Wild & Three Thursday!

It's 8:00 P.M. and we are safely back at the Meadow. For the most part ROADA is unloaded. What a great trip. The big win was getting to Isle Royale! After stopping in Grand Portage, MN and finding the ferry service only running on weekends we thought, okay, another trip, another time. But on Sunday we rolled into Copper Harbor as a way to get around a rainy damp day in Wisconsin and scored. The joy of spontaneity is alive and well as we strolled around town and happened to stop at a bakery that was right next door to the dock. As it happens the very dock that is home to the ferry for going to Isle Royale. We inquired about IRNP passage and believe it or not they have service tomorrow...and yes there are two seats available! We are IN, parking at 7:00 a.m. boarding at 7:30 with departure at 8:00.

This was a bucket list item so what a boon to just walk up and get on this normally booked ferry and at the half price rate since it is the off season.

It was a 3.5 hour ride. The boat was full but with comfy seats; we made it just fine. It was a bit of rolling in the beginning but calmed down after the first hour or so. The return was a bit bumpy but not terrible. Bit of conversation and a good book made the long journey easier. The island itself was extremely pristine. We had just under three hours to explore so we set off hiking immediately after our NPS briefing.

I had hoped to see a moose but really we were not in the right area for that though there are about 1800 in the park according to the ranger. We did see lots and lots of cool lush lichen, moss, mushrooms and fern in all shapes and sizes. The trees were mostly green. It was a nice day for a walk in this plush, lush, unspoiled environment. While three hours is much to short to really experience the island it was enough to make us want to return.

From Copper Harbor we headed on to Wisconsin. We wanted to make a loop through Door County to return to the quaintness of the area and have cherry strudel. We were hoping for cherry donuts,too  but it's apple harvest time so it's apple cider donuts this time of year. They were outstanding (but cherry are still my favorite). The honeycrisp apples they had were the absolute best I have ever had. We also tried smoked fish as that is a local thing. We decided on the Atlantic salmon as it is boneless. We will definitely have that again and try some of the other local choices they had. Charlie's Smokehouse is the place! And they ship...

It was a bust on fall colors once we left Michigan. The rest of the area just isn't there yet. It was still very green all the way down. In Missouri not only is it green everywhere it is also quite warm and still very wet. It is certainly feeling more like summertime here rather then heading into fall. Gonna be near 90* for the next week!

It was another good trip! Gotta get some grass mowing down and cleaning up of ROADA as she is a very dirty girl after her voyage around Lake Superior.

Wild & Three Thursday!

Annnnnd we are in Canada! It's been a lovely trip to see the fall foliage which is stunning in the Lake Superior Provincial Park not to mention the road along the way to get here. The traffic has been light. It's definitely our favorite travel time, before the rush. We didn't get away until late Saturday afternoon and we diverted west a bit to see the Daughter and BEE but we headed on north Sunday afternoon.

We were disappointed to arrive in Grand Portage, MN and find no transportation available to Isle Royale except on weekends as the season is winding down. We had wanted to go on Tuesday. Another time! We have so enjoyed just meandering along with no reservations. We have also enjoyed mornings with both Starbuck's and Tim Horton. Completing the Lake Superior Circle Tour is our mission. Tonight we are actually in Sault Ste Marie, Ontario, Canada. We are going to see Downton Abbey. And tonight we will be paying for a spot so we can grab showers and do laundry. Then tomorrow it's on off into Michigan. The weather has been pretty mild, with scattered clouds and a few sprinkles. It's been great!

Before I forget let me tell you about Blueberry Wine. YES, I said blueberry wine and it's definitely yummy. We bought two bottles and I think we should have bought more...anyway if you ever find yourself in Wawa, Ontario, CA I suggest you visit the Algoma Highlands Wild Blueberry Farm and Winery. There Trevor will most likely share some of his story, show you the wine making room then give you a sample of the blueberry wine. He also has strawberry to taste; though not for sale yet, but soon. We loved the blueberry! And if they are picking blueberries be sure to check out the blueberry picking machine, it's pretty cool! Then travel just down the road through his farm to Magpie Falls. It's a bumpy dirt/gravel road but at the end you can boondock and it was very peaceful. BTW they turn the falls off at night. I know, shut up; but it IS true.

Oh, this guy is thrilled due to getting wet!

Stay tuned...this adventures isn't over!

Wild & Three Thursday!

This week was planned and then it didn't pan out so we found ourselves with some time. That means plan a trip. So we are gonna take off this weekend. Had planned to go tomorrow but gonna stick around for a family event on Saturday.  Then it's off to see where the road takes us.

I'll hopefully be able to check in while on the road but phone service may be scarce and internet even more hard to come by so don't count on it. I will try to do catch up post when we return if posting while gone doesn't work.

Ciao!

Wild & Three Thursday!

Tuesday, it was Tuesday before we had water again. That whole we will be here hopefully tomorrow thing didn't work out. And, well, you know Monday WAS a holiday, so they showed up around 8:30 a.m. Tuesday. We managed being waterless just fine, with grabbing showers at families houses and then wagging some jugs for water to do the necessary things.

You would think the excitement was in having water service restored AND it was but the other excitement was the THREE lines that were cut during the repair. The backhoe had been on sight less then 30 minutes when it was sparks flying and work stoppage. The line locater guy showed back up as well as a lineman for KCPL as well as the owner of the company doing the repair work for us. Yeah, it was exciting. Then KCPL spent their afternoon with us in the hole repairing the cut lines. But hey we DID have water again!

Can't even wait until the repair bill shows up...seriously, should there even have been repairs needed when the house is just 2 years old? I am somewhat happy that we did not go ahead and DIY this fix as the utility lines in the area are ALL OVER the place. It's a mine field literally, hence the THREE cut lines!

But, thankfully, we have water again! 

Wild & Three Thursday!

UGH...it's a water leak AND it's on our side. Ummm, did I mention this home ownership adventure is a thing that drains your wallet, monthly! We normally use between two and three thousand gallons of water a month. Once in a while it we are gone or in the winter we ever get it down to only one thousand gallons. This morning the yard was still extremely wet. We have had a lot of rain, a lot, and our yard doesn't drain all that well even though we have brought in two loads of dirt so it was plausible that the yard would still be spongy. But this was standing water. Yep, leak. County guy came and it appears it's on our side. Callout to the company who did the original work and within 45 minutes they were onsite. That's progress, right? Well, sort of. DigRite was called and they were here within two hours. However, the company that's gonna do the work won't be back until tomorrow...maybe. So we are without water. Oh, sure, we can turn it back on and off to use it but there it gonna be excess water flowing in the yard and an even larger increase in the bill. Fun stuff! And so far we have racked up over 10,000 gallons OVER our normal usage. YIKES!

To be continued...and I really want to do some ranting about how this is a pretty new house (two years ish old) and shouldn't be having some of the issue we have had but I'm gonna refrain. But you know I am thinkin' it!

Wild & Three Thursday!

We have guests...yes. Thrilled to see daughter and family. Knew they were coming but they came a day early. We will take it! Gonna be a fun few days!

She is ready to love on her cousins. Get spoiled by BeBe and LaLa and eat at White Grill. Also have Dominos pizza. She will be on the go with lots of visiting and going, she will be worn out when she goes home as will we be! Wouldn't have it any other way.

Wild & Three Thursday!

We are rolling north today. Gonna get some Bee time in. We are gonna hang out with her while her momma and daddy go on a little float trip. Should be fun. But I know she is gonna wear us out. Can't wait though!