Yay! Vacation!

The dog truck is getting loaded up with lotsa stuff. This can only mean one thing: Vacation!

This post is the first and second day, Friday April 27th and Saturday the 28th, when we headed west towards Duluth MN, then up to Ely.

We hope to do a North Country hike near Ironwood.
This is Arly and Sandy's old stomping grounds.

We planned to stop at Copper Peak and hike but ended up at
Black River Harbor because it was raining everywhere else!

The young trail mutt doesn't show any fear of suspension bridges.

Personally, the wobbling makes me nervous!

After we crossed the bridge, we headed up, then east from here.

The jetties for the harbor.

Most of the snow was gone down here, near the big Lake.

Rainbow Falls!

C'mon Wally, we can get a drink here. No way, Gromit!
A pup could get washed away.

Gee whiz, someone cut this big tree with an axe.
We seen many chopped, and cross cut logs today.

The trail here goes off and on old logging grades.

We headed 2.5 miles east today.

But there are many nice sections that cross creeks.

The Black River was running good this spring.
Sorry that these got a bit out of order.

I don't mind wading!

Although, crossing on a log is ok, too.

See the debris on the log? This creek was roaring at one time!

Interesting that many knee-high cuts were seen along the trail.

We met some friendly hikers!
On our way back and at the Black River again.

Seen some artsy frozen foot steps here.

This tributary washed out the bank where we're standing.

Someone ate this deer over the winter.

Back to the harbor!

We stayed in Ironwood Friday evening, then on Satruday
we headed west to hike the NCT again in northern WI.

Wally, some times we camp near here. I recommend it!

This is the "Gaylord Nelson Portal to the NCT"

Google says, Gaylord Nelson was a Senator from WI
(and later their Governor) who founded Earth Day.

Let's go south here, Gromit!

There were several take-a-rest benches along this stretch.

Which way are we going?

Good thing it was cool out with some snow remaining.

This is a gently rolling section of trail.

They do a bang-up job maintaining the trail here.

We call the blue ribbon "Connie tape".

Looks like this bench was a squirrel's lunch stop.

We did find some trees down across the trail.

The only board walk seen today.

This warm and dry spring air was great!
We had such a nice hike today.