Summer has arrived! I’m not saying that because the temperature has been climbing and the sun has been around longer each day. No, I really realize summer is here when I start wishing that I could clone myself.
Cook County is always a busy place, but things kick into frantic this time of year. There always seems to be three different entertaining and interesting things taking place at any given time.
Last weekend was a perfect example. There was the wonderful North House Folk School Wooden Boat Show with terrific activities taking place on Saturday. I like to check out the beautiful wooden boats and watch the cool traditional craft demonstrations, but I really love to “shop” at the silent auction. I like to be there for the live auction too—I’m usually out priced fairly quickly, but it’s fun to watch.
But also on Saturday was the second spectacular Lutsen 99er. I was able to make it last year to get photos when there were about 100 bikers taking off from Lutsen Mountains. It was fun watching. This year would have been extra special as there were hundreds more bicycles and there were dozens of folks that I know pedaling in the 39-mile race. It would have been fun to hang out and listen to music until they returned muddy and triumphant.
At the same time however, there was the ATV Association of Minnesota attempt to reclaim the World’s Longest ATV Parade record down the shore in Silver Bay. I’ve taken part in the two other attempts—one successful, one not. So I didn’t want to miss the chance to ride with all the folks I know in the ATV community across the state. In addition to the Cook County riders I know, there are friends from Two Harbors, Tower, Maple Grove and Albert Lea at the event. It’s a carnival-like atmosphere and yes, it was fun, even if the record still belongs to Utah. We had only 1,060 ATVs in our parade.
The upcoming weekend looks like it will be just as busy, starting Friday night—there is an amazing show opening at the Johnson Heritage Post with paintings by Joi Electra and photography by David Grezden and John Gregor. The problem is it overlaps with the marvelous mystery dinner theater at the Harbor Light…which conflicts with The Hoolies and Kiss Army Live at Grand Portage Lodge’s Retro Rock Revue.
I’m hoping I’ll be able to make it up to Grand Portage Lodge on Saturday to see Smashmouth of Shrek movie soundtrack fame…but that will likely mean I’ll be missing something else.
And so it goes throughout the weekend and the summer. I have a weekend of camping penciled in, but I don’t know if it is going to work out. There is just too much other fun stuff going on. Happy summer everyone!
Since time is the one
immaterial object which we
cannot influence—neither
speed up nor slow down,
add to nor diminish—it is an
imponderably valuable gift.
Maya Angelou
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