Sisters (and a couple kids) Up North

Russ got up around 5:30 a.m. and started getting ready for work. I stayed in bed. Colette got up plenty early. I heard her chatting with Russ. She's used to getting up early from her regular schedule. So, she was up much earlier than needed.

Even so, I stayed in bed for awhile longer. I think Colette watched some t.v. while waiting for the rest of us to stir. After Alex and I got up, we got ready to go for our trip along the north shore with Verna and Mya.

Verna arrived about mid-morning. After a breif stop at the gas station, we stopped at Walmart in Cloquet. Colette and Alex got chilled while sleeping in the tent over-night. So she wanted to get them another sleeping bag. This gave Alex and Mya a chance to get sunglasses for the bright, sunshiny day.

Our first "tourist" stop was at a landmark just north of Duluth. Verna wanted to stop there because she wanted to get a picture of Mya by the Landmark. Verna had gotten a picture of her older children at this spot in past years. It was Mya's turn.


It was at this stop that I decided I was going to change out of shorts into long pants. The breeze of Lake Superior was chilly. And, if Verna had any doubts before about getting a souvineer sweatshirt for Mya, the doubts were laid to rest. The next stop was Two Harbors for a Subway Sandwhich meal down by the shore and a search for souvineer sweatshirts.


Notice the landmark behind these characters. This is at a wayside rest, no biffies (which can cause a dilemma).


We were able to get souvineer sweatshirts for sizes larger than Mya. Alex and Verna got theirs. But, Mya's size didn't exist in the gift shop. After quite a dramatic search for a sweatshirt for Mya, Verna was barely able to get something that was a suitable size for Mya. We stopped at Pamida and Verna grabbed a sweatshirt that was plenty large for Mya. But, it was the smallest one she could find. At least Mya wasn't going to freeze now when walking on the "pier" with Lake Superior on either side of her.
Notice, Alex and Mya walking hand-in-hand. Mya looks to be wearing a dress! But, that's the sweatshirt. Alex and Mya proved to be great buddies on this trip, each "showing off" to the other.

This long "pier" I believe is a breakwater in the harbor. At the end of the breakwater was a little house on stilts with a fog horn on top - the Two Harbors Breakwater Light House. Next time, maybe I can take a tour of the Light House and get this information. But, this time around, we just had a lot of fun taking a walk on it.

A picture of the Two Harbors' Light house from the breakwater.

Mya must have been getting tired. Alex carried her for a ways.

Mya made a new best friend at Split Rock Light house. The girl's name is Lauren and she's real close to the same age as Mya. Lauren and Mya had a great time acting like 3-year-olds. You'd thing the two were sisters the way they behaved! Check Verna's website for more information.

(More Split Rock Light House pictures.)
After the stop at Split Rock Light House, we were going to stop at Gooseberry Falls (just South of the Light House). But, the time was around supper time and one little girl proved to be exhausted! So exhausted, that she needed Mommy sitting next to her to settle her down. So, I drove. We hadn't even made it to the entrance of Gooseberry Falls (a very short destination from the Light House) and she was sleeping.

Verna had told Mya before they started their trip that, if possible, Mya would be able to stick her feet in Lake Superior's water. So, after leaving Split Rock, Mya slept on our way to Duluth. Verna had a place in mind. It's a sandy beach on Lake Superior at the end of Canal Park. Notice the ship in the background, behind Alex. It's sometimes hard to believe that we could have ships of such size inland - such a long way from the east or west coast.
Colette was looking for agates. She didn't have any success. Maybe next time.



Mya got her chance to put her feet in the water. After our enjoyable stop here, we headed back. We stopped at Arbie's in Cloquet for supper. After the meal, we got back to the campgrounds around 10 p.m. What a full day!