13 August 2015
Alas!
The heat and humidity are back. As we have decided to remain on Eastern Time we up around 6:15, wakened by a light drizzle on the tent.
Rather than breaking out the tarp and getting that wet as well, we
pack up and head down the road. We decide we need to do something
in Wisconsin since we will be passing through so quickly. The obvious
choice is a hearty breakfast. We stop at the Ashland Family
Restaurant. Their sign reads “Attention Taste Buds – we have what
you crave.”
We each order a “skillet.” It is 8 inches diameter and quite deep,
filled with hash-browns, cheddar cheese, sausage for me; corned beef
hash for O, each topped with 2 eggs with a side of toast. The coffee
cups are bottomless. We will not need to eat again until supper time.
We enter Minnesota – the first time either of us has been in this state. We find a tourist info center and get brochures on camping at the State Parks.
I call for reservations, but there are none available. People make
reservations up to a year in advance here.
No worries, we know there are many National Forest campgrounds in the
area. These are inland from Superior’s shore and have fewer amenities
– pit toilets and usually drinking water. We turn up State Route 2
in the town of Tofte which seems to consist of a grocery store, a
liquor store, a gas station and the National Forest Service local
office. There is also a rather fancy looking restaurant and resort
just down the road.
We find the Temperance River campground. There are a few empty sites. We settle on #3. There is shade for the tent, a grill, trees in good
position in case we need a tarp hang, stairs leading down to the
river, and lots of mosquitoes for our entertainment. We do not find
any drinking water. All this for $18 a night, $9 with our senior
pass.
Camp is quickly set up and the tarp is at the ready. We return to Tofte to
visit the forest service office. We walk in and ask for information
about hikes in the area. The ranger looks a bit dubious about our
desire to hike until we explain we are looking for elevation gain so
we can train for our upcoming hikes in Montana, Washington, and Grand
Canyon. She breaks out several maps of the area including a beautiful
waterproof map of Superior National Forest. We buy it for $10.
Next stop – the grocery store for some salad fixins to go with our
dinner of “non-refried beans.” It’s too hot to cook them. We eat
lots of cherry tomatoes as well, and drink some more wine to
celebrate being on the Temperance River.
After dinner, an explore up Sawbill Road. We check out Crescent Lake and
Baker Lake which is on the edge of the Boundary Waters. We may
stop on our way back south after Isle Royale to play with the Sea Eagle
here.
I finish my journal entry after our return to camp and notice that O has
wandered off somewhere. I peruse the Superior NF map and see that
this campground is supposed to have drinking water. Time for another
explore. I find what looks like an outhouse with a solar panel on its
roof. It is actually a solar powered water pump. The campground just
earned a 5th star.
I wander down to the river and find O sitting on the rocks watching the
dragonflies. The sun has slipped behind the trees, the rocks are
toasty warm. We sit together for awhile listening to the clicking of
the dragon flies, glad they are reducing the mosquito population.