Voyaging to Voyageurs NP

We landed at an amazing campground called The Pines of Kabetogama, what a place! Beautiful hilltop campsite with a unbelievable view. And another great place for Bulleit to run free!

The owner greeted me inside the office and invited us to take a private tour on his boat of the national park. We did not realize that is really the only way to see this vast park. Such an amazing day, even let us bring Bulleit who was such a good boy with us on the boat. We made 6 stops which were all so different. First stop was the Kabetogama Visitor center

Then we headed to the Ellsworth Rock Garden

We then hopped in the boat and did a long trek across Kabetogama Lake making many slow cruisings along the shores of the thousands of islands viewing the beautiful juvenile bald eagles and historical events that happened. Many islands had different names like Mikey and Little Mikey(had to open another island next to the bigger island for the visitors to the “resort”as it became too crowded), Jug Island(where they dropped off the smuggling Canadian Whiskey to be picked up by people wanting the Moonshine). At one moment(video below) we were literally on the border of Canada and the USA, and didn’t have to present our passport, shhhhh. We arrived at Kettle Falls Historic District Hotel where we heard a bit about the history of the hotel and where you can still get a room! The Kettle Falls is really a dam controlling the water levels of Namakan Lake and Rainy Lake, as the water enters and was named for the large, kettle-like depressions or holes in the rocks on each side of the rapids, which give the appearance of a boiling cauldron. These natural formations likely held water that boiled or bubbled, hence the name. French-Canadian voyageurs, who also used the name Chaudière Falls (meaning to boil or bubble), noted the similarity to a kettle.  Their restaurant was also open, so we sat outside in the garden and had a lovely local style lunch. Their bar was originally built on sand and it sunk but the floor just bent. They just left it like that, hope you can see that in the picture

We departed Kettle Falls and headed to I.W. Stevens Island. I.W. Stevens (Ingvald Walter Stevens) was a Norwegian immigrant who became known for his nearly 50 years of self-sufficient life on a remote island in what is now Voyageurs National Park. After running a shoe business, he purchased the island in 1932, living there for decades, first as owner of a resort and then alone in solitude, growing his own food and writing about his life in the wild(we bought his excerpts book) before leaving the island at age 94 and eventually living to be 104. Not sure how anyone could live by himself but he was quoted, I must really like myself and enjoy being with me. Photos are of his home, his guest house, sauna(his reason he lived so long) and the million dollar bench view

Then we headed to Hoist Bay, they would make and store giant ice blocks for cold storage here. On our way there, a great bald eagle sighting! And a great Bulleit pic enjoying the trip. Video was the example of root cold storage on the islands

Last stop was Ash River visitor center where we saw a replica of a canoe that they used to go from island to island. The picture of the flat island is the Jug Island, not sure how that was hiding it. Some colors of fall starting to appear and an appearance of a loons couple, pretty rare

Such an amazing day at Voyageurs NP, thanks to Jason and his amazing tour of the National Park!

The next day I had to ride my bike into the National Park, as small as it was on the road. Lunch after my ride at the Rocky Ledge where we had Indian Fry Bread tacos, so unique and yummy. Here are a couple of pics!

As you can see, this was an amazing stop for us!!!!!!