Playing Molkky at the annual Wollum fish fry.
Krist lightening off fireworks with the kids.
Everyone getting ready to watch fireworks.
While waiting we got to see Mother Nature show off her sunset display.
Getting setup for the big show.
Remember when you were learning how to sit on a bucket?
View out the front of Marcell lodge on Ranier Lake, the edge of the wilderness. This log cabin is on the national historic registry. We watched beavers paddling around lake and the loons were abundant.
Abbie and Tim fishing from the dock. They caught some perch, sunfish, bass and northern. There was a nice yard and bonfire area including a stack of firewood to use.
Ben and Tim heading out to try their luck at fishing. Caught a lot of rock bass, large mouth bass, and some small northern. Walleye just were not biting.
Ben and Gwen trying to catch some dinner.
John caught a nice sized crappie.
Tim and Gwen taking the paddle board out for a spin. Gwen’s new favorite water toy.
Jordan out for a cruise around the lake. Small lake but had a couple really nice cabins and a float plane that we got to see take off and land a couple of times.
Sometimes you can have too much of a good thing. Sometimes you just have to roll with it.
We had fun filled days of family, fishing, kayaking, games, and food.
We got a big welcome back to Schwalmer’s RV Resort. It”s always a fun place to visit, the activities provided are one of a kind.
Celebrating Tara’s 21st Anniversary of her 25th Birthday.
Decided to take advantage of a first class wood shop and started making a couple of Molkky games.
The not so fun sanding and painting part, this game better be fun.
Finished product, can’t wait to try it out.
John’s been missing tinkering around, so we put him to work on tuning up the resorts lawnmower.
We took advantage of the hot weather and did the half day white water canoe excursion down the Cannon River.
Our first week back in Minnesota was full with doctor visits, and most importantly visiting family and friends.
The beach in the park was closed due to high water.
Spent a Saturday with family, celebrating Ben’s birthday and Fathers Day.
Out with a great group of friends. We met up at Philander’s for drinks and dinner.
TC’S Campground, we were set up with a awesome river view.
Had a fun time hanging out with Tom and Gloria. Tom took us on a tour of Bear Creek where the largest sauerkraut plant is located.
View of Lake Michigan from our campsite, Manisique Lakeshore Campground, beautiful campgrounds, the area is good for a 2 maybe 3 day stay.
Kitch-iti-kipi, known as The Big Spring, the trees underwater are lime crusted. Well drillers try to avoid this vein do to its high sulfur content.
The fish are a mix of lake, brown, and brook trout with some other fish mixed in. The fish move freely between Indian Lake and Big Spring.
Fayette State Park, Historic Townsite in mid 1800’s iron ore was shipped from here. It was in operation for only 24 years. During its peak it was home to nearly 500 residents. In the distance you can see the two blast furnaces.
A nearby college has played a big part in the restoration of the buildings. Self guided tours with nice walk paths.
Charcoal kilns were used to produce charcoal for the furnaces. In the mid 1880’s there were more then 80 kilns in operation within 10 miles of Fayette.
This is the furnace complex. Nearly 230,000 tons of charcoal-iron were produced here from 1867-1890.
Bay County Pinconning Park, slight view of Lake Huron behind the campground. Great fish camp, good sized lots and wide roads.
Williams Cheese Factory, fun place to shop, lots of samples.
Dale and Kathy kept us busy fishing, we learned how to fish with planer boards. We had lots of fun and laughs.
The place to go shopping, if they don’t have it, you don’t need it.
He was as a fighter, it was a good laugh when we finally seen what was on Kathy’s line.
Once you have the planer boards set, it is a relaxing way to fish. You did have to check your lines, a couple of times we were surprised to find we had a walleye on the line. It can get a little crazy when you get multiple fish on.
Karen jigging with an extra pole. Surprisingly we caught 6 walleye on this pole. It was fun using the pole because you got to feel the fish hitting the line.
Here is the catch from one of our slower days.
This is one of our bigger walleyes. We also had a pretty big northern one day.
We stayed at the Homerville KOA, nice lots, pool , weekend entertainment, but out in the middle of nowhere.
A train that took you around the Lodi outlet mall, an that wraps up our stay.
We stayed at the AA Royal Motel and Campground. Nice location for visiting the Falls, but the grounds and bathrooms could use some TLC.
Even on a cloudy day the color of the water was beautiful. It is amazing how much water flows over the Falls.
American Falls closest, Horseshoe Falls in the distance.
Although the cave part of Cave of the Wind tour was closed you could still go down by the entrance and get drenched by the spray. We decided to stay dry that day.
Lewiston NY played a major role in the Underground Railroad by helping slaves cross over to Canada. Cute little river town.
The second set of steps down to Devil’s Hole, the hike will be on our list if we make it back to the area. From this trail you are supposed to be able to see the jet boats go up the rapids to the whirlpool.
Part of the whirlpool area where the jet boats scream up.
Overlooking the Whirlpools on the Niagara River, on the Canadian side you can take a cable trolley trip over them. You can see the trolley in the picture.
Class 6 rapids, currently off limits to paddlers, the water is traveling at approximately 20mph.
Niagara Falls from the Canadian side, much more impressive on this side. Lots of hotels, restaurants, an of course many trinket and trash shops. Taxes are extremely high on everything.
We need to include at least one picture of the sightseeing boat in the mist of Horseshoe Falls. They really pack people onto the boats. They have 4 boats running so you really don’t get much time there before they need to make room for the next boat.
Journey Behind the Falls. They had a tunnel behind the Falls where you could see behind the Falls and one platform on the edge where this picture was taken.
At least they provided you with a rain poncho to help keep you dry….maybe.
This is the view from one of the tunnel openings, so much water was going by you really don’t see much. The sound of the water was very loud.
Niagara on the Lake, too hazy to see Toronto on the other side.
Horseshoe Falls at night.
American Falls lit up.
At one point they did the colors of the US flag on the American Falls and the Canadian Flag on Horseshoe Falls. There is always a mist in the air and chilly when the sun goes down.
To kill time during the afternoon we drove north on the Canadian side into their wine country. We were surprised by the number of vineyards. At Peller Winery we did their tasting tour so we could go into their ice bar for the iced wine tasting.
1000 Island Association KOA, right on Lake Ontario beautiful park, had sunrises and sunsets. Swarms of Midges here, made it impossible to enjoy the outdoors. If we were to come back to this area we would stay further north, maybe around Clayton.
We can’t seem to escape the cold and rainy weather. The water level on Lake Ontario was close to record high levels.
Robert G. Wehle State Park, Wehle purchased the property from the US government in 1968 it was known as the Stony Point Rifle Range, served the Army before and during WWII. In 2003 the Department of Environmental Conservation ‘acquired’ the property. Welles’s was a locally famed breeder, known for Snakefoot, champion Pointer, studded him for big bucks.
Started hiking Snakefoot Trail not expecting be this high up on the cliffs. Didn’t finish as the midges got so bad.
Tried fishing on Lake Ontario, called it quits due to a thunderstorm rolling in.
Might be an overstatement, wanted to get out to see the Boult castle because of the weather being bad and the fact you had to take a boat there we didn’t make it.
For Memorial Day we went to Sackets Harbor one of the battlefields in the war of 1812. Thanks to everyone who fights for our freedoms.
The Palmer Express 