Arrowhead RV Resort, Ely, Minnesota
I don’t have a whole lot to say about today. We chose today to go canoeing. Blaine checked the weather and found that it would be a little breezy, but sunny. In our inflatable kayak, that would be a big fat, “No!”. But in a canoe, you can withstand a little breeze without adverse effects.
So we returned to the canoe rental place we visited the other day and talked with Ryan who fixed us up with not only the Kevlar (because it’s a lot lighter at 44#) canoe, but the paddles, three straps and these foam cushion things to keep the boat off the top of the Jeep.
And we’re off!
About a mile or two later, we were off the road tightening the straps because we almost lost the canoe.
One thing we weren’t anticipating was the noise, Noise, NOISE, NOISE! Oh. My. Goodness! Surely people who carry canoes on their roofs don’t have to deal with this every time? It was awful! And it didn’t matter what speed we went.
And so we endured for about 30 minutes. Until we reached the Hegman Lake parking lot. Now, consider that I can just barely reach the thing to help Blaine take it off, so he has to do most of the work. Then, consider that he has to carry it by himself. On his shoulders.
And also consider that he has to portage it a quarter mile to get to the water.
On this trail.
Down these steps.
As you can imagine, he was struggling a bit. Well, a bit more than a bit. But we made it!
I carried all this stuff, but it’s nothing compared to what Blaine had to carry!
What a gorgeous ride!
This Loon allowed us to get really close!
We wondered if maybe it was injured?
It was gone when we came back though.
We pulled up alongside this rock to get a look at the pictographs/petroglyphs that are here, and of course Blaine had to get out. : )
They call these Pictographs.
Drawn by indigenous people back in about 1100-1200AD.
So what did they use that this is still here and in such excellent condition??
This is the picture Blaine took when he got out.
And there I am, trying to get the drifting boat back so he could get back in!
It’s a good thing I managed, or I’da had to leave him stranded!
Stunning!
Break time . . .
but not lunch yet.
These were the strangest flowers!
I asked Blaine to pull in close so I could look and try to take a picture. They hang upside down, so it was kinda difficult.
Now it’s lunchtime!
We always carry a plastic tablecloth piece – just in case.
Today, we needed it.
The ground was really spongy and wet.
But a beautiful spot!
Part of our trip today included portaging the canoe about 30 feet over these rocks.
We just left everything in it and I helped carry.
Piece of cake!
Isn’t this portage area pretty?
Off to the side we could hear a small waterfall running into the lake.
Too much green to take a picture though. : (
But canoeing today wasn’t without it’s issues. At times the wind was blowing so hard, we could barely get through it! The canoe acted like a sail and we’d just take off. Never mind it wasn’t where we needed to be!
But we had a wonderful time! Good enough we decided to try Fenske Lake!
When we started, there was no wind. Once we got around that dock? The wind kicked up and we were struggling again.
Oh! More spectacular!
You can tell in this picture that the water’s a little more choppy.
It wasn’t fun anymore. We packed up and went home.
Terrific day, but there’s no way we’d trade our inflatable for a canoe!