Early Spring on the North Shore

Duluth Harbor Lift Bridge

We try to visit the north shore of Lake Superior several times a year so that we can enjoy the region's eclectic weather and waterscapes. I had been hoping to see the chunks of ice in Duluth Harbor but we missed that unusual sight by a couple of weeks so I wasn't surprised by a clear lake, with a cold breeze hinting at frigid water.

Temps had finally warmed in the Twin Cities but we were sensible enough to wear our jeans on the Corvette run last Tuesday. We had donned our jackets by the time we arrived at Grandma's, where tradition dictates a shared sandwich for lunch, in this case, turkey and bacon on a roll. I treated myself to a Prairie Mary, a delicious variety of bloody mary: vodka infused with red and yellow peppers, garnished with skewered beef-venison jerky stick, baby corn, and pickled herring. I had mine with half tomato juice to cut the acidity, and really enjoyed the amber beer chaser too. Bob had a beer, my usual choice.

Lilacs, wildflowers, garden plantings -- all vegetation, really -- were several weeks behind. That's always the case, but mid-June seemed very late for flowering crab, though it was lovely to see the trees in bloom for the second time in a month.

Superior Shores

We stayed in the main building at Superior Shores in Two Harbors, rather than at the Burlington Bay complex located about a mile south by highway, also accessible by trail running along Lake Superior. The building is showing its age and our room had no seating, apart from the bed and two extremely uncomfortable log chairs. Not enough outlets for our modest complement of chargeable devices.

I was surprised when I called in confusion about the wifi network (two discovered, but neither worked). At the end of my conversation with the front desk, I was told that some guests had noted problems, and that the service provider had been called. Wifi was out for several hours -- I'm fairly sure I've noted this problem before at the same hotel.

We drove up the shore to Gooseberry Falls the next day. The park was quiet and almost serene, with few insects and no black flies. We were expecting much more water over the falls, but, as always, it was a thrill to hear the water rushing enthusiastically toward the big lake.

Next time we may look for new accommodations, perhaps a little more modern and device friendly. This demand almost seems sacrilegious, since the beauty of the north shore is still the main attraction.