Skip to main content

A Split Rock Beacon Lighting and Forest History Center Up North-Duluth Weekend

I had joked to Blake a weekend back that we would come up again the following week. The more I thought about it the more it seemed like a good idea. 

So, we did.

We drove up on Friday again. Today was the annual lighting of the Split Rock Lighthouse. Sadly, Blake had to work late and couldn't join us. They only do this once a year in memory of the lives lost in the Edmund Fitzgerald sinking. I had no idea how busy it was going to be. We ended up parking at the corner of Highway 61 at the road that goes into the park.

Once there we had to stand in line to take our turn inside of the lighthouse. I joked around this point that everyone was exaggerating how cold it was.

The advantage of the long wait was that it got darker and darker out. This also meant it was getting colder.

It was freezing by the time we made it to the front of the line. Incredibly we saw one woman with capris and no socks.

A few people were definitely not properly dressed.

Once inside we went through two rooms before ascending the stairs. This time the reenactors in each room gave us a brief history lesson and background behind the engineering that made the lighthouse possible.

It was super dark by the time we got out of the lighthouse. We wanted to go down by the beach, but settled for the lookout point just down the path to the lakeshore.

It was really dark and the wind was bitter cold.

When we arrived back at Blake's, dinner was all ready for us. So fancy, Daniel and Blake.

Blake made a salad and a veggie spaghetti per Meadow's request. For dessert we had ice cream.

It turns out Dr Pepper syrup is amazing. 

Meadow agreed to eat dessert with us after eating dinner by her lonesome in the living room. 

Then Meadow had an idea to make a lasso.

Who knew Meadow had a future as a rodeo cowgirl.

Suddenly it started snowing heavily. Blake took Meadow outside to sled out front. I was cold and watched from the window.


Meadow kept continuing her lassoing once back inside.

When we got up Meadow was not ready for our Saturday adventure.

We had to get to Grand Rapids for our day at the Minnesota Forest History Center. So, breakfast was a simple egg, cheese and avocado breakfast bagel.

I wanted to make something filling since I figured we wouldn't be eating for awhile.

After a drive through a flat, tamarack filled landscape, we were at the Forest History Center.

I'm trying to take advantage the last few weeks that I have left of my Minnesota Historical Society Membership. 

I had texted my mom a photo of the lighthouse and she mentioned she had renewed our membership! We have seen a lot, but there are still some we haven't seen yet. 

The Forest History Center is an old logging camp. I was excited to see this place.

The cab of a logging truck was Meadow's favorite thing inside of the museum.

The museum was nice and all, but we were here for the recreated logging camp. I don't think Blake was supposed play the accordion.

We were told a tour guide would be waiting at the camp, but we didn't see anyone so we gave ourselves a tour. The camp is supposed to reflect the winter of 1900. Being here in the winter gave it a more authentic feel.


Today happened to be kids cooking day. It was warm and toasty in the camp dining hall. Other kids were already helping when we arrived. Meadow was too scared to participate. I really hope the next kid is more outgoing.

When Meadow's shyness takes over you can't really get her to participate in front of strangers. But she will drink a hot chocolate.

In hopes that Meadow would do better later, we left the cook shanty to look at the rest of the camp.



Outside the tool maintenance building was a two man saw. We weren't sure if we were allowed to use it, but we did anyway.

Brooke and Blake were a much better team.

The tool maintenance guy got his own room. Not a bad job.

We were surprised to see actual horses in the stable.

I wish they were doing sleigh rides.

Meadow decided she was ready to go back and try baking. When she realized she doesn't get any treats unless she makes them herself she changed her mind. She was almost ready to do it until she had to put on an apron and wash her hands. Blake was willing to do it with her, but she still insisted on only watching.

First Blake made a hand pie.

Blake had to have been the first person to choose prunes all day long. He later claimed that this was the first time he's eaten a prune in his life.

Then we learned how to make "cold shuts" or doughnuts.

Just Blake got to eat the treats.

Brooke got an apron on, but didn't make anything for some reason.

Meadow's new thing is to not wear her winter coat no matter how cold it is. Eventually she caves in when she's shivering.

After seeing all the buildings we walked over to the river to see the wanigan. After all the logs were cut in the winter the men would float them down the river traveling along side them in their raft houses.

A woman walking by asked if Meadow got too hot. I replied, "Nope she's just a Minnesotan".

We were all hungry and planned on eating at Pasties Plus, because that just seemed right after the logging camp. They were only take out with a small table. So, we got some for dinner and breakfast and headed over to the local Mexican joint, El Potro.

Small town Mexican restaurants always work out.

We passed through a ghost tamarack forest on the way back just as the sun set.

We'd end our night with pasties for everyone while watching Spiderman Homecoming with Daniel. Sorry about the blurry picture. 

Psh.

 The next morning we took a walk by the lake before heading home. 

I decided we were done blogging. Brooke would not have any of that.

So long Duluth, but don't you worry. We'll be back for Bentleyville in a month or so.


Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Hike Trip with the Kids to Nerstrand State Park

Meadow and I had so much fun hiking and geocaching last weekend, we decided to do it again. I was busy photographing for a project in Lake City. Our state park pass expires at the end of the month so we decided on Nerstrand State Park. A short drive from Minneapolis I'd always wanted to go.  I love that they had this natural playground. First we wanted to see the waterfall. Little hiker. The waterfall was a lot smaller than I expected but it was open for free play. I let the kids play for awhile. Then we found another area to play. Mr Independent had to hike back himself. That's my stubborn little guy. We took a lunch break before geocaching.  Meadow didn't believe me she had smoothie on her face. Theo either. We finished our day by hiking almost the whole park to find the cache. Too bad Scott couldn't have joined us. 

Chelsea and the Boys Visit Minneapolis

  I told Chelsea earlier this year she was the only one who hasn't seen our house yet. She said she would visit this summer. She texted me earlier this week asking when she could come. Looking at our calendar I said, this weekend or the weekend after Labor Day.  When they arrived Theo gave her a tour of our house.  I told her we had plans to go blueberry picking and she agreed to go along too. They had never gone before.  Hoo, boy. Was I glad that I got out of blueberry picking this year. I spent the day painting back at home. I don't know why, but I do enjoy berry picking.  Afterwards we picked up food from the co-op and had lunch in Stillwater.  Then we went swimming at the St Croix River Boom Site.  We parked our towels right next to the natural spring that flows into the river.  Blake... The sunny skies soon turned to clouds and then it started raining. The kids just kept on playing.  I couldn't believe they were still out in Stillwater. Then we went over to Teddy Bear

A Twin Cities Mississippi River Summer Weekend

Two summer weekends in Minneapolis? Yeah, it's true. We followed Scott again on one of his jobs, which brought us to Maplewood Mall. I had heard there was a double decker carousel there and had always wanted to check it out.  There is a weight limit on the horses so Scott and I had to sit on the swinging bench.  Brooke and I must've had empty stomaches. We were both so dizzy after getting off the carousel. Or we're getting old. Scott always complains we never do things in our own city. Since we were going to be near St Paul, I had been wanting to take the kids to the Mississippi River National Recreation Area Visitor Center to get a junior ranger badge.  St. Paul is one of Twin Cities, so it's OK to have fun just across the border. It's those suburbs I loathe (though honestly sometimes enjoy). Downtown St. Paul maybe sleepy, but it's very charming. The Mississippi River National Recreation Area Visitor Center is in the Science Museum lobby. Somehow we had never