The Apostle Islands, An Hour and Fifty Minutes Away... Not Twenty Like I Thought!..

Never looked at a map when I made the RSVP's for a boat trip to the Apostle Islands, in Wisconsin!  Tell you what... it was a shock when I realized just how far away it was for our 10:00 AM Grand Tour.  Meant we had to get up at 6am... No fun to be off and running so early.  And, then, there was road construction... but we made it by the correct time... so all was good in the end.  The weather was a bit chilly topside... where I sat so I could take pics.  Andy and Jerry came up a couple times... but both got too cold and went back down below.  Halley stayed below cuz getting upstairs was a bit more difficult for her, besides,  it was warmer and had plenty of windows... Note the picture of her waiting to get on the boat...Yup, she still brings EVERYTHING but the kitchen sink with her when she travels... Don't think we will ever get her to reduce that ... even when we explain that all of us end up carrying her stuff... And of course... She ALWAYS has to hit the gift shop and purchase a few trinkets... about $30 worth.   

The Islands and the rock formations on Devils Island were beautiful.  I must say, though, living in the Pacific Northwest, I'm spoiled and find we have so many of the same beautiful works of nature in our own backyard.

Ended the day celebrating Halley's Birthday... she's 37 years old now!!! She got a new IPAD... which we heard Andy say "That's what you said you thought you were getting"... She tried to poohpooh that comment   but too late... it was out... Usually I can surprise her, but this one, not so much... darn!

My Diva's, ask me about the rest of the story!!!!!

She bought the huge camera bag cuz she didn't want to keep the camera in her purse (????).   

Jerry and I love the marina's... Bayfield's was not exception!

 Just a bit breezy...

 An old fishing shack with accompanying buildings... Most islands have few inhabitants since the National Parks took them over... A few folks who owned places before the park system took it over, have lifetime leases on their little piece of the land. 

 All the lighthouses are no longer staffed... Our captain said that they use GPS now for everything...

 The lady to the left of Halley... she was topside with me ... her hair never blew in all that wind...

 And... HERE SHE IS!!! Coming our of the gift shop... Andy holding her goodies!

 Happy Birthday!

Duluth, Minnesota and Lake Superior.... Gorgeous!

We left Minneapolis with Halley and a friend (yes, a friend.... nothing else) Andy.  We decided to take a bit more scenic route than the straight freeway shot... Course, then I found out Jerry wanted to go by a bio- diesel plant... aha... he had his own reasons for that route.  So, we went by Ever-Cat, the plant ... didn't spend alot of time there, but had a nice little meal in Isanti... After we ate... we were on the road again... and note what happens in the back seat... Jerry and I just sang our Frank, Dino and Sammy songs on the ipod while they had there heads in the phone games!

Once in Duluth, we checked in our hotel... we face the Lake and enjoy watching the huge ore/pulp/etc ships coming in and out of the port.  Took a walk in the afternoon and ended up right at the lift bridge and the waterway; we watched one up close and personal. Got back to our room and Jerry got down to business, meaning work.  Emails and one was an offer... yahoo... love it when he can help his clients no matter where we are!
 Duluth... a great town... teeming with tourists right now, but still fun.  Tomorrow we go to the Apostle Islands on a 3 hour boat tour... hmmmmm.. hope it doesn't turn into a Gilligan's Island adventure!!!

Just cracks me up when I see people taking pictures with IPADS...

Chef Marshall Shows Us How Easy It Is To Cook Great Healthy Food!

At the Gala Auction in March, we bought a meal to be prepared by Chef Marshall O'Brien hosted by Amy Gudmestad, the ED of Minnesota Life College.  And, wow, what a fun, educational and yummy evening!  Chef Marshall got us all involved in the prep of the food. Mother Nature provided a huge THUNDERSTORM and downpour rain.  Some of Halley's fellow CLP Members attended as did Amy and Kai's kids.  Funny, when taking pictures, it become evident that fresh food is so colorful!  And better yet, so good! 

 Rain, Rain, Rain... Boom Boom Boom

 Amy and Jean were busy doing the prep dishes!

 Thank you Chef Marshall O'Brien for a great meal and teaching us some of those little tricks!

Falling over Minnehaha Falls!

So much rain in Minneapolis this season... as we landed... we could see from above that some areas are fine... others, not so... One Golf Course was covered with water... Ponds were lakes... you get the drift.  We had heard Minnehaha Falls were crazy... so we went and checked it out.  And they were... So much mist as we walk near them, like a soft rain.  This trip, we rented a wheelchair for Halley... It was a so nice to have her out there seeing them with us... First pic, the water is right up to the statue...

 High Water....

Father's Day on a Steam Train

We surprised Jerry with a Steam Train ride for this special day.  Darren came along... he was even our chauffeur!  The day was threatening rain... but, thank heaven, it never showed it's face...

We had a fun little journey, listening to the Click Clack of the tracks, the choo choo choo of the steam making the wheels go round and the great whistle the as we passed intersections!  Add to that, our friend Craig is a volunteer with the Steam Train (ALL the folks there were volunteers) and he was working at the last minute that day.  We left from Elbe and arrived at Mineral about 30 minutes later... 

A BBQ and Beer was waiting for us (and a the rest of the folks on the train).  They had a museum there and Craig joined us for some education on the trains.  A fun time!

A funny thing happened on the way to Mineral... A kid dropped his folks cell phone out the side of the train... Oh well... we thought.  Well, on the way back... the train started slowing down... seemed weird... then it stopped... in the middle of nowhere... and, yes, you guessed it, they located the phone, stopped and someone got off and picked up the phone... That kid was lucky!!!!

Topped our evening off with a visit to Top of Tacoma... a funky, cool bar up in the McKinley area.  Had Nachos and more Beer... and decided... the place deserves more visits!!!!

Happy Father's Day Jerry... We Love You!