Duluth to Ely

This was the view from our hotel room

In the morning we walked over to the Perkins for breakfast.  They have a nice over 55 menu.  I like that, but Jeanne and I still could not finish our meals.

We then went to the Hartley Nature Park for the AAUW (American Association of University Women) conference.  It was an interesting conference.  The first speaker talked about Hawk migration and counting/banding the raptors. The next speaker was a native american and she is a Water Walker and she talked about the importance of caring for our water.  In this area that means the rivers and lakes.

 We then had lunch.  Sandwiches were provided.

Not just no smoking. 

We then divided into 4 different groups.  Our group went up to the Hawk Ridge to hear more about Raptors and counting and identifying them.  It was interesting.  Plus it was a gorgeous day to be outside.

We then drove to Ely. We had to stop at Jeanne's church.  She had to set something up for Sunday morning.

Then we got to her place.  Jay got home about 1/2 hour after we got settled in.  He had a golf tournament.  We had cheeseburgers for dinner with wax beans and french fries. Very good dinner.

This is my room.  They have recently redone this room.  

After dinner we watch "Chef" which was a very enjoyable movie.  Another fun day.

Friday

Another full day.  Jeanne is keeping me busy.  After breakfast wee took a walk.along the lakeshore.  It is a long trail.

Stopped at the Leif Erickson Park.

Interesting window scene in an old warehouse

Then back to the hotel.  We then got the hotel shuttle to the Canal Park area.  We rambled around the harbor a bit an then went to try to find a place to have an early lunch.  

We found a nice quick place.  I had a chicken salad sandwich with spinach and cranberries.  

Very good.  Jeanne had a broccoli cheddar quiche.  Then we walked over to the train depot to have a train ride on the North Shore Scenic Railroad 

It was not a long train ride.  Only 1 1/2 hours.  When we came back we went to take and Ore Ship tour.  That was an hour.  It was interesting.

More wandering and then it was time for our Vista Fleet Harvest Dinner Cruise.  

recognize Jeanne's shadow 

The drawbring is going up for us.  It is called a vertical lift bridge.  After the cruise we decide to go back to Grandma's Bar and Salon for dessert.  We had tried to have lunch there at the beginning but it did not open in time for us.  We split a Turtle Browne Sundae!! We could not finish it. 

I took these in the morning

This was when we came back.

We called the shuttle from the hotel to come pick us up.  Whew.  What a day.  

Duluth, MN

Landing at San Francisco the sun was setting and it was 90 degrees.  Landing in Minneapolis it was raining so sunrise was not visible.

an unsatisfactory breakfast

I had about 4 hours in Minneapolis then a short 1/2 hour flight to Duluth.  Jeanne met me there.  We then drove to a little cafe for lunch

Then we drove to Gooseberry Falls State Park.  That was fun.  We walked around and took a ton of pictures of the waterfalls.

We then started our way back to the hotel. We stopped along the side of the road for a good view.

Lake Superior with Wisconsin on the other side

some unknown bird on a post

reflection under a bridge.

Then we signed up to have a tour of a famous mansion.  The Glensheen Mansion.  Quite the place.  I took several pictures but none of them did justice to it.

marble inlay table 

day and night in Paris lamp shade.  When you turn the light on you see stars and lights in the buildings

a sewing machine.  I took this for Joyce

view of the mansion.

We finally got back to check in to the Edge hotel.  Very nice.  

towel origami elephant.

We got settled in and did a few odds and ends then we went across the street to dinner.

I got the steak and Jeanne got the coconut shrimp and then we split. Worked out perfectly and then we split an order of glazed carrots.  Yummy meal.

Back to the hotel.  To download pictures and to show Jeanne my Scotland pictures.  We had a coupon for a buy one get one free drink at the lounge.  I think we could have been picked up if we had been interested.  But instead we took our drinks back to the room.  A very full day.

travel night all night

I am off to go visit Jeanne in Minnesota.  I had a busy day today with a lot to do before I left.  I got to the MAX station in time to get the 4:20 MAX.

One of the art structures on the way to the airport.  This summer we have not had much of the rain this depicts. 

I had plenty of time to get to the airport and to go through security.  The flight left on time at 6:30 pm.  I landed in San Francisco.  What an airport.  Not sure what to say about it.  It is very confusing.  Luckily I had plenty of  time to find my way from one terminal to the other.  When you switch terminals you have to go through security again.  I landed in the new terminal.  Interesting layout.  one floor is open with seating and restaurants and at each gate you go downstairs so the lines of people waiting to board is not visible.  A lot of art around.

This looks like it was done by the same artist as the ones at the Portland airport.

I do not leave here until midnight.  Then I have a long layover in Minneapolis.  I arrive in Duluth at 11 am.  Ugh!! Jeanne will meet me there.  We will stay in the Edgewater Hotel and Waterpark. https://www.duluthwaterpark.com.  I did not bring my swimsuit.

home safely

We made it home safely, though our flight out of Chicago was delayed.  We were home around 11:30pm.  Tired, it was a long day.  Today is catch-up day, with laundry, organizing, sorting, doing art show jobs and church stuff.

Nathan and Rebecca made it safely to Linda's in DC.  Today they will continue on to NC.  Everyone else made it to their homes okay.

All in all it was a good trip.