Tag: Ely

Hummm… June Wrap Up

The Cedar Journal June 28, 2022

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….

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…?

Balance- Minnesota Canoeing

The Cedar Journal June 26, 2022

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.

We are now home in The Netherlands, new adventures coming soon.

We hope that each of you have found balance in your current lives.🛶

Memorable Monday

The Cedar Journal June 20, 2022

The view from our rental cabin in Ely, MN

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.

A mayfly and the moon from our cabin overlooking the lake.

Cool wild fly catcher plants we found on one of our paddle trips

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.