WORK IS FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW HOW TO FISHThis is the theme in International Falls for sure. Fisherman Mania abounds. We visited this National Park 15 years ago and all I remember is Buba making me get in that canoe with the kids, then we tried a motor boat and got lost. Yes, lost. How we found our way back is anybodies guess.
Nearly 200 years ago voyageurs paddled birch bark canoes full of animal pelts and trade goods through this area on their way to Lake Athabaska, Canada. Today, people explore the park by houseboat, motorboat, canoe and kayak-except us. Voyageurs is a water-based park where you must leave your car and take to the water to fully experience the lakes, islands and shorelines of the park. Pleep did bum a ride with some of the guests and enjoyed the venture-they knew how to ope
rate the boat and had a map. He thinks maybe he could learn a bit of French and sing like the voyageurs did. We caught him trying to bum rides with other vehicles too. W
e're starting to think he's tired of being in the car with just Bochantos and Buba.
rate the boat and had a map. He thinks maybe he could learn a bit of French and sing like the voyageurs did. We caught him trying to bum rides with other vehicles too. W
e're starting to think he's tired of being in the car with just Bochantos and Buba.Voyageurs National Park is a mosaic of land and water, a place of interconnected waterways that flow west into the Rainy River, and eventually north as part of the arctic watershed of Hudson's Bay. It's a place of transition, between upland and aquatic ecosystems, southern boreal and northern hardwoods forest types, and both wild and developed areas.
The foundation of the park’s landscape was sculpted by a series of glaciers that have scoured and carved the area over hundreds of thousands of years. The most recent period of glaciation ended just over 10,000 years ago, exposing ancient Precambrian rocks that formed over two billion years ago. The forests that now drape the upland portions of the park exist on a thin layer of soil that has formed in the comparatively short period of time since the last glacier receded. People entered this region following the retreat of the glaciers.
Early Native Americans were the first to make use of the abundant resources the lakes and forests provided, followed by Europeans and other native groups drawn to the area during the fur trade period of the late 1700s and early 1800s. Pleep loved the birch canoes. Mining, commercial fishing, logging and recreational use brought more people to the region in the years that followed, evidence of which may be found in the park today.
ISLAND VIEW LODGE AND CABINS
At the end of the road where the wilderness begins and next door to Buba's favorite The Sha Sha which was booked , we checked into Island View. Besides there was a no monkey clause at The Sha Sha. Pleep has his own bed here, with perfect TV viewing...he loves the reruns of The Mon
kees. We enjoyed the view of Rainy Lake and the Midwestern version of the Adirondacks. The 1600 miles of shoreline and 1500 pine covered islands is a virtual playground for Pleep. Pleep didn't quite recognize the vintage 1975 phone in our room but enjoyed riding it anyway. He wants to keep his horse riding skills up to snuff.
kees. We enjoyed the view of Rainy Lake and the Midwestern version of the Adirondacks. The 1600 miles of shoreline and 1500 pine covered islands is a virtual playground for Pleep. Pleep didn't quite recognize the vintage 1975 phone in our room but enjoyed riding it anyway. He wants to keep his horse riding skills up to snuff.I asked for an iron this morning and the lady at the front desk (never mind they never answer the phone, I guess they have heard about our little Pleep) and she said "Why? No Mrs. Collins we don't have one on the property". My wrinkled blouse fit right in.
We did stroll over to the Sha Sha for dinner and were floored. What happ
ened to the broken down old Sha Sha? The Sha we were looking at was oo la la and all brand new??? Ah, they told us the Sha burned down a few years back and this is the new version. I absolutely loved it. Buba missed the old place. The view from the bar/restaurant feels like you are sitting on one of the islands with a panoramic view. Waaaaaay cool. Pleep enjoyed the visit
as well-Walleye fish sandwich please. Buba still wears his hoodie purchased here 15 years ago . Pleep bought a hot pink version for Alex. He figures while in Chi town he can ride around in the hood with Al.
ened to the broken down old Sha Sha? The Sha we were looking at was oo la la and all brand new??? Ah, they told us the Sha burned down a few years back and this is the new version. I absolutely loved it. Buba missed the old place. The view from the bar/restaurant feels like you are sitting on one of the islands with a panoramic view. Waaaaaay cool. Pleep enjoyed the visit
as well-Walleye fish sandwich please. Buba still wears his hoodie purchased here 15 years ago . Pleep bought a hot pink version for Alex. He figures while in Chi town he can ride around in the hood with Al.GOVERNOR PAWLENTY AND CHARLIE
Heard the Gov on C-Span last night. My kind of guy-like me, a conservative with blue collar roots. Wasn't he the guy McCain was paling around with for VP? Then upended him with Palin? Looks like a guy that speaks for the fine folks I have been meeting up this way.
We also met an nice gent, Charlie (and his shaved Poodle) and had an interesting conversation regarding his state politics and such. He bought the little island across from our lodge 57 years ago for $800. He lives 4 miles from here and uses the island as a get away. Charlie is retired from the big plant in town, Boise. Buba liked the idea of the home away from home....and the part about Mrs. Charlie staying at the other home 4 miles down the road! Pleep wanted to make sure we didn't get any ideas about shaving him so he stayed as far away from Charlie as he could.
Pleep spotted this sign with one of his relatives on it and insisted we head to the bar for a few shots of navy rum. With the cold nights up here, it is just 
the thing to warm you up. When Pleep started singing, Yoo, Ho, Ho, and a bottle of rum, Bocahontas was very afraid Pleep would get carried away and start thinking about becoming a sailor next. While I was trying to keep an eye on Pleep, Buba started looking at 
house boats. He's thinking that might be an option for a summer place "in the north". Time to move on!
the thing to warm you up. When Pleep started singing, Yoo, Ho, Ho, and a bottle of rum, Bocahontas was very afraid Pleep would get carried away and start thinking about becoming a sailor next. While I was trying to keep an eye on Pleep, Buba started looking at 
house boats. He's thinking that might be an option for a summer place "in the north". Time to move on!
