Jack Randall’s group trekked from Austin Texas to complete a BWCA adventure last week.
Fire Restrictions
We’re sorry to report, due to lack of rain in July, full fire restrictions are in effect. According to the USFS, you cannot have a campfire at any time. Our weather has been beautiful, sunny, in the 70’s. Great for everything up here—the bug cycles are finishing–everybody is happy. We’d be even happier with some gentle evening showers for about a week.
The Dragon Boat Races
Last Saturday the Grand Marais Harbor park filled up with teams and spectators in a rainbow of different tshirts—our (Hungry Jack Outfitter sponsored) team wore lime green. All proceeds went to local causes—the Hospital, North House Folk School, WTIP Radio. 
This was my first time on a Dragon Boat Team—didn’t really think it could hurt so much to pull that boat across the harbor—so I was pleasantly surprised.
Lisa set the heartbeat on the drum up front, Dave hollered commands as he steered the boat, the rest of us pulled in unison. Truly a rush of synergy. 
(Note, most of the photos are of the kids races–I had the honor of riding without being allowed to paddle–there is no time for photos when I’m supposed to be reaching and pulling!).For me the day was joyfully over-stimulated. Keeping track of the races, the kids, unexpected faces popping out of the crowd—left me wanting more time with each. My summers feel like they have the same sense of busy happy hectic ness. People come and go, I want more time , and always there is somewhere else I need to be. I watch my children leaping off the dock—I plan to get down there, turn around and they’re riding away on bicycles. The guests—many becoming dear friends, are gone in a flash… I’m living a slideshow existence of photo moments.
When I have time to reflect—to pull out the snapshots of my days—it’s late September.. A friend sent me a poignant “take time to smell the flowers” poem. So true, but not on the 2nd of August. We do have balance here, just not a daily balance. There are some days in the winter when the woods are empty. The trick is always to savor the moments as they come, savor the busy hectic ness, savor the dark quietness. Both have their season.
Weather: has been warm, clear, windy, dry. Beginning August 3rd, there is a fire ban in the woods.
Gnomes and Fairies at Tuscarora, by our friend Lily
OK, well last year I realized that there was a fairy house here at Tuscarora. The fairy house is down by the dock by the Lodge. It is a cut down log with lots of holes—with a rectangle that’s the door and there are four windows. I can’t see them (the fairies) but they can hear me when I talk to them, and they told my dad that they made a gift for me.
Then the fairies gave me a cool tube–kind of looks like a bracelet—like a little piece of bark with a picture on it. I gave them cookies and I decorated their house with clay. But then the gnomes almost spotted them, so they had to take off my decorations, but they said it was so beautiful (and it was). 
Then we decided to build a trap (me my dad, and Aiden). We used sticks and string. I think one of the fairies played dead under the trap and they (the gnomes) went to check on her. And then the gnomes got caught but fairies are so tiny that she could fly right out of the holes. The gnomes lifted up the cage and they got away but they said that they would leave the fairies alone for a year until this month next year—in July. Then I guess I’ll have to help the fairies again. Well I was planning for you guys to hang onto the cage, then we can tell the kids who want to help them that we already have a cage for them, so someone else can probably do the cage.
Summer Days
The weather is perfect, the sunny days are busy, the quiet nights are cool, everybody is happy to be in the woods!
