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. 

Island 2017 - 1st Trip Day 4: Departure

Thursday, June 23, 2017

It's always hard to leave Dale behind. However, I need to be home tomorrow for a meeting so go I must. Athena and I made the 12:30 ferry and just as we turned onto Highway 63 outside of Hayward I noticed my back and buns were starting to get really hot. I had no idea our car had seat warmers and figured I must have inadvertently hit a switch while messing with the CD player. I tried every button on the dashboard that didn't have an obvious reason for being there but nothing seemed to help alleviate the problem. I opened the car windows as I continued to search for the hot seat controls. Suddenly, just a I was breaking into a sweat, I noticed things were cooling down.  I drove for a few miles in semi-uncomfortable warmth. Finally, as I completely cooled off and sweat was no longer dripping down my lower back, I figured the problem was solved. I was thankful I didn't have to pull over to look through the owner's manual to figure out what was going.  Three more hours of driving in an uncomfortably hot seat would have been unbearable! After driving along for a few more miles I sensed Athena, who was sitting next to me in the front passenger seat, shuffle and I heard a click. The seat started to warm up again. I looked over and saw a lighted button peeking out from under her front paw. Problem solved!

After Athena moved her paw, I realized I'd seen the hot seat buttons before. I just never questions their purpose.

Island 2016 - First Trip Day 1: Athena Travels Well

Thursday, June 16, 2016

Athena on the ferry. What a good little traveler. She was like this just about the whole trip up. Her only outburst came when we were at a stoplight in Hayward, WI and a cement mixer pulled up next to us. The mixer was in motion and it just seemed to piss the girl off. She wouldn't stop barking until the light turned green and I was able to get ahead of the monster. 

Third Visit 2012 Day 4 - Norske Nook

Stopped at the Norske Nook in Hayward on the way back home. Always delicious.

2012 First Visit - Day 1 Part 1: Norske Nook

Began our drive up this morning with our friends Chris and Alyn and their son Ellis. Stopped in Hayward, Wisconsin for lunch at the Norske Nook. Yummy food. (I had the hot turkey sandwich and the blue ribbon winning peach pie.)