NJ Visitors

We have been enjoying a week in Wisconsin with our good friends David and Robert, who live in New Jersey (and sometimes Florida). David and I go back more than a few years, having first met on a Boundary Waters Canoe Wilderness trip in 1973. We quickly became very good friends, and I count him among the most important of my male comrades. When he met Robert, the circle of very good friends quickly grew. David, Robert, Kathie, and I have enjoyed many visits together over the years and more than a little good food, seeing as how Robert and Kathie are outstanding cooks!

Tuesday was David's birthday, which we celebrated at a local brew pub called the Angry Minnow. Here we are with some of the local brews and our appetizers.

Later, we stopped at the local grocery to stock up for the week. They were featuring a prominent local brew, and I could not resist getting this shot.

Kathie and I had surreptitiously purchased a special cupcake in order to celebrate David's birthday later at the cabin.

A single cupcake, divided four ways, was thought not to overload any of our caloric limits for the day. However, we did manage to add some Haagen-Dazs ice cream.

This morning, we traveled to Duluth and visited the Lake Superior Railroad Museum. Robert easily figured out how to operate this particular engine.

David and I enjoyed all the various cars, engines, and special pieces of equipment. After the museum, we had lunch at Grandma's, a Duluth landmark. Click here for info on Grandma's if you have never enjoyed the experience.

Next, we drove to Bayfield for a sailing adventure on Lake Superior. Here I am looking all masterly as I scan the horizon for oncoming vessels (and pirates) while navigating and steering the boat through the lake.

Kathie also looks good doing this, although she is majorly more curvaceous while doing so.

Robert, David, and Kathie attempted to maintain a smiling attitude, even in the face of several semi-scary instances of the boat leaning far (tipping!) to starboard as the wind caught the sails while I deftly maneuvered. (Note the catchy nautical terminology.)

This is not our boat, but this is the type of boat on which we were sailing, and you can get some idea of how we might have enjoyed this trip near the Apostle Islands.

Here we are safely back in port. This is the boat on which we sailed, and this is its loyal crew. Doesn't the Gilligan's Island theme music pop right into your minds?