Short Trip to Ely and New Photo Feature

I'm so excited to now have the option to post photos on the blog! So, here's the first one taken just a few days ago on Shagwa Lake in Ely. By the way, this is a picture of your hosts at the Ellery House, Jim and Joan. Yes, we do manage to take a little breather every once in awhile. Our son, Jonathan, is spending his summer as a camp counselor at the family YMCA Camp du Nord on beautiful Burntside Lake. Hiking, kayaking, swimming, berry picking, reading books on the beach, sipping lattes on the dock, singing camp songs and watching our son in action, filled our very enjoyable days. It's always hard leaving that paradise in the North woods, but then we get back to Duluth and realize that we have all of that stuff right here (except maybe for the camp songs). In fact, in our absence, Lake Superior water temps had warmed up and the annoying biting flies had moved on. We spent a lovely time Saturday afternoon at the beach swimming as rowing shells racing in the Duluth International Regatta skimmed by. Swimmers and dogs had to stay attentive as their crableg-like oars dipped very near the shallow waters as they headed down to the starting line. The beautiful weather continued on into the evening as we strolled through the Rose Gardens and the Lakewalk to Bayfront Park. We were serenaded with the hot summer sounds of live reggae music as we dangled our legs over the water chatting with friends. The threat of thunderstorms sent us walking the mile back to our cars which we reached just as the first drops began to fall.

Aaah, it's good to be in Duluth.