Just Another Day in Paradise (Tuesday)

[lydamorehouse]

Yesterday, we decided to do our usual attempt to see moose at Moose Viewing Trail. We are past moose season, really. I mean, moose are out here in the woods. It’s possible to see one. But, tourists, like ourselves, are more likely to see moose during calving, which is earlier in the year--in May.

Moose are sometimes more active in the early morning hours, so to sweeten the “how about we get up at the crack of dawn?” deal for our late risers in the house (namely Mason), we decided that once we have attempted to moose view, we would hit the new nearby coffee shop called Loon’s Rest.

We did not see any moose at Moose Viewing as expected.



Image: Moose Viewing view (Note: No Moose.)

The other funky thing about Moose Viewing trail is the fact that as you turn in to the official Moose Viewing platform, there is a myserious abandoned car. There are a lot of questions about this car. How did it get here? When did it get here? How did the boulder get on top of it?



Image: car in woods?

We ran into a couple of well-equipped hikers from Oklahoma who were perhaps a little too eager for moose. We gave our best advice, which was hang out as long as you can and be quiet—and, you know? Maybe they got lucky. I hope they did.

The Loon’s Nest was entirely full of old, white men (but one can sort of say that generally about the Gunflint Trail.) The espresso was perfectly adequate as were the croissant, egg, and sausage patties.

I did not attempt a big walk yesterday, since I wanted to save my strength for canoeing. Mason and I had yet to get out in the lake. When we did, it was the first time in a long time that Mason was in charge of steering. It took us a little time to figure out our rhythm, but once we got going we were amazing. We canoed out past the point to a part of Bearskin that Shawn and I call “capsize cove” thanks to a certain incident several years ago. There is a lovely beaver dam out in the cove. We fought the wind coming back, but it was actually fairly energizing.

An absolutely lovely day all told.

And, now…. More wildflowers for identification!


A purple wildflower of some kind!



False lily-of-the-valley?

Comments

[sabotabby]

Free car!

[lydamorehouse]

And in such good shape! What a deal!

[lcohen]

"There are a lot of questions about this car. How did it get here? When did it get here? How did the boulder get on top of it?"

there's a talking heads earworm in there just waiting to get out!

[lydamorehouse]

I can hear it!

[coffeetime]

I've been waiting to see a moose for...ever. I keep telling the Scholar that I know he's just invented legendary moose and they don't actually exist. He insists he saw them in Alaska.

[lydamorehouse]

If you hit the tag on "bearskin lodge" you will see that we once, actually, saw moose on Moose Viewing Trail. Mason was very little and we were actually up in May (instead of June, Mason used to go to a year round school that had a several long breaks throughout the school year.) Anyway, if you're curious, we did get pictures!

[pameladean]

Completely striking out on these flowers,I'm afraid. False lily of the valley usually has much longer flower stalks. But I don't know for sure that that's not it. The purple one is maddening. I've seen it before but can't find it in any reference.

P.

[lydamorehouse]

I used reverse Google on the purple on and it seems to be something called "gaywing"? See if you like what you find.

[pameladean]

That's hilarious. The formal sample photo looks wrong and the text says the flowers are white to pink, while yours are purple. But the photos provided by random people look a lot like yours, and like what I've seen.

So probably yeah. Unless the plant app is just punking everyone. Nice name, too!

P.