Vacation Day 5: ‘Don’t let the bears get too comfortable’

I wasn’t brave enough to sit under the stars by myself last night. Or tonight. I let Loverboy out for final potties. His hackles stood at alert and all he wanted to do was run into the woods and bark. He did not venture beyond the reach of the porch light, Thank God, or I might have keeled over.  I yelled at him harshly after he did his job to get back inside. I later tearfully apologized to him, explaining that when I yell, it only means I’m afraid something bad will happen.  On some level, I think he gets it. He’s very unused to having me raise his voice at him. But I’m not in the mood to have him take on any bears.

And there are plenty of ‘em up here, according to the ladies at the Finland Co-op. Bought some sunflower seeds there today. Upgrading the food with the hopes of attracting even a single bird. All I’ve seen are crows flying overhead. I miss my flocks of birdies. All I’ve attracted are chipmunks and red squirrels. I’m enjoying them, too. That said, the ladies at the co-op advised me to keep the sunflower seeds inside or bears would be coming to the party.

“They can make themselves right at home and make a real mess,” said Lady One.

“They do?” I asked.

“Yeah, they’ll dig through your garbage and your birdseed and leave a disaster behind.”

“One of ‘em likes to lounge on my deck while I’m mowing the lawn,” said Lady Two.

“Aren’t you afraid?”

“Naw, I just yell at ‘em and they run away. You don’t want ‘em making themselves too comfortable at your place, and they will if you let ‘em,” she warned.

“Yeah, and remember, they’re messy,” said Lady One.

Sounds like they’re talking about a bad houseguest, not a thousand-pound beast!

I left Loverboy behind today to go to Tettagouche State Park and do some serious hiking. Loverboy did not enjoy the hiking part of the trip at all. And, this time, when I was half-way through my climb to Shovel Point, a couple with two very athletic, pointy-nosed dogs came by and the dogs looked absolutely exhausted.  I stopped feeling guilty for leaving Loverboy behind.

I realized I’m not much of a hiker myself. I was winded after climbing a long set of stairs – stairs, not walking paths that real hikers use, mind you. The hike out to the Shovel Point was three-quarters of a mile. Loverboy would have enjoyed it if it wasn’t so steep. There were many beautiful outlooks over Lake Superior and I took advantage of every one. On the way back, I found a path that led to a rocky, isolated beach. Sitting there and watching the waves has been the most peaceful part of the trip. I did a little rock hunting, too. A throwback from when I was a kid. I loved rock-hunting back then and found beautiful pieces of amethyst in Lake Superior at my aunt’s cabin in Thunder Bay. She and the cabin are both long gone, but I still have the amethyst.

After a dip in the Baptism River, I was on my way back home a couple of hours later. I stopped by the Finland Co-op again – needed balsamic vinegar, alas, nothing like that there. There, in the parking lot, I ran into the cutest scene. A little white dog perched high atop gear in the back seat, next to his black lab buddy on the seat, and two women in the front seat. I commented how cute their dogs were. They had a canoe tied to the top of their car and were probably on their way to the boundary waters to camp. Loverboy and Kitty - and me, for that matter- could have it so much rougher!  I really don’t understand the appeal of camping. Mosquitoes, dirt, being out in the elements, whatever those elements bring, I wonder what the missionaries and voyageurs would think of it! They would definitely prefer my choice, to them, I would be living better right now than their governor.

I arrived home to an ecstatic Loverboy. I took him for a walk up the road, but this wilderness thing isn’t his cup of tea, really. Kitty chose not to sleep today and instead, mewed incessantly to go out. I obliged as long as I could, allowing him to nibble the grass or snoop near the sauna. But the minute he seemed overly eager to dart into the woods after some creature, he was hauled back in. Or when the bugs got too bad. One thing I forgot about is the mosquitoes – they are everywhere. Loverboy hates them, understandably. Which may explain why walks have lost their glow. They’re either taken in the noon-day sun when the heat scares off the bug or they’re taking at dusk when the bugs start emerging en force.

Loverboy and Kitty are both sleeping soundly at the bottom of my bed now.

I figure Loverboy misses Uptown and all of the attention he gets by merely strolling out the front door.  So tomorrow, I’m taking him to Grand Marais. It’s pledge week at WTIP, the Arrowhead’s community radio station based in Grand Marais, so I called in and made a $10 pledge in Loverboy’s name and to gauge the dog-friendliness of the town.

“We love dogs!” gushed the deejay. “Go to Sydneys, they have outdoor seating, special doggy treats, and a dog-watering area.”

Perfect. Loverboy will get his city fix tomorrow.  I may even bother with a little makeup. Have not worn makeup or combed my hair in days; instead. I wash it throw it up in a pony tail to sleep in and then yank it back with bobby pins into a messy French roll during the day. Making my way to dreadlocks.

Tonight I listened to Mountain Stage, an NPR Program, that was prerecorded in Grand Marais. Love the singer Cheryl Wheeler.  Grand Marais sounds like a very cool place.

I couldn’t be enjoying my trip more, really. I was hoping to do more prayer and meditation. I do my morning rituals, of course, but really, I think it’s more important that I have fun.  None of us ever have enough fun in our lives, and what is fun but pure joy?

It’s been so much fun:

·         Finding a precious lost kitty!

·         Having the company of my beloved Loverboy.

·         Looking up at a clear blue sky without a single chemtrail!!!!

·         Being away from the energy of the city and inhaling the pure air of the Northwoods.

·         Not having internet. It’s been good to be out of touch.

·         Grilling! I love how it delicious it makes everything!

·         Lake Superior and rocky, isolated beaches.

·         Not wearing makeup or doing hair.

·         Hula hooping.

·         Chipmunks and red squirrels.

·         Spacious, pretty cabins with indoor plumbing!

·         Long, healthy hikes with marvelous vistas.

·         Reading history books. I need to do that more often.

Two more days of this!