Two State Gremlins & A New Torque Converter

The plan was to leave Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota early and get a good day of driving in. My destination was the new Harley museum in Milwaukee, of course realizing it would take more than one day to get there. So, up early only to find a burned out camper right tail light. The local boating shop didn’t have it, but Gateway General did, as well as the propane I needed to fill my tank.
Ellen & Phil Hart, the owners, were as helpful as they had been for the time I spent in Kabetogama. Nice people very willing to share the local information and allow me to sit in their cozy general store with a cup of coffee and peruse the internet which they had access to. No service in the park. Ok, on my way to Wisconsin. The hour was 4pm and it was time to find a campground. As good luck would have it, I found Willow River State Park in Hudson Wisconsin. I stopped for two pleasant days of camping and a great hike to the falls. Heading out the next morning brought me more gremlins. This time it was the transmission on the Jeep. I then spent two more days of camping, only this time in the parking lot of Hudson Jeep and Chrysler. I was again fortunate to meet John Darud, Service Consultant, who set me up next to an electric outlet that their detail man uses in a private spot out of the way. So now I have electric and a nice parking lot to camp in while my torque converter was repaired. I was also given a loaner car to run my very important errands, like getting my laundry done. John and Mackenzie Martin, a co worker were friendly and willing to do whatever it took to make my stay as comfortable as possible. John extended his capabilities and gave me a much better price for the not so inexpensive repair that was originally quoted. If you are ever in the town of Hudson Wisconsin, stop in to see John and know you will be treated right. Thanks John. After an early morning thank you breakfast with John, I set out to Milwaukee. I should not fail to mention the Park Ranger, Kelli Bruns, in Willow River who pointed out a new state park only 20 miles North of Milwaukee which will make commuting to Milwaukee a snap. Thanks Kelli.
Enjoy a few pictures. TC…

                                              

Minnesota, Voyageurs National Park

Voyageurs National Park in Minnesota is about 13 miles from the Canadian border, but a long way from Madison County Iowa. Therefore, I had to stop for the night in Minnesota at Moose Lake State Park, but ended up staying for two nights instead. The parks’ setting is picturesque, but also rugged, and I wanted a few days to just enjoy it. The leaves were turning in Minnesota and with cool evenings, I found my stay to be very enjoyable and relaxing. I also found the howling of a wolf to be just a little bit scary but more so fascinating. That was the first time I heard a wolf, and I can tell you it was quite unnerving, but very cool at the same time. I knew I had more awaiting me at Voyageurs National Park and Lake Kabetogama State Park. Lake Kabetogama, even though a state park, is part of the National Park system, because there is no way into Voyageurs unless you boat in. I did not have that ability, so I camped on the lake. I fished, hiked and kayaked with my camping neighbors Kay and Doug, and enjoyed the Northern Minnesota hospitality. My five night stay was “on the state”, so to speak, because after September 25tt the camp basically is left to anyone who wished to use it without charge, or so it appeared, as there was no one there to collect so I just enjoyed the freebee.
As has been my good fortune in the past with other campers, Kay and Doug became good camping friends. We shared Doug’s veggie cheese soup for dinner one night and I reciprocated the next morning with blueberry pancakes. You have no idea how good pancakes taste on a cool Minnesota morning with hot coffee to wash it down or hot soup on a cool evening ,especially when it is amazing soup. There is something about your appetite and how good food tastes when you are camping. I’d have to use the word voracious.
When Kay and Doug left, I was the only camper in the extremely woodsy park. I must admit, even with the campfire glowing, it was a little spooky at times, but, alls well that ends well and so on.
All in all, Minnesota has been fun, enjoyable and interesting. By the way the kayaking pictures that Kay took will be emailed to me and I will enter those as a post script. Doug gave me a quick lesson and we headed out on the lake. I loved it, and once again, just may have another new hobby.
For now enjoy some photos. TC…

Entering the park.

Closed for the winter.

 

Winter colors.