Weekly Update

We're fine.  Routine continues.  Roofing on the front of the visitor center is complete, so the above picture is our spot in front of the visitor center from 10-2 Saturday through Tuesday of each week.  

COVID-19 has spiked here in Koochiching County.  When we arrived in May there were 24 confirmed cases.  Held flat until after Memorial Day.  Now have 56 confirmed cases as of Saturday afternoon.  This resulted in most indoor dining to cease though we found Cantilever Distillery to have a sort of indoor/outdoor arrangement, and they serve pretty good food.  It's also a hotel, so something to consider if you're ever in International Falls, MN and need a spot to stay.

Like I said we're in a routine.  Not much to report other than our local buck is developing some mighty fine antlers.  We'll try to get a picture of him before we leave.  

Everyone be safe out there.  Until next week, David

Mid July Update

We still here fighting the biting black flies.  We've been hot lately, but it looks like that's going to break a little bit this coming week.  We've missed the worst of the north central storms as they moved south of us.  Every year we've volunteered here, Duluth is gotten the worst of the weather and that seems to be occurring this year, too.

Nothing really new to report.  We did take a day trip to Bemidji, MN home of Lake Bemidji and near the head of the Mississippi River (Lake Itasca).  We have one prescription that we have to travel to obtain and that was the reason for this trip.  Got to eat lunch indoors at Applebee's and fill the truck at $2.049/gallon.

Anyway, we're fine.  Visitor centers remain closed, so we try to stay out front at Rainy Lake from 10-2 each day we're there.  Roam the area or work on projects the rest of the day.  We're spending a day at Voyageurs HQ on Sunday's, now.  HQ is empty - well mostly empty on Sunday's - and the park's internet service is better there to work on our assigned projects using the park's shared drives. 

So that gets you caught up with us.  Thanks for dropping by and checking up on us.  Be safe out there.  Until next week, David 

 

Happy 4th of July!

Happy 4th of July!  Hope everyone is having a good weekend.  We're hot - running into the low 90s consistently each day.  That's the warmest it's been of the three seasons we've volunteered at Voyageurs Natl Park.  That's hot enough that we need to run both ACs.  As we're at the end of the power grid, we're only getting about 5.5 KW of power - same as our generator.  Consequently, if you want to run something else on electric power, one AC needs to be turned off.  It's beginning to become routine to automatically go turn something off to turn something else on.  Makes laundry day interesting when you want to run the dryer!  You're turning off one AC and running an appliance that generates heat.  We ended up just shutting that part of the trailer off, opening the windows and turning the vent fan on where the dryer is located.

Biting black flies are back with a vengeance.  Sitting or roaming outside to talk to visitors isn't all that much fun with the insects coming out in full force.  As they're putting a new roof on the visitor center, the front kiosk that contains brochures, maps, and the ever-popular park stamp are all blocked from visitors.  So we try to get outside as much as we can, and carry these things with us to have for visitors.  

We're going to take a day trip to Bemidji, MN this coming week.  Bemidji is the town nearest to the head of the Mississippi River.  It's also the closest town where a chain pharmacy store is located that has our one drug prescription.  We'll take advantage of the shopping there to pick up some supplies and things we need that don't require refrigeration.  Maybe eat lunch in town, too.

That's gets you up to date with us.  Thanks for dropping by.  Be safe out there.  David