Author Archives: George

We’re up at the crack of dawn and head back east toward the Badlands, stop to have breakfast at Wall Drug.  I order their biscuits and gravy which are really good, so I chat up the cook to find out … Continue reading →

After leaving Pine Island Sunday morning we head west toward our first stop in Fargo, N.D.  We cross the Mississippi one last time, in the countryside outside of Grand Rapids. It’s quite beautiful, although it doesn’t look as “mighty” here … Continue reading →

It’s time to say goodbye to the beautifully refinished little cabin and Pine Island – today is our last day, the end of our longest stay ever on Pine Island, over ten weeks.  Leaving Lake Vermilion is not easy, being … Continue reading →

A boat trip around Pine Island is a requirement for any visitor, providing the weather permits.  It’s about a fifteen-mile ride which would take only half an hour without stops, but the south side of the island faces Big Bay … Continue reading →

Elizabeth and her friend Mac (a.k.a. Macartney Morris) arrived a couple of days ago from New York for a six-day visit, they’ve been enjoying the solitude and wildlife of the island.   We drove to Hibbing on Friday to pick them … Continue reading →

The cabin was built in 1915, it was perched on about fourteen larch posts set on the bare ground.  Larch is pretty rot- and bug-resistant, but after 90 years even larch gives up the ghost, and for a number of … Continue reading →

The two towns close to us are Ely and Tower, they’re roughly equidistant from where Mud Creek Road ends at 169, Ely to the east and Tower to the west.  Ely’s bigger, with over 4,000 inhabitants, and a variety of … Continue reading →

We love listening to the local radio station, WELY. On Saturday mornings there’s the Polka Hour with gems like: “That’s Where My Money Goes” “Tra La Hoy Le LiLi Oh” “When I Saw You Standing There” “Blue Eyes Crying in … Continue reading →

Some highs and lows of life in the wilderness… Saturday’s bass became yesterday’s lunch, sauted in butter to a crispy brown skin.  Newly inspired, I was back out on the dock yesterday evening with my rod and reel and landed … Continue reading →

We’ve got a long and busy day today, we’re planning to join Gloria’s birding walk again at Bearhead State Park, then go on to Cook to check out the Lion’s Club weekend rummage sale, and return home via the Echo … Continue reading →