Awoke around 8a but didn’t leave the hotel until 10a — the family really needed a bit of a rest. When we left it had just started to rain. We stopped at the adjacent WalMart for some supplies and Genetta picked up Zelda Majora’s Mask for the 3DS while Addison got a Google Play card. Next we gassed up and hit McDonald’s for the kids.
Our Holiday Inn Express had a neat wilderness lodge feel
Driving east towards Lake Superior we passed the American Hockey Hall of Fame and some places dedicated to curling. We arrived at Lake Superior near the town of Silver Bay. We stopped at Black Beach to take some pictures and use the restroom. It was nice though quite misty and rainy. Hitting the road again we stopped by Cascade River State Park to do a hike to a waterfall but were unable to find the trail so decided to just hit the road again — definitely didn’t want to get lost!
Islands at Black Beach, Lake Superior
Wide shot of the islands
In the town of Grand Marais we visited Sven & Ollies, a local famous eatery, for pizza and hoagies at about 3p. Addison had the hoagie and we all had an appetizer of cheese bread (nothing to write home about there, sadly). We then visited World’s Best Donuts. I so wanted to go in there and shout “Congratulations!” like in Elf but refrained. We bought three glazed twists and two maple unfilled long johns. Quite yummy! I still think the title of World’s Best goes to our local bakery, however. We bought a magnet there and hit the road at about 4p.
Lake Superior beach near Grand Marais, Minnesota
Beaver House in Grand Marais
Heck of a job keeping those gulls away!
Sven and Ole’s Pizza place in Grand Marais
Lake Superior
Lake Superior
Flower festooned walkway in Grand Marais
Turning inland from the lake along the Gunflint Trail we ascended the steep bluffs that line Lake Superior and drove just under an hour to the Hungry Jack Lodge, arriving just before 5p. Along the route we saw a few pretty lakes and some amazing rod-like white, purple, and pink flowers. By this time the weather had turned noticeably nicer — blue skies with puffy white clouds and a crispness in the air. Perfect!
Beautiful lake along the Gunflint Trail in the Arrowhead of Minnesota
The Gunflint Trail, a two lane road into the interior of the Arrowhead
We checked in with the main lodge and were directed to our cabin, Lynx. Very nice and reminded me very much of Gray Rock in the Adirondacks (though much smaller). The water did have a sulfur smell, though, and the water heater was a bit… sketchy… but cozy and nice nonetheless. Addison really dug it too!
Front of Lynx cabin at Hungry Jack Lodge
Main room of Lynx cabin
One of Lynx cabin’s bedrooms
Rear of Lynx cabin, overlooking Hungry Jack Lake
Addison and I went swimming off of our dock for an hour or so. Despite the water being a bit cold we had a great time. Neighboring cabins’ inhabitants were paddling canoes and fishing nearby. As soon as I got out Genetta wanted to go swimming at the beach on the other side of the peninsula that the lodge was located on. There, we waded out into the water then swam to a swimming platform. On exiting Genetta went to a sauna while I hung about outside while drying.
Dock on Hungry Jack Lake
Hungry Jack Lake
Hungry Jack Lodge’s main lodge building
Another view of Hungry Jack Lake
Beautiful evergreens lined Hungry Jack Lake
After showering we headed to dinner at the main lodge’s Logger Lounge around 8p. The menus had the tale of the lodge on them — built in the 20s but thrice burned down, most recently about a decade ago! Rebuilt each time, making the lodge the most modern on the Gunflint Trail. Addison and I had a Forrest burger (basically a bacon cheddar cheeseburger). I didn’t note what Michelle and Genetta had — Michelle seems to remember there not being a lot of choice (she’s right) and eating a hamburger or a BLT. Ah, well, guess that detail is lost to history. For dessert we had cheesecake chimichangas which were very tasty.
After a gorgeous sunset we headed back to the lodge and, as there was no decent Internet (the lodge’s wifi being a bit far from the cabin), went to bed about 10:30p.
Sunset and moonrise over Hungry Jake Lake, Minnesota
Route for Friday July 7, 2017