Boundary Waters, Days 1 and 2

Jane and I began our annual trip to the cabin near the Boundary Waters Canoe Area on Friday, July 10 at about 10:30. We had lunch at the World’s Largest Culver’s near Madison. We made our usual stop at Carr Valley Cheese in Mauston to get fresh, squeaky curds for our trip.

And on to Chippewa Falls to Olson’s Creamland Dairy for ice cream. Remembering last year, when I learned that you can get a small cone for less money than the “regular” on the menu, I ordered two small mint chip cake cones. Unlike the Circus World Museum, I avoided the reader’s penalty.

We looked around Leinie’s Lodge, but there were no good sales. As prearranged, I called our old camp friend, Julie, to figure out where to meet for supper. She had suggested either Lehman’s in Rice Lake or Birch Point on Marshmiller Lake near Bloomer. Jane and I had not had a very good experience at Lehman’s two years ago, and Birch Point is near and dear to our heart as one of the few surviving Wisconsin supper club/dive bar from our camp days so long ago. We knew that the food would not be good. But it would be nostalgic.

Jane and I got to Birch Point well ahead of our 5:15 rendezvous time. Jane ordered a brandy Manhattan, her favorite Up North cocktail. I had a beer. We sat out on the deck watching the fledgling orioles eat grape jelly from a feeder. Jane reminisced about watching bald eagles fish on the lake. It was a lovely afternoon for sitting outside and remembering the old days.

While we had overestimated the time it would take us to get to Birch Point, Julie and her husband, Pat, had underestimated. They were 10 minutes late, but the dining room had not yet filled up for Friday Night Fish Fry Buffet. We were seated immediately.

The buffet was the only thing they were serving. Lucky for me, it include things other than fish. Not being sure, however, I started by serving myself a bowl of chicken dumpling soup. Hoo-boy, was that salty! There was an excellent salad bar, which included chocolate pudding. I’ve never really understood that.

The buffet itself included (with comments on what I ate): broasted chicken (dry), pork ribs (great!), fried shrimp (small, bready, and greasy), fried fish, baked fish, linguine, spaghetti sauce, meatballs in gravy (good with the pasta), onion rings (also bready and greasy), and French fries. A side table was stocked with Snack-ens, cheese spread, rolls (good), and condiments (ketchup, tartar sauce, and cocktail sauce). I meant to have some cheese spread, but I forgot. I had plenty to eat.

As the waitress cleared our plates, she said, “Save your fork for dessert.”

We exchanged glances. What was for dessert? Was there more than the chocolate pudding on the salad bar?

Julie said to Pat, “Go see if they have cake. I like cake”

Pat returned without finding cake. We asked the waitress what there was for dessert. She replied, “Vanilla pudding, chocolate pudding, cherry fluff, and chocolate mousse. It’s on the end of the salad bar.”

And the fork would be for?

Pat took our picture at a giant chair outside the restaurant. 

Julie, me, and Jane outside Birch Point

We said goodbye and got into our respective cars. Just before we pulled out, Jane said, “Look at the grease dripping down from the exhaust fan.”

Grease trailing from the exhaust fan

Jane and I continued our trip with a stop at the Ice Age Trail Visitor Center. The hummingbirds were not as numerous as last year, maybe because we were there later in the day.

Mr. Hummingbird

We saw a gold finch and rose breasted grosbeak at the feeders.

Goldfinch and rose breasted grosbeak

Our final destination for the day was the Best Western Rice Lake, where we passed an uneventful night.

Day 2: Saturday, July 11

After a doughnut and coffee at the hotel’s breakfast area, we hit the road. Our first stop was at the newly opened Duluth Trading Post store in Duluth. Paradoxically, Duluth Trading Post is based in Mount Horeb, WI. I suppose “Mount Horeb Trading Post” doesn’t have the same ring. We didn’t buy anything, but I was glad we stopped. When I look at things in the catalog, I wonder what the fabric feels like. I took the opportunity to feel a lot of fabrics. If I ever win the lottery, I’ll know what to order.

Geez Louise, it was festival day all up and down the north shore. Heritage Day Parade in Two Harbors. Bay Days in Beaver Bay/Silver Bay. Art Festival in Grand Marais. Traffic, traffic, traffic.

We got to Grand Marais at 3:00, our earliest arrival time ever. Our first stop was, of course, Sydney’s to get frozen custard. In a departure from our usual custom, we ate on the harbor side of the peninsula. Note the haze in the air. We conjectured that it was smoke from the big fire in Canada.

Alternative custard-eating location on Grand Marais

After picking up our WondeRoast chicken and Genes’ [sic] IGA, we headed up the Gunflint Trail. Dave was waiting in the office for us. Nancy was down at the Art Festival and had not been around for the final cabin inspection, but he was pretty sure it was clean.

The white-throated sparrows welcomed us with their songs. We settled in and had a simple dinner of WondeRoast chicken and a salad with lettuce and radishes from the garden.

WondeRoast chicken and salad