Several years ago I volunteered at a HistoriCorps project on Lake Namekagon just East of Cable, Wisconsin. I swam in the lake after the long hours of working and paddled along the forested shores. That would be a good reason for naming our new Kevlar light weight canoe “Namekagon” peaceful memories brings good karma.
Our newly named canoe! Welcome to our family.
But, I like the story of the Native American Chief Namekagon even better. A hermit of sorts he lived out his life in the 1800’s on Lake Namekagon. He was known to travel occasionally to larger towns by foot and trade for goods in raw silver. This was eye raising enough that locals created theories on where he might have access to a hidden mine. He eluded wealth seekers for years and never divulged his silver source.
Our new canoe, sitting in our back garden. Waiting for the next canoe adventure.
Naming our canoe after a historic Native American who would never give up the location or source of his silver, who walked everywhere by foot, and paddled a canoe seems fitting. Invocation of his spirit to protect our canoe and our canoe trips seemed appropriate.
As June is coming to a close it is time to update my Hummm… most of these come from the last part of our Minnesota vacation but we had a couple that snuck into file since our return. We never know when those things that make us go Hummm… will appear! Enjoy!
Hummm…Is that a sleeping bag bottle cozy? Yup! It made me smile at the General Store in Marine on St Croix and then followed us on vacation.The problem with some Hummm… is that once you see one, you see them everywhere, this one multiplied into crazy cute cozy’s everywhere!!! One last chance to purchase? Nope. Resistance to the cute cozy!Hummm… smile face! This greets anyone on Walsh Road, Eagle Nest Lake 3. What a great way to brighten any day.This Hummm…comes from the Front Porch Coffee & Tea Coffee in Ely. I guess the local campaign is going to the dogs also a limited focus group as this was found in the rest room.Hummm… if things in Ely get really bad they still have one of these… a fall out shelter at the Post Office. Take note “B” in IL! 😂Hummm… just in case you needed another life jacket. Cute cozy.This Hummm… was provided as a solution to mosquitoes! No kidding. A dab behind your ear will keep them away. Hummmm… maybe next time….The following are clean Hummm… Hummm… I really didn’t think that the Navy was using clean diplomacy.Hummm… seems like this is either very manly or very old soap.This Hummm… was found while paddling in Aalsmeer. This bus sign is located on an island surrounded by water… not sure how the bus will stop here. Maybe a canoe stop?Hummmm… a canoe? That is a wrap for June!
** What has made you stop in your tracks this month and made you ask Hummm…?
With the Minnesota vacation behind us we are trying to “find” our balance with our jet lagged bodies. After two years of hardly touching the water we now seem to be strengthening our under used paddle muscles.
Morning paddle on Eagles Nest Lake 3 close to Ely, MN
Canoeing is all about balance. Balance in paddle strokes to smoothly get through the water. Balance with your paddle partner (maybe a good dose of communication would help here too) to know when you will suddenly move inside or out of the canoe, failure to do so can cause one or both of you a nice swim in the water.
Balance with nature. While in a canoe or kayak you are the closest you will ever be with undisrupted nature. Suddenly you are part of the story that going on all around you.
A beaver dam at Bear Head Lake State Park. Ely, MN
When things are in balance then wonderful happy things occur. Like running into a free concert at the State Park.
Minnesota Lumberjack songs performance at Bear Head Lake State Park.
Sometimes practice on balance is needed or a reminder that maybe ego can be bumped.
“Cool! I can still portage a canoe…what was that sound? OMG!!! I am so embarrassed.” Balance is needed when looking for the small wonders in nature. Here we are in a search to find wild orchids that grow on these semi submerged logs. Instead of orchids we found wild fly catcher plants.Balance.
We are now home in The Netherlands, new adventures coming soon.
Eagles Nest Lake 3. Ely, MN
We hope that each of you have found balance in your current lives.🛶
Now at the end our vacation and waiting to see what sort of chaos waits us at the airport. I want to share some of the peaceful memories we had from our time in Minnesota.
Sunrise at the cabinA mayfly and the moon from our cabin overlooking the lake.Cool wild fly catcher plants we found on one of our paddle tripsLooking up at the tree I hugged.A family of geese glide across a beaver pond at William OBrien State Park
Deep breath, bags packed, memories documented, blog adventures to write, and an eight hour flight home to the Netherlands. My wild heart and love of the Minnesota wilderness renewed.
This year the excess water in Northern Minnesota has all lead to a record hatch of mosquitoes. Worst in 40 years, according to some locals in the Ely, MN area. Canoeing in the BWCA can be challenging with all the wildlife, but being prepared helps in our over all enjoyment.
Looking to the outside from outside our cabin as the mosquitoes are attacking.
Mosquitoes don’t bug me much but they love the European Hubby.
Out on the trail to check a canoe access point. Only we never made it to the launch, as the swarm about carried the Hubby away.
The one thing that my Hubby has never seen in Minnesota was a black bear and it has been at the top of his “must see list” for years. Each summer, when I still owned a home in Carlton County, I would report seeing black bear. I never would seem to have the phone ready to take a picture. When I was hiking, and would see a black bear, I really would just want to get out of the area as fast as possible. So, the Hubby thought maybe I was telling “Bear stories”. He is a “Must see it for myself” kind of guy. After so many years of doubts we can finally check that experience off the list!
Mama bear with three cubs right outside of Bear Head State Park Ely, MN
The universe finally granted his wish of seeing a black bear with an additional bonus of three very cute cubs. Granted, I had to explain the difference between Yogi Bear and Smokey Bear to the Hubby, but to experience a (at a safe distance) Mama bear and three cubs for a good ten minutes before she finally had enough of roadside entertainment, was priceless. I couldn’t help feeling happy for the Hubby who was excited about the entire encounter.
Bears are a local attraction here in Ely. The North American Bear Center is located just outside town. We had already planned on visiting before we encountered the wild bear. I would highly recommend the center to anyone visiting Ely. The bear center contains a wealth that of information on bears, Northern Minnesota wildlife, and offers behind the scenes tours of the captive black bears housed at the facility.
The Bear Center off Highway 1 on the outskirts of Ely, MNThe “behind the scenes” tour of the bears.
I don’t get very excited to see deer in Minnesota, even the Hubby doesn’t anymore, as they are found everywhere. In fact several have tried to scare the heck out of me on this vacation as I am driving down the road. I can almost hear them conspiring as they see me driving.
“I heard she hasn’t really driven in three years.”
“hahaha, should we see how her reflexes are?”
“Oh, she is driving like an old lady this will be easy!😂🤣🤣”
“NOW!”
“Did you see the look on her face? 😂🤣😳, she even yelled at her Hubby as to why he didn’t let her know we were about to jump in front of her! Soooo….funny!!!”
Yup, I am sure the deer have had tons of fun at my expense on this vacation, but then they gave back to us some special memories.
Right outside the cabin a doe.A pair of fawns just off the dirt road close to our cabin. The Mama deer was just outside the picture watching us from a distance.
These wild experiences are priceless.
With our Northern Minnesota vacation coming to a close soon, it will be hard for me to return to our life in Europe. The peace of the North Country will hopefully follow us through whatever comes next.
The Cedar Journal 