Madeline Island 2022 - Got In a Lot of Great Stuff Today

Friday, July 29, 2022

Slept pretty deeply last night. Coffee on the porch with Dale. 

Worked a lot on genealogy stuff while Dale went to work. 

Susan and Bruce are having us over for dinner at their place tonight so we decided to pick up some wine at Lori's. Turns out they're closed for a few days due to some staffing issues which continues to be a problem in the post-lockdown world. Dale says it's too bad as Lori's has been better stocked than the Island Store this season. 

Anyway we went to the Island Store (which was pretty busy due to Lori's being closed) and picked up some wine. 

We also went to the candle store to pick up some gifts for Mom and Warren who are watching Sylvester back home. 

After dropping our purchases off at the car we went to the Beach Club for lunch. We both got fish sandwiches. Dale got grilled white fish for his and I got fried trout for mine. So delicious. Oh, and I got an old fashioned too. 

After lunch we stopped at Mission Hill Coffee to get some of Marie's most marvelous blueberry muffins. So delicious. 

After we got home we decided to take a walk on the Capser Trail. Dale's only been walking it for the past couple years although he's been aware of it for longer. This was my first time. We both found ourselves asking why we hadn't taken advantage of it sooner. 

To walk it is about a two mile round trip. 

It's one thing to be walking or driving "in" the woods on a wide highway but it's another to walk through on a narrow path and be completely surrounded by the forest. 

It was so incredibly beautiful. 

There's a turn-off on the trail where you can access a boardwalk that goes through a marsh.

Again, just beautiful.

This sign tells the story of the massive beaver dams that used to be there.

On the return trip to the car we ran into a couple of Islanders sitting on a bench and said hello. They asked if we had seen the little mini village of castles that someone is mysteriously building. We informed them we hadn't so they told us where the turn-off for it is in the path at the other end of the trail. We told them we'd be sure to look for it next time. 

Dinner tonight at Susan and Bruce's. Dale's been to their place before but it was the first time for me. It's beautiful and the view from their deck is incredible. 

Dale and Susan had a chance to catch up on some work related stuff. Susan and Bruce were very curious to know how my school year ended up. I told them how hard the extended year due to the strike was on teachers, families, and students. Their interest and concern were touching. 

Anyway, it had been a work day for Susan and she had worked until five when she threw together a whitefish and lettuce salad which was absolutely DIVINE. It was so delicious and what made it even more impressive is that we arrived at 6:00 and that she improvised and made up the recipe as she went along. 

Madeline Island 2022 - Arrival and Settling In

Wednesday, July 27, 2022

This is Dale's final summer with the camp on Madeline. Although he's mostly been working from Minneapolis this season he needs to make a couple more trips up before the end of the summer. Today he leaves for one and I'm going up with him. It's been more than a year since I've been. 

We left about 9:30 this morning and made our first pit stop in Clayton, Wisconsin. We're taking a route that's pretty much off the beaten path and it's quite picturesque. The above two photos were taken in Clayton. 

Next pit stop was just before hitting Hayward. I'm not used to driving up with Dale. At the beginning of the season he get's himself to Madeline and I drive up by myself to visit him a few times. One of the trips usually coincides with his last weekend there so I can help bring him home. We often drive back separately as he usually has a van the camp has rented for the summer to return. In the above picture you see him texting with people from work. 

Lunch in Hayward at what used to be the Norske Nook. The food really hit the spot. I had an omelette with hash browns and pancakes while Dale got a big salad.

We made the two o'clock ferry. 

We're staying at the Johnston House. After getting unpacked we headed to the Beach Club for a cocktail and beer while Dale waited for some musicians from the Twin Cities to arrive. They got in a little earlier than we thought but we had just enough time to finish our drinks. I got an Old Fashioned.

We brought the artists to the cottages where they will be lodging. Jonathan and Josh were there so we had a chance to catch up.

Chicken for dinner at the Johnston House. We watched t.v. and relaxed. Laid back and easy day. It's nice to get away from home for a while. They've gotten so much more rain up here than we've had back home. Everything is extra green and lush. On top of that it a tad cooler here. 

Madeline 2021 - First Trip: Rain, Cocktails, and More! (Sunday)

Sunday, June, 27, 2021

Gloomy morning. Got a little rain but Dale and I squeaked in a walk before it started. We made it to Joni’s beach but then turned back when it started to sprinkle a bit. 

Stopped by Bell Street Gallery today. Turns out they’re for sale. Bought a coffee mug. 

Had a Zoom meeting with my brother Sam and his wife Becky and their 3 kids. It was fun to check in. 

After that Dale and I went to the Island Store to pick up some needed items. I found some pre-made cocktails and picked up the Mai Tai version. 

Dale and I sat on the porch when we got back from the store. I had a Mai Tai but he can’t drink since he’s on call. We were going to listen to some music but the landlord decided to mow the lawn. Oh well. 

Madeline 2021 - First Trip: Travel Day (Thursday)

Thursday, June 24, 2021

I meant to leave the house at 10:00 a.m. As I pulled out of the driveway the dashboard clock said 10:18. Not bad. Photos above and below taken at the Thompson Hill rest area where construction was occurring. 

Construction wasn’t just happening at Thompson Hill. I’ve encountered more than enough from Minneapolis to Duluth on the roads. I probably shouldn’t complain though because traffic moved steadily through all of it. It probably didn’t hurt that it’s not quite the weekend yet otherwise it might’ve been really bad. 

I ended up encountering some more construction on Highway 2 going through Wisconsin. At one point it was down to only one was and I came upon a long line of cars stopped to let vehicles going the other way through. The wait wasn’t too bad. 

I departed the ferry onto Madeline shortly before 4 p.m. and stopped at the Beach Club for an Old Fashioned. Dale joined me at about 4:40 and we ended up having dinner right at the bar. So very good to see him. 

After dinner we took a nice walk which included Nebraska Row. Gorgeous sunny evening for a walk. We had so much catching up to do. 

Upon arriving home we sat on the deck and watch the sun descend to the horizon. Funny, we watched some campers set up and grill and then build a fire on the lawn across from ours. Didn’t know they could do that. The land and the building on it belong to the phone company so maybe they’re with them. 

Madeline Island 2020 - Lori's

Friday, August 21, 2020

After my cigar, Dale and I headed over to Lori’s to get snacks and some ice cream for dessert. There was a line waiting to get in. Turns out they were only letting one person in at a time. 

Madeline Island 2020 - Dale's Home!

Friday, August 21, 2020

Dale joined me on the deck upon return from work.

Madeline Island Trip 2020 - Athena on the Loose

 Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Dinner at Maggie and Cindi’s. Bloody Mary for cocktail hour. We played a few rounds of some really intense Uno. Gabrielle made tacos for dinner. Michael and Emma also joined us.

Madeline Island Trip 2020 - Clompin' Around with Athena

Tuesday, August 18, 2020

Good morning!

While Dale took a canoe ride with Maggie (at 6 a.m.),  Athena and I took a little hike around the property. Athena is LOVIN’ it. All new sights and smells.