North shore..

 Oh it felt good to be outdoors 24-7 last week, back up on the North shore. It was just me and Steve for the trip but we have plans in August to be back up there with the kids. 

I had a bit of vacation depression yesterday afternoon. I felt a bit like a zombie and couldn't snap out of it and it was painful. I even tried caffeine, which helped a little to make me feel less tired. It took cooking dinner (forcing myself to go thought the motions) and after dinner (must have been hungry) because I felt back to normal. I do know this depression feeling was short lived, only a few hours but it felt just awful. I feel for people having long bouts of depression. It's not like you can snap out of it. You just feel off, really off and not able to get your head up, like your treading water but not wanting to because it's too hard to even breathe. I do have times where I am just unmotivated, wanting a nap away the day, but not a true fog where I am a zombie. Glad that went away quickly. Anyone else experience this after vacations? 

It truly is my happy place, to be outside camping. We got our favorite camp spot at Baker Lake. 

We made a camp breakfast every morning. Pancakes or crepes, potatoes and eggs. 

We always buy some local maple syrup in Lutsen. So good on fresh made pancakes! 

Our stop at Lutsen resort. Lots of weddings this time. 

I painted lots of rocks. Steve went out fishing on Lake Superior while I painted. It was very relaxing. 

some of my rocks. I left some behind for others to find and enjoy. 

Grand Marais Roof top drinks. 

Some brewery beers

More rocks painted at Lutsen

Kayaking on Lake Superior and a river. 

Stopping for Maple Syrup.

Getting cell reception at one remote location by the lake. 

The new car all loaded for its first camping trip to the North Shore!

Animals we saw, fox, deer and some bugs, spiders, and butterflies. A lot of mosquitoes too! 

Making Crepes with Raspberry jelly. 

Wednesday

 I really should have colored my hair! My hair line around my face is pretty white! I suppose it can still be colored tonight! 

We leave for the 4th weekend soon! I can not wait for a long weekend at the lake. Even with temps in the 90's it will be perfect for being in the water. 

It's going to be just me and Zoey for a day and one night before everyone else comes up to the lake. I'll get all the tents set up and everything else, air mattress, screen porch etc.. To have all ready for everyone else once they come up on Friday afternoon. Should be a nice long 4th of July weekend. 

Received some photos of relatives from France on Steve's side. His uncle Pierre. He isn't doing well and hasn't been for the last 10 years or so. 

Our Brainerd cabin mini vacation now is moved to August. We were planning on going to our friends from Texas cabin for a long weekend. Work schedules changed for them, so it is now delayed till August. We will just make other vacation plans for next week. 

Just need to check the weather for a North Shore vacation. It's been chilly up there in the mid 60's and camping is not fun when your outside 24-7 in chilly weather. I like it to be at least 70 during the day and no rain!! 

Other news, Logan signed up for college classes this week. I'm purchasing him his laptop tomorrow for school. We just need to book the hotel for the weekend in Milwaukee the end of August when he goes off to College. He is working a lot at Punch Pizza and saving all his pay checks. Its a huge turn around from when he would spend the entire pay check on eating out. I suppose after Covid that really changed his outlook. He will have college expenses so its good that he saved up. I'm guessing he will be able to work during his school breaks when he is back in town. So this will help him earn some money when out of school. 

Not sure what's going on with me lately. I'm just very unmotivated. I just feel zero joy in doing anything in the afternoon. I need to snap out of it and force myself to do something. I'm just in a pattern and I'm not liking it. I do enjoy our trips and being outdoors. So I need to do more of that. Plan trips for just myself to various dog parks, the local park etc. 

Lanesboro/ Preston with Hipcamping!

Our weekend down south, camping and biking!  

Preston by the river where we started our bike ride

Sunset at night

Hip camp path along the property. 

We had a really nice Hip camping at a hobby farm. They had 3 horses and chickens with lot of farm land all around our camping spot. 

We set up our tents and went for a walk on the property down a path. 

Had many beers at some breweries in Fountain and Lanesboro

Biked 20 miles round trip from Preston to Lanesboro along the root river

View from our tent

Stopped while biking to check out the tank in town

Rode through sandstone cliffs and over many river bridges

Lanesboro waterfall from the other side on the bike trail. 

We passed a bunch of cows along the bike trail