Weekend Run Away

David and I were able to take some time and escape up to our favorite treks on the North Shore. We took off on friday morning and wasted no time winding our way up Hwy 61 towards Grand Marais. We, first, made s stop at Tettegouche State Park's rock beach to give me some cairn building time. It's a favorite pastime while up north:) The beach is sheltered from wind and, usually, secluded. Once in Grand Marais we had an early dinner at the Blue Water Cafe and a stroll through the Ben Franklin and the Trading Post, then we were off to check in at the Outpost Motel. Rufus and Sunny were whining to get out and run trails before we even got settled. Saturday the winds were up and a few flurries made it pretty cold hiking but some trails through sheltering woods made it feel much better. With deer hunters around, David and I had to choose hikes where they weren't. We started up Eagle Mountain, but descended when the hike got boggy and headed further north to the Canadian border to check out Pidgeon Falls. The spray made it feel more like Niagara! Beautiful though! Late afternoon moose hunting on the Gunflint trail yielded NO moose but we did come across a beautiful wolf checking us out as we checked him out (from our car). He disappeared before we could get a good photo :(.

Today, we packed up and stopped at Cascade Falls, a regular and favorite hike of ours. The falls were running fast and ice has begun to form on the trees and pathways. We, also, hiked a short path through Gooseberry Falls State Park. The lake side paths were open but the inland paths were closed to hikers but open to hunters. We walked down to the Superior shoreline and checked out the "agate beach". Since neither one of us knew what an agate looked like we didn't find any. A nice hike though and another chance for the dogs to stretch their legs off leash before putting them back into the car for the ride home.

Kids at home jockeyed between Brad's house, my house, and church. Bayley went to see the Rockettes in Minneapolis with her GS troop. She loved the show! Who wouldn't love the Zeigfield- like toe kicking Rockettes?! Brad took the 3 kids to see "Madagascar 2", also. Emma spent the weekend with Barb and Rich. They went to see Madagascar 2, as well, and Emma attended a b-day party for an old pre-school friend on sunday. A busy weekend for all!!

a P.S. update on Braxton...we saw the ortho doc, last week, and Braxton has finally gotten the all clear to lift weights and start conditioning for spring sports. YEAH!!!

-posted by Beth