From June 29 to July 15 we spent our vacation over the Fourth of July holiday at the lake.The vacation started off with a geocaching trip to the Bemidji area on July 1st. We concentrated on the area north of Bemidji. Check out my piece of art from one of Kelly Arts caches. It's now hanging in my kitchen.
On one of our stops I asked Jo to wait by the side of the road so that I could run into the woods and find a quick geocache. As Jo was patiently waiting on the side of the road in the pickup she watched as some sheriff and State Trooper cars wiz down the highway. One soon turned around and drove over to pay Jo a visit. The Trooper was wondering if she was ok. She said that she was just waiting for someone. He told her that there had been a trouble call in the area and was wondering if she was the one in trouble.
July 3rd we made a trip to Detroit Lakes and found a couple of geocaches.
Visit from the boys (Ed and Jayna Too)!
Ed, Jayna, Hayden and Reese visited from July 3 to 8 with us.
We checked out the fireworks on the fourth at the Shooting Star. Later on in the week we took a boat trip out at night to check out the Roy Lake Association fireworks. Jo stayed in the cabin with Reese and watched from the front window.
On July 5 we headed to Walker and had pizza at Benson’s. Ed and I biked the Heartland Trail from Walker to Nevis, which is about 16 miles. Hayden joined us for about 10 miles of the trip and then Jo and Ed biked the 5 miles from Nevis to Dorset. As you can see Reese had fun at the parks along the route.
On the way home we stopped at the Rapid River Logging Camp for supper. It includes a museum of logging history of the area. It is a great dining spot with meals served family style in the logging camp mess hall and best of all it’s all you can eat.
Heartland Trail info: http://www.dnr.state.mn.us/state_trails/heartland/index.html
Hayden, Reese and Jayna with Paul at Akley.
We made the mandatory trip to Itasca State park. The boys enjoyed the headwaters and the 
ice cream at the Mary Gibbs Visitor Center afterwards. Ed, Hayden and I then made the bike trip from the Headwaters to Douglas Lodge. Hayden pumped the pedals hard and made it up the hills. After visiting Douglas Lodge, Ed and I made the trip back to the swimming beach and met up with the rest.
ice cream at the Mary Gibbs Visitor Center afterwards. Ed, Hayden and I then made the bike trip from the Headwaters to Douglas Lodge. Hayden pumped the pedals hard and made it up the hills. After visiting Douglas Lodge, Ed and I made the trip back to the swimming beach and met up with the rest. We then headed back to the cabin for supper.
Good ice cream!
Hayden and Reese relaxing at the cabin.
Just Jo and Me.
On July 10 Jo and I headed into Park Rapids for a little shopping. Had lunch at Companeros and checked our email at Sister Wolf Books using there free WIFI: http://www.sisterwolfbooks.com/
Jo went back to Grand Forks for a meeting on Wednesday, July 11, and then headed up to Langdon to help Jayna with a Rummage Sale for a couple of days before coming back to the lake on Friday night. My mom came out on Friday and spent the weekend with us.
Visit with the Horn's
From July 19 to the 23 we were at the lake with friends from Bismarck.
We arrived at the lake on Thursday night about 30 minutes before our guests from Bismarck Rick, Lynnette and their kids Ashton, Alexis and Austin (aka Oscar) spent 4 days visiting. On Friday we went to Itasca State Park and went to all the sites. We started at the headwaters and made our way around the loop. We made the mandatory stop at the fire tower before heading home.
On Saturday we headed out to Park Rapids and spent a couple of hours at the World of Christmas. The kids had a great time on the bumper boats and go carts. We then headed to Dorset to have supper at Companeros http://www.companerosofdorset.com/
After a great Mexican meal we headed back to the lake for a campfire and smores.
On Sunday we hung around the cabin. Rick went over to Elk Horn Resort to visit his Aunt and Uncle.
If you look you can see Austin from the top of the fire tower.
The Girls at the top.
Self Portrait at the top!
A view from the top.
On the 23rd the company went back to Bismarck and Jo and I headed towards Bemidji to do some geocaching and eating. We stopped by Alida and Moose Lake on the way to Bemidji and found some caches. We found lots of caches in Bemidji.
We stopped by Dave’s Pizza in Bemidji to eat supper. Dave’s has awesome pizza!! http://www.davespizza.biz/
It was hotter than heck out. When we got back to the lake it was 88 degrees in the cabin. We worked up a sweat packing up and headed back to Grand Forks.
It was hotter than heck out. When we got back to the lake it was 88 degrees in the cabin. We worked up a sweat packing up and headed back to Grand Forks.
Blueberry Bummer
From July 27 evening to the 29th we were at the lake. We hung around the cabin and contemplated going to the Blueberry festival in Lake George. Ended up just loafing around the cabin. The neighbors went and were disappointed. They didn’t have any blueberry brats! Good thing we decided to just hang around the cabin.
From July 27 evening to the 29th we were at the lake. We hung around the cabin and contemplated going to the Blueberry festival in Lake George. Ended up just loafing around the cabin. The neighbors went and were disappointed. They didn’t have any blueberry brats! Good thing we decided to just hang around the cabin.
Choke Cherry Drive
Aug 3rd evening to the 5th we were at the lake.
We did some geocaching north of Fosston on the way to the cabin. On Saturday we hung around the cabin and relaxed. We caught a few fish off the dock. Caught one keeper bass and lost a small Johnson’s Silver Minnow to a mystery lunker. We ate supper at Pinehurst. The Saturday night special is prime rib and boy was it tasty. http://www.pinehurstlodge.net/
On Sunday we spent 6 hours driving and never got more than 10 miles from the cabin. We picked about 2 gallons of choke cherries and placed a geocache. Stopped by the Shooting Star on the way home and made a donation.
