Adventure 916: A View from the Perch-Little Eden Camp/29

We dilly-dallied in the land of Yep (Is everything OK? "YEP", Yoose ("YOOSE guys have a nice day now."), and Yooper (That's what we call ourselves around here) until about seven this morning. Then we walked to B's Country Cafe for breakfast. Because of the light drizzle we wore our raincoats. Because of the promise of torrential rain, we carried the umbrella. The rain did not disappoint. We walked back nicely soaked, and drove all day through the driving rain. While visibility was poor, the drive itself was uneventful. We arrived safely at Little Eden Camp around 4:45. Most of the crew was already engaged in unpacking the cars. I helped Kel Babe launch his boat, squared things away in our cabin (The Mosey Inn). For dinner, we went into town for Mexican food, and by the time we got back the kettle corn was popping down by the water in the cauldron powered by a roaring wood fire. The well trained campers lined up for a bag of the sweet treat, and everyone reacquainted themselves for another great family week. Fortunately, the rain held off for most of the evening, but the leading edge of the next storm ruffled the lake with white caps. There's promise of rain all night with the weather clearing beginning tomorrow. The spirit here is joyful. Lots of dads, moms, kids, and grandparents. Everyone seems glad to be here, and why not. Life here is surely good, especially today.

B's Country Cafe, a good place as it should be. Veggie omelet with hash browns and raisin toast: $7.50. With two coffees, the total bill came to $10.50.

Couldn't see the water in the driving rain when we crossed the Mackinaw Bridge.

Miss Karen enjoying the sights and sounds.

Papa Kel and Alden.

Papa Kel and Scott.

Micah.

The popcorn crew.

Mimi Karen with Alden and Wes in full motion.

Selfie of the day: Just outside the Mosey Inn.

The Mosey Inn: Our luxury accommodation for the week.

Alden warming up to Aunt Judy. Kate approving.

Wes watching his stick float down the creek.

Nora Jane assessing dinner.

While she's not pictured, Nora conversing with Aunt Judy.

Enter only all who would share peace and joy.

And yes there will be food.

And yes there will be joy.

Adventure 915: A View from the Perch-Little Eden Trip/28

Leaving Fargo this morning, we chased the rain on the wet backroads of Northern Minnesota into upper Michigan. We finally caught the sprinkles in Ironwood and by the time we got to Iron Mountain the damp rain speckled our windshield enough to impede my sight line. We did have enough sun to share our left over pizza with some voracious mosquitoes outside of Ashland, MI. Even cold, the pizza warmed our spirits. Even better, I snatched $.10 cents from the Cager which whittled her lead to $1.07 with nine days to play. Our day's drive filled itself with deep shades of green, gray skies, and images of a thousand lakes on the GPS. The forest, which closes in around both sides of the road, is so thick if a person wandered into the thick of things, turned around three times quickly, he/she might never find his way back out, and if he/she did, he/she would probably have to swim or wade since there are so many bodies of water.  It's quite spectacular and quite rugged. We met our first glimpse of the great lake Superior when we passed through the gritty city of Duluth. It's amazing to think of fresh water lakes so vast. And finally, our yooper treat was devouring three pasties, that's pass tees for the unvarnished  lower livers. We had one pastie flavored with flank steak and rutabagas, one with brats and cabbage, and one sweet treat of mixed berry. Nothing fancy, but well worth the experience. Needless to say, we're grateful for another day of traveling mercies and happy that life is good, especially today.

Left over pizza and apple slices for lunch. Yum!

The Wiley Cager showing how it's done.

I think the cute blond in this Red Bull car was sampling her own wares. She dusted us off as we descended into Duluth.

Jean Kay, a spirited little old lady, filled our pastie vision quite nicely. She had a map of the U.S. filled with push pins that customers from all over, including Mexico and beyond. We added our Spokane pin. 

The remnants. (And of course we ate the crust.)

Adventure 914: A View from the Perch-Little Eden Trip/27

Across the high plains the sky is bigger than your imagination, the grasses grow wild if allowed, the birds press themselves happily against the wind, and the mowers flash lights as they trim the shoulders of the road. Their sign reads: When the lights flash on the shoulder, move the truck over. We moved our silver Japanese almost truck over several times along our 600 mile jaunt across North Dakota. Even the ubiquitous road construction offered little in the way of obstruction, mostly likely because the republican politicians we saw taking credit for the infrastructure improvements. A few of them were standing on their votes, waving gratuitously as we drove by. But none of that compares to our arrival in Fargo. Wow! Once again, our accommodations are pleasant. In fact, the shower was a 12 out of 10 because of the raining head and the high water pressure. As nice as that felt, it was nothing compared to our dinner at the Blackbird Pizza Parlor in downtown Fargo. We've always felt the pizza we made in our backyard oven was pretty good. Just another life lesson that no matter how good we are, we're all just standing in line. Tonight's pizza was the best we have ever eaten, and it was the dough that separated ours from theirs. I'm still in awe of its lightness and crispness.  Not only that, but after dinner we ran across Fargo's Thursday Night Bazaar, a local market filled with roaming Elizabethan characters, aerial acts, food booths, crafts, and artisans of all kinds. Most splendid was the harp quartet playing soothing music in front of an appreciative crowd and some unconcerned children frolicking in front of the stage. One of the most enjoyable things about traveling this great nation is running across surprising joys and everyday miracles. It makes for appreciating that life is good, especially today.

The road goes ever on.

Lunch time with the Cager. I'm down this month by $1.29.

Early summer in the Dakotas may belie the cold winters and hot humid summers, but today was a little bit of perfect.

I'd make another trip to Fargo just to eat here again.

A splash of olive oil, béchamel, granny smith apples, home made sausage topped with fresh sage. Outstanding!!!

Local brew, too.

This oven cooked our pizza in less than seven minutes.

Heaven can wait. Bring on the harps.

It's good be on the road again. Heading the the U.P. tomorrow.

Adventure 913: A View from the Perch-Little Eden Trip/26

The Wiley Cager and I hit the road this morning for the first leg of our trip to Little Eden Camp in Michigan. The nine hour drive gave us time to reflect on the highlights of the past few weeks. In sum, during the last  few weeks we dashed over to Seattle to see Kevin Glover graduate from medical school (Kevin lived with us for four years and has become a close friend). As part of the proud grandparent crew (Rick and Nita, Justin's parents, cheered too.) we cheered Falcon on as he completed his first year of BMX bicycle racing. I got a special treat when Judy was in Kansas on her sisters tour. I got to take Flacon for the day. He helped me take the sailboat out of petticoats, and he got his first lesson as a helmsman. Great fun. Finally, My son, Steve, and I visited grave sights on Memorial Day. Afterwards, we had a nice meal at a place called Hangry's (No irony there). Other than that, life continues apace at the Perch. Safe to say, life is good. As for our first leg to Little Eden, the weather was perfect, the traffic was light, and the generous Montana speed limit sped us along nicely. We're snuggled in now at a cute Air B&B that is a converted back end of a stately Billings, Montana home. Because of the full kitchen capabilities, we enjoyed a fine dinner of steamed King salmon, asparagus, salad, and a pleasant bottle of Oregon Pinot Grigio. We topped it off with a square of chocolate, and an episode of the sickly sweet series, Heartland, which of course we love. I mean who doesn't love a predictable happy ending. If only life....but wait a minute...who am I kidding: Life IS good, especially today.

F

Heartland is a Canadian production, quite dramatic considering there is no violence, no bad words, and no bad endings. It can be found on Netflix.

A quick tour of the  Billings Air B&B.

We'll have enough salmon left over for an omelet in the morning, and dinner was excellent.

Pink roses graced the doorstep.

\

This unassuming backdoor led to a nicely appointed and especially comfortable night's stay.

Falcon rounding the second turn of the BMX course. That's him in the red.

He finished third overall in his division for the season. Here he is acknowledging his fans as he crosses the finish line.

The leader of the BMX program is not only enthusiastic, supportive, organized and dedicated, he is also an accomplished trick rider. The kids were in awe of his parking lot demonstration. We're glad to have a leader like him.

Falcon at the helm. Arrgh, Matey!

Steve and I sending a selfie to Elizabeth from the cemetery.

Our beloved Annie, Steve and Elizabeth's mom; my first true love.

No small feat to graduate from medical school. Way to go, Kevin!

While not summer yet, the unsettled Spokane weather does provide some beauty.

All smiles on the road again. Cheers.
 

Adventure 912: A View from the Perch/25

We've been home a little over a month. I stand by my belief that there's no reason to be in Spokane in April as it proved damp, cold, windy, and gray. But memories are as short as they need to be, so now just two days from my 73rd birthday, Spokane's May flowers and bright skies are warming my spirit. Much news, mostly good. Grandson Falcon has begun his BMX bicycle racing career. He's fearless and eager, and as soon as his skill matches his enthusiasm he'll be a force to recon with. Judy has her fingers in her garden bed, both here at Rockwood and at church so she's shining like new braces on crooked teeth. I've continued my volunteering at Shalom where we feed members of Spokane's homeless community. I stand amazed and thank the Lord with a prayer, "There but for the grace of God go I." I also had hernia surgery, which went well, but requires a bit of restraint until I heal. This past weekend I made a trip to Centralia (My first teaching post) to help celebrate Coach Brown's 90th  birthday. I have great affinity for the coaches and players I worked with during that time. I hold Coach Brown in special esteem. I also visited my brothers and sister. We enjoyed a lunch, some chit-chat, and a bit of celebration for our late mother. Here at the Perch, we've settled back in with our friends, made some newer friends, and thank our lucky stars for our lot in life to which we say, "Life is good, especially today."

That's Falcon in the red. He races with other four year olds.

That's grandpa Rick and Mimi Nita on the fence cheering Falc's on.

Coach Brown and his bride, Janet, enjoying the fanfare of the birthday.

Coach Brown, Coach Gilmore, and Coach Mollerstuen, each man a gift to kids and to me.

I made pasta with garlic shrimp for Mother's Day dinner.

Here's my happy Mother.

My brother, Tom, donated some Rhododendrons to help Judy celebrate.