Duluth, Minnesota

Duluth is cool! On the road up yesterday we were able to turn off the air conditioner and enjoy the fresh air. Last night was cool enough to encourage me to dig out our sweatpants. Today, nearly noon and a nice breeze with windows open keeps us cool enough as we work. A big relief after the muggy heat farther south.

We will stay here a couple days and try to make arrangements to get hooked up for a month or more in Grand Marais... with a phone for the modems.

We will be heading toward Grand Rapids, Minnesota the first of the week. Looking for a place to park for a month or so. Time to get to work- can't travel all the time (phooey).

It has been so cool here... it's raining tonight and we can hear the foghorns on the ships. (Duluth is the largest freshwater port in the world.)

Drove to Grand Rapids, thinking to find a campground to sit in for awhile and work. Tried 3 different places and the cellphone wouldn't reach. Driving back we saw a sign at Floodwood, Minnesota for an RV Park, $6.00 a night. We drove in but couldn't find anyone around. No one at the laundromat or the gas station knew anything about who ran the place. We drove on, back to Duluth and stayed in a city park on Lake Superior. A nice enough place but they give no break for monthly stays so too spendy for long term.

Still no landline phone. We have become resolved to living with a cell phone. On the north edge of Duluth just on the first edge of the north shore. Our campsite overlooks Lake Superior and is quite beautiful. The cellphone manages to reach this far and we are able to connect so perhaps we can stay here for a while.

I am having withdrawal from being on the net. I feel blind - with so little connect time I can't do much surfing. I was very dependent upon my connection for getting information about anything. Wish a satellite dish was in the near future.

Paid for a months stay here. Save nearly half by paying for a month in advance. The breeze is lovely, the view is beautiful. And the cell phone works good enough to be able to get on the net. Feels odd to consider staying somewhere so long but of course we can take day trips. Lots to see in this area. I want to see the Aquarium and the docks in Duluth and then there is the north shore to explore. The Split Rock Lighthouse and Grand Marais especially grab my interest.

I talk about day trips.... but one thing I have learned in our short time out is that planning into the future is nearly futile. Circumstances change so rapidly. Will that still be true if we sit for a month? Up till now, our existence has had an immediacy to it that is different than when we were rooted to one place, however temporarily.

Worked on the web page with photos from our trip. Inspires me to take more pictures.

Rain- a good day to stay home. I do look forward to a day trip tomorrow! Seems like we have been here forever. (4 days, I think.)

The lake is fogged in so we hear the ships blowing their fog horns. Each ship sounds different- fascinating. A sound I will remember.

Made an Upholstered Rock today to keep the bathroom door open for Misser. Funky. It grows on you, after awhile.

Trip 50 miles up north shore. Gooseberry Falls was fun. Chose not to plunk down 12 dollars to see the Split Rock Lighthouse but bought postcards :) Nice outing away from the campground. Odd, I feel stuck since we paid for a month's stay.

William fighting the slow connection with the cell phone and the too few minutes. Another wish for a satellite connection.

To Duluth today after dumping a couple very full holding tanks. Walmart, RV supply and grocery. A big day out.

Yesterday had a day at a city park, Brighton Beach, along the shore of Superior. Relaxing day off, listening to the waves crash on the rocks, watching the boats and a brave squirrel checking out our yard. We are turtles- always we have our house with us. Today- warm (low 80s) and humid. Watched the wind blow the ripples on the lake the wrong direction. An air-conditioner kind of day.

Finishing the Authentic Amish Recipes e-book. Hope it sells enough to be worth the effort!