Day 2: Greenwood Lake Tour

Monday, August 9

We began our day with leftover pancakes, or “handcakes.” as Jane calls them because that’s how we eat them, straight from the refrigerator without plates, forks, or syrup. The blueberries give a pleasing burst of cold juice in your mouth. Don’t knock it until you’ve tried it.

Our plan for the day was to look for charismatic megafauna along the Greenwood Lake loop. Our tour definitely peaked too soon. Shortly after we turned on the Gunflint Trail from the road the cabin is on, a deer ran across the road in front of us to join another deer already in the trees. Almost immediately, Jane said, “A bear cub!”

I looked just in time to see its behind disappear into the brush. We slowed way down in case Mama Bear was following. Seeing nothing, we figured she must have been in the lead.

We drove down Greenwood Lake Rd. to Shoe Lake Rd. No wildlife. Not even small birds. The leaves on small poplars, dogbane, and bracken were already starting to turn. So dry. Eventually, we saw a crow take off from the shoulder and land in a tree. Our only photo opportunity was this grouse sauntering across the road.

Ruffed grouse sauntering across the road

It was a beautiful day. I took this picture of one of the lakes we passed with the trees reflected in the calm water.

Lovely lake scene

In spite of the drought, there were many late season flowers in bloom, goldenrod, evening primrose, fireweed, asters, pearly everlasting, and Joe Pye-weed. I recently learned that Joe Pye was a real person, a Native American well known for his knowledge of herbal medicines.

Goldenrod and Joe Pye-weed

I doubted if there would be any blueberries at Otter Lake with the drought. Indeed, the vegetation looked very dry.

Drought-stricken poplar

But behold! A blueberry. They were widely scattered, and I only bothered to pick two.

One of a few blueberries

The distance between the head of the portage trail to Otter Lake and the actual lake was longer than it used to be, but not at all dry. Someone had put branches down to keep canoers from sinking in the muck.

Branches extend the portage trail to Otter Lake

Our day turned out to have more excitement than we expected when we got back to Esther Lake. A woman camping alone with her little long-haired dachshund had a dead battery. She had cables, however, which was good because Jane didn’t. We learned many things about Jane’s car before we got the other car started. For example, the battery is in the back. Quite an adventure.

We stopped in town to get tortilla chips and black beans at the grocery, followed by ice cream at the DQ.

I made black bean salsa by adding half the can of black beans to the leftover salsa from the day before. This we ate with chips on the deck while we finished the bottle of margaritas.

Supper

We went down to see the sunset from the dock. The picture never quite captures the true colors. Trust me, this looked better in person.

Imagine this with more vivid pink

I’d been wondering if frogs existed this far north. I couldn’t remember ever seeing any. As Jane walked off the dock, however, one hopped right in front of her. It was a leopard frog. Question answered.

Leopard frog