of saying – breaks or crumbles easily.

Rich fished his way upstream and later I followed.  Meanwhile, some children and I engaged in conversation that went something like this: As I was digging in the cobbles a girl asked,  “What are you doing?”   “Oh, making popcorn.”  “No you are not.”  “Well, what does it look like I am doing?”  “Digging.”  “Yeah, well, you see the giant baby came by and lost his tooth and now is sad because he cannot put it under his pillow for the giant tooth fairy.”  “Really?”  “Sure. Will you help look for it?”  And, she did and she found a pretty white rock that looked like a tooth.  So, for us, it was!  “Here it is!” “Great!  Now we can get it to the giant baby.”  Along comes brother who quickly joined in and found the giant baby’s “molar.”  The children just simply and readily bought into the fantasy and make believe and shared it with the Dad who was also cool about it.  Most adults are pretty dull (it is part of the word a dul t) and don’t get that we are make believing.  A fun conversation.

Then, I stashed my rocks and wandered upstream taking pictures along the way.   All the streams are low, so the rain of the night before was welcomed and soaked right into the ground.

Low water on Cross River

Fairies live here.

ripening Berries

During lunch we noticed a sailboat coming against the wind into the jetty.  Later it tried to go back across

Double rainbow forming over Lake Superior

the Lake, but turned and came in.  Only the next morning did the sailors take off.  Even then, the waves and swells were pretty big.  In the afternoon we took a short drive and a short hike.  One of those, “You-would-think-we-don’t-know-anything-about-hiking” walks.  Read – I was in sandals and we had no food or water or map or….but, the trail was right there, a group of Americorps students was near by.  So….but, this is getting to be a ritual it seems.  The views from the hillsides or Sawtooth Mountains, as they are called, are wonderful and inspiring.  By summer all is well, but I can imagine winter.  Cold. Dark. Windy. Exhilarating at times.

The evening we walked the beach, had some wine and watched a spectacular set of rainbows start to appear over the Lake.   And, again, the moon over the water and the stars at night.

Toenails on the trail

Sailboat crossing Lake Superior on a strong northerly wind.

 

View of Lake Superior and one of the Sawtooth Mountains.

We put together some breakfast which included the famous rolls at the bakery right next to Lambs.  Certainly, a must adventure for anyone visiting!  Then, we moved camp down to number 51.  Not a great site but will do for the night.  Off to find Shawn Perich in Grand Marais (marsh) and then to get on the Lake.  We mosied along finding falls, flowers, and an extensive ski area – did the chair lift and took the alpine slide back down.  Fun!   Grand Marais was active but by no means over crowded.  Shawn and his business partner, Amber, visited with us about OWAA, the north woods, their writing and publishing and then we drove to Shawn’s home to hook up the boat and go on the Lake.

Shawn Perich with Rich and Lake Trout

Alpine Slide a quick way down.

Kayakers off the point.

Sven and Ole’s Restaurant on the way back was crowded lively and just a hoot!  I guess a wild rice and chicken pizza is worth one try.  Their contest of asking questions of the clients kept up interest and conversation.  To what country do the Canary Islands belong?  (I got it right).  Who was the first president born in the 20th Century?  (I got it right).  Who was the commander in chief of D-Day? (I got it right).  What did I win?  Nothin.   Back after dark.  Stars bright.  Later a storm rolled in to the east and about dawn one descended on us so we scrambled, packed and left before 6 a.m.  Breakfast at Judy’s Cafe in Two Harbors.

On down the road as day dawned.  Past Duluth and out of the birch and maples into the pines and glaciated fields to the Twin Cities.  Stop at Caribou Coffee, gas and on to Harmony, MN, and the Niagara Cave.  What fun!  No pix as my camera’s batteries are “exhausted.” Too bad, so sad.   A nice get away.  Back to Midwest corn and beans via Hwy 52 through the Driftless Area.  All safe and sound at home.

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From lay reader at Church:  “The little space in our heart is as vast as the universe.  What lies within is the here and now.”

Unexamined assumptions…inclusion…science…spirit.  Invite in Doubt. Commit to what I know I can become.

We travel in trust with each other. Take advantage of the power of the flock.

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