Sunday 8/18/19, Day Ten

Of course it was very difficult to get Anna up and going in the morning, but it had to be done, since we had a 9:30 checkout deadline. Breakfast was an assortment of leftovers. It didn't help that it was a rainy, ugly morning. We were finally packed up and ready to leave around 9 AM.

Each cabin has a journal where guests write about their visit, tell their stories, and describe their many adventures. I was pleased to see Anna writing in the cabin book before we left.

And we were off to one of our very favorite places in the world--Naniboujou Lodge. This is a beautiful historic lodge on the Lake Superior shore near Hovland.

Naniboujou was built as part of a private hunting and fishing club by wealthy investors in the late 1920's. At that time it boasted such members as Babe Ruth and Jack Dempsey, and included many acres right on the shore of Gitche-gumee. Only the lodge remains, and it is on the National Register of Historic Places. Almost everything is reminiscent of a byegone era.

Probably most memorable is the dining room, which still has the original Cree Indian-inspired paintings on the walls and ceiling, and the largest stone fireplace in Minnesota (200 tons.) We were pleased to enjoy the sumptuous Sunday Brunch; this always seems to have the same menu, and includes beautiful cedar planked whole salmon, and a wonderful bread pudding.

In the above photo Anna's pendant that she purchased in Grand Marais is visible. It is "snowflake obsidian", and it looks especially stylish when she is wearing black.

But all through brunch Anna was anticipating the time she would spend on the Lake Superior shore, collecting and admiring--you guessed it--ROCKS!! It didn't matter to her that there was a light rain and cloudy gray skies. She spent a couple of hours out "collecting" her specimens, while Grandpa and I (who usually sit in the big chairs and admire her finds) were reading and relaxing in the nice, warm solarium. Grandpa did go out to check on her once, and he snapped a few photos.

Eventually we were informed that our rooms were ready, so we called Anna in to get cleaned up (and warmed up) before Afternoon Tea in the Solarium.

There are 24 small guest rooms in the lodge. We like to book the "family suite", which is two adjoining rooms over the kitchen, each with its own bathroom. Some of the original furniture is in the rooms, and the covers on the beds are signed Amish handmade quilts. It may be a bit surprising to learn that Anna, a teenager who has always lived in the Chicago suburbs, loves this place so much. No telephone, no cell service, no TV, no AC.

Afternoon Tea in the solarium:

Back to the rocks. But at least the sun came out. And the surf was remarkably gentle.

I will never forget the smiles of pure joy when an interesting specimen is brought back for my approval or dismissal. We didn't bring too many rocks home, but more than we might have planned. There is now a new doorstop at our lake cottage. It is the perfect size to hold back the door, and it also holds many memories.

Sometimes a reject has to be thrown back into the big lake.

And oh, the pebbles do get inside one's shoes!

She'll never forget this.

We ended up going for a late dinner. Even so, we had to wait to be seated, so we entertained ourselves with a game of "Quiddler" in the solarium. When the hostess called that our table was ready, Anna was leading significantly. She was just fine with not finishing out the game.

Dinner was relaxing, refreshing, renewing. Anna ordered the "Brule Burger" and it had to be sent back for a bit more cooking, but when it arrived the next time the cheese was still gooey and yummy. Grandpa and I enjoyed our cranberry pork tenderloin. And we all splurged with dessert: sorbet for Grandpa, peach-strawberry cobbler for Anna, and I indulged myself with the hot fudge rum sundae. Decadent!

We ended up being the last diners this evening. That gave me a chance to take a few photos of the dining room without it being busy.

We went up to the balcony above the solarium to check out the night sky. Anna tried the telescope with no luck, but we stood by the railing and marveled at the stunning view of the sky that can be seen away from the lights of cities and roads. We could even see the Milky Way!

It had been a late dinner and we were all tired. We just went to our rooms to get a good night's sleep. Anna says she laid down upon her bed in her clothes with all of the lights on, and she suddenly awoke at 3 AM in that condition. Perhaps it was the comfort of the "Sleep Number" bed! Or perhaps she was dreaming about her greatly anticipated jumbo cinnamon roll!