Day 106 ISLE ROYAL NATIONAL PARK, MICHIGAN

Isle Royale National Park is located in the northwest corner of Lake Superior. It is technically in Michigan but we visited via Minnesota. This Wilderness Island contains a road-less backcountry which prohibits the use of all wheeled vehicles and devices . Visitors traveling to this Island paradise must arrive by boat or seaplane. Bocahantos was less than pleased with the thought of another bad ferry experience; the positive thing it was a very short trip. Well, at least the ride over was......

A densely forested, wind-lashed island wilderness in the northwest corner of Lake Superior, Isle Royale National Park offers outstanding backcountry recreation and rich human and natural history. It's one of the few places in the United States that's beyond the reach of the automobile—as mentioned the only way to get yourself into the park is via ferry or seaplane. Pleep was overcome with sea sickness again. He insists it's the ferries and not hang overs. Bocahontas is starting to question this because he seemed to be a bit green before getting on the ferry. Dramamine for Monkey's is not working.

A giant, jagged seam in the enormous crease left in the earth as glacial ice retreated some 10,000 years ago, Isle Royale became the largest island in the world's largest freshwater lake. Native Americans dug copper here 3,000 years ago. Later French, English, and Americans trapped a wealth of furs. During the 19th century's "copper fever," mining companies sank shafts in the bedrock—left behind are more than 1,000 mining pits. Commercial fishing supplanted mining in the early 20th century, until the park was established in the 1930s.

Isle Royale is ecologically complex. Three distinct forest types—including a remnant of ice-age boreal woodlands—grow on an island just nine miles wide and 45 miles long. A century ago, lynx and caribou were the dominant mammals. Today, these species are extinct, replaced by wolves and moose, which only arrived here from the mainland in the 20th century. Pleep really likes "mooses"; he's made freinds with them in Alaska and Canada. Now he's looking for a Minnesota moose to round out his collection. We told him the stuffed one at the lodge didn't count.


Pleep read the guidebook and discovered interesting facts about why Isle RoyaleNational Park is significant:

• It is a remote and primitive wilderness archipelago isolated by the size and power of Lake Superior.


• Isle Royale is world renowned for its long-term wolf/moose predator/prey study.


• The park offers outstanding possibilities for research in a remote, relatively simple ecosystem where overt human influences are limited.
  


• Park waters contain the most productive native fishery and genetically diverse trout populations in Lake Superior.

Yes these folks are canoe crazy....CANOE CANOE?

After a long day in the park, Pleep still hadn't spotted any moose. So, he decided maybe Minnesota moose hang out in places other than the woods and lakes. So he dragged Buba around looking for moose. What about this place? They have moose signage. Or maybe the mooseberry winery is a good place to try. They kept wandering in and out of moose places. Bochantos finally caught on that it was more of a pub crawl than a moose hunt or nature walk.

The worst part of the trip was when we wanted to head into a local beach spot for a walk and a picnic. Pleep started jumping around and running like crazy when he spotted this sign. He refused to be leashed. No respectable cowboy would ever let himself be leashed. What are they thinking up here. He did agree that it would be best for the dogs to be leashed and personally he has no use for cats at all.

At the end of the day, we finally chased him down at the Redneck Camp. He was certain that he could win the spitting & mud wrestling contest. He wasn't sure about skinny dipping; he is always "au natural" so he didn't see the big attraction. Buba commented that based on what he was seeing, no one up here should be skinny dipping.

DAY 105 GRAND PORTAGE AT TIPPI TOP OF MINNESOTA

Minnesota has been nicknamed "The Land Of 10,000 Lakes". While the beautiful lakes add to the rabid outdoor fun and events-it was the meandering rivers that actually shaped the history of this state as a trading and agricultural hub. From wilderness lakes along the northern border to huge Lake Superior-this area holds national forests, a national park, a designated canoe wilderness and thousands of pristine lakes. The drive up the coast of Lake Superior was really quite lovely. So how is this all funded?

President Obama's 2010 Federal Budget and the American Recovery Act will have a significant impact on the National Park Service that we have been enjoying these past few months. The "STIMULUS" dedicates $1.9 BILLION to the Department of Interior including: $750 MILLION for operating expenses, $15 MILLION for historic preservation projects and $589 MILLION for construction projects. They tried this under Roosevelt with the CCC (Construction Conservation Corps) during the Depression and it didn't work then. This going in head over heals in debt by creating these temporary jobs would seem to only take us deeper into debt. What were we-the national park service- going to do before the STIMULUS mania? How was the national park service going to operate? Are we repaving roads that don't need to be repaved to create jobs? Building bridges we don't need to create jobs? Who is going to pay for all of this DEBT? I understand that our tax dollar needs to support our national park service and I have seen the fantastic results of that support but won't throwing 3/4 of a BILLION DOLLARS at it it put all of us deeper in debt? We do need a long range vision and plan for our beloved national park system THAT IS AFFORDABLE for the people who support it via our tax structure. Pleep thinks the whole thing is heading towards one big disaster. Ok off the soap box....Pleep made a couple of new friends on the trail. He now wants to play in the band with his new buddy. Country? Western? Anything close to The Monkeys???

Buba said it was time to hit the hot spots and kick up our heels. So off we went to the casino. Pleep won a whopping $0.25. He's a poor loser and monkey butted the dealer. Then he tried to take pictures and security came over, told him no pics and escorted him out. Pleep then slipped into the BINGO HALL. Made quite a hit. B 52!

We then had to send him to his room. When we returned we found him on top of the tv watching his brother Pleepleus and Zan Lamprey on Three Sheets - Lithuania. Pleep was trying to explain the rules to us and suggested it would be best if we headed back to the bar where the drinks would be plentiful.

Cheapest eats & drinks we've seen for a long time. Two steaks (who ever heard of a flat iron steak?) plus wine & under $40. Bocahontas thought it might be smart to stay here permanently. The $12 wine was hard to pass up - Cabernet too. Pleep thought it would have been a good idea to buy several bottles that we could take back to the room. Buba had to put a stop to that idea.


The last thing Pleep did at Grand Portage was help chop the firewood for the lodge. He thought it would be good practice for when Buba has the ranch and we need to keep warm. He definitely wants to be recognized as a GREEN monkey and be known as the neighborhood Paul Bunyan. He has been shopping furiously for a proper plaid shirt, suspenders and the right boots.

DAY 104 VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK -INTERNATIONAL FALLS

WORK IS FOR PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW HOW TO FISH

This 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 operate 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. We'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 Monkees. 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 happened 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!

Day 103 ON TO MINNESOTA- AY?

Lake of The Woods - The Walleye Capital of the World

Lake of the Woods County is located in Minnesota. As of 2000, the population was 4,522. Its county seat is Baudette. The county contains the Northwest Angle, the northernmost point of the Lower 48 States, and includes the U.S. portion of Lake of the Woods, shared with Canada. Since Alaska has no counties, Lake of the Woods is the northernmost county in the United States, by definition. We enjoyed fine dining at Dairy Queen- the 2 for $3 special (hot dog, fries, onion rings, coke). Yep any 2 for $3. Why not just put lard in a cup to go?

When you visit Lake of the Woods you are about as far North as you can get and still be in the continental U.S. During peak sunspot activity charged particles are thrown far out into space and are carried to the earth's atmosphere by the solar wind. The particles then interact with the earth's magnetic field in the polar regions. The colors in the northern lights are not a continuous spectrum, but a few separate colors such as red, violet, blue, and green. The first indication of a northern lights display is a faint glow low on the horizon. After a while an arch of light is lit. It can stretch all over the sky. Rays of light and "draperies" are formed with curls and waves. The draperies appear as if they are flickering or dancing in the wind. Sometimes the rays will stretch out in all directions above your head. This occurrence is called the aurora corona and will fill any onlooker with a hushed sense of awe. Pleep thought the wine enhanced the colors.

Lake of the Woods County was named because the lake covers a large portion of the county. Jacques de Noyon, a Frenchman who came from Trois Rivières, (Quebec), explored this area in 1688 and became the first white man to view the lake. He named the lake Lac aux Îles which means "Lake of the Islands" in English. Yes and the border patrol recognized Pleep and hoped he wasn't coming back to Canada.

Wally the Walleye

The walleye is the most sought-after fish in Minnesota. Its thick, white fillets, handsome shape and coloring, and elusive nature make it the ultimate prize among anglers. Each year, anglers in Minnesota keep roughly 3.5 million walleyes totaling 4 million pounds. The average walleye caught and kept is about 14 inches long and weighs slightly more than 1 pound. The walleye is named for its pearlescent eye, which is caused by a reflective layer of pigment, called the tapetum lucidum, that helps it see and feed at night or in murky water. Four seasons of "world class" fishing-Northern Pike, Muskellunge, Smallmouth Bass, Saugher, Burbot, Lake Sturgeon, White Sucker and my personal favorite "Crappie".

You can hardly see Pleep next to Wally-weighing at 2.5 tons and measuring 40 ft long. Definitely in keeping with Minnesota's Paul Bunyan style and proportions. Pleep took to this town mascot...and now wants to have one for dinner and compare it to the salmon he was eating in Alaska.

Pleep is continuing to exhibit his recently acquired cowboy habits. We caught him checking out the various "chew" options. When we checked into the hotel, he asked for the "bunk house" and they gave it to him. Buba told him not to sleep with the rifle put Pleep insisted real cowboys always keep their rifle handy. You never know when some pesky, liberal leaning varmint might show up at your door.

By the end of the day, we had to tell him he was in hot water with us and would be sent back to the bunkhouse with no grub. The smart aleck took us literally and we found him at the hotel's coffee bar.

Just as we tracked him down he jumped over to another spot at the bar. Buba saw this and said he couldn't punish such a patriotic monkey.

What a state - Jesse Ventura and then Al Franken

And whatever happened to ol'Jess? The 38th Governor of Minnesota (1999-2003)- Jesse "The Body" Ventura. Where else, yes besides California, would they vote in a retired professional wrestler? As Howard Stern said "Once a Mongrel always a Mongrel" referring to Jesse's days in the Mongrel Motorcycle gang in San Diego. What happened to his Reformed Party? This former Navy Seal (how did that happen?) defeated Norm Coleman (name sounds familiar right?). I did see a few leftover bumper stickers of "My Governor Can Beat Up Your Governor" and hey Jesse did you ever get that legalized prostitution law passed up here? My personal favorite quote of his "organized religion is a sham and a crutch for weak-minded people". Hmmm from the Rhodes Scholar I find the remark fascinating.

On to Minnesota's other winner...the former Saturday Night writer turned Senator-talk about a bad joke. What's next Senator Carrot Top? While indeed he was born here but what does this transplanted New York Comic have in common with the folks I am seeing around here? On the other hand maybe he is qualified for the comic institution known as the U.S. Senate. This pic sums it my thoughts on now Senator Franken. He did win fair and square right? Oh Garrison Keeler are you next?

Pleep commandeered the computer during the trek to Northern Minnesota. He wanted to make a movie of the best of Pleep cowboy experiences which seem to involve as much drinking & goofing off as actual cowboy work. He says it's dedicated to me. We are going to have a hard time reigning him in when we finally hit the big city. We may have to send him to Lincoln Park Zoo for a few days until he settles down. Lou Lou will be jealous.

Day 102 SOUTH AND NORTH DAKOTA-DEADWOOD AND TEDDY ROOSEVELT NATIONAL PARK

DEADWOOD

A really cool town where the bikers hang out. The entire city of Deadwood is a national historic landmark. In Deadwood you can ponder the truth at the foot of Wild Bill's grave in Mount Moriah cemetery, tour the Adams Museum and House, pan for gold at the Broken Boot Mine, choose from various guided tours, or take a self-guided walking tour into the past that puts the Wild West into perspective. Casinos galore...even Kevin Costner owns one.

Jack Daniels Street - not too hard to get a man's beverage here. Pleep insisted on the shot glass with bottle on the bar approach. We found out he's been watching the Western Cowboy Channel at the hotel all night. He seems to have picked up a lot of the cowboy habits from the movies.

Pleep thinks the bikers might be considered modern day cowboys. In many ways they seem to symbolize the wild, anything goes spirit that settled the west. He wanted to get his own set of "colors" but we managed to convince him that wasn't a good idea. Boca told him it would restrict his ability to move freely among the various groups plus it would keep him out of the very bars he wanted to hang out in. He had to settle for a patch which he decided not to sew onto his monkey skin.

Pleep and Buba kept checking out the bikes. There were a lot of ones that caught their attention. The custom paint jobs were amazing. Pleep spotted several great "Babe Bikes". He told Buba to buy one and then get Bocahontas to pose for the paint job. Buba was less than enthusiastic about the idea of having Boca's face & torso painted on a Harley. Pleep insists that with a little airbrushing Bocahontas on the fuel tank would look very cool and every bit as nice as this lady.

They weren't certain if this one could even qualify as a bike. Buba thought not and that he wouldn't want to drive into Deadwood in it. We'll probably be home before the sound of Harley's stop ringing in our ears. Vrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrooooooooooooooooom!

Cowboy Hall Of Fame
Today Pleep dragged us into the Cowboy Hall Of Fame. He aspires to be a cowboy and keeps playing with the IPOD to play Willie Nelson songs. We've been subjected to "My Heroes Have Always Been Cowboys" about 100 times so far this morning. He wants us to buy him the full kit - hat, chaps, lasso, holster, Colt 45. Bocahontas keeps responding with her version of "Mamas Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys" in which she substitutes Monkeys for Babies. Buba has resorted to ear plugs.

The North Dakota Cowboy Hall of Fame is the interpretive center for the history of Native Americans, ranching, rodeo, and the western lifestyle of the plains and Badlands. Here, the culture and legacy that is the character of the Great American West will be saved for future generations.

Designed by Bismarck architect Arnie Hanson, the 15,000-square-foot building, with a 5,000- square-foot patio, is located in downtown Medora, North Dakota, at the gate to the Theodore Roosevelt National Park.

The $3-million facility features a Hall of Honorees, an interpretive center with permanent and traveling western culture exhibits, a 45-seat theater and a multipurpose meeting area for use by visiting groups. The building also has a gift shop, an archives section and library, as well as a children’s activity area and an outside patio with an awesome view of the Little Missouri River and the North Dakota Badlands.

Display areas interpret and honor Native Americans, trail drivers, homesteaders, ranchers and rodeo stars.

The Hall of Fame is fittingly located in Medora and the Badlands, where the “bully” spirit of an American President was discovered and where the feeling of the American West still lives. In 1884, Teddy Roosevelt began ranching near the site of the Cowboy Hall of Fame. The young man with the Eastern accent and glasses was called “Old Four Eyes,” but he earned the grudging respect of the cowboys and learned that he possessed a character that would one day propel him to the White House.

Pleep loved posing with all the cowboy displays and no one thought he was too wild for this place. He's thinking about trying out for the rodeo. Ride 'em cowboy! He hears some rodeos hire monkeys to work with the bull riders.

Driving through the Badlands is remarkable; the scenery and isolation combine for a remarkable experience. Pleep never tires of looking out the window. In fact, he made Buba pull over and get the Windex out. Pleep insists on clean windows all the way around the car. The bug kills make this a constant task for Buba. Pleep uses the pit stop time to chase the prairie dogs. Where do they go? Do you think it's safe to follow them into the tunnels? Will it be like the Wind Cave? Can you hunt the little buggers? They are about the right size for Pleep to use for target practice.

Teddy Roosevelt National Park
Theodore Roosevelt first came to the badlands on a hunting trip in September 1883. He was enchanted by the landscape and its wildlife. TR invested in two cattle ranches, the Maltese Cross (check the pic below) and the Elkhorn. The experience was influential on his life, philosophy, and politics. "I never would have been President if it had not been for my experiences in North Dakota," he said.

When twenty-four-year-old Theodore Roosevelt stepped off the train in Dakota Territory in September 1883, he brought with him a keen sense of adventure and wonderment. Today, the park provides an opportunity to learn about an environment and way of life that helped shape Theodore Roosevelt's attitudes and philosophy regarding conservation.

The Badlands Of Theodore Roosevelt National Park: The colorful Little Missouri River Badlands provides the scenic backdrop to the park which memorializes the 26th president for his enduring contributions to the conservation of our nation's resources. Pleep now wants to get some glasses.....oy.