.

.
Borrego Springs, CA

Friday, August 16, 2013

A welcome visitor

Yesterday morning, fellow blogger and friend, Gypsy arrived for a two day visit on the refuge.  The first order of business, of course, was to give her the grand tour of the refuge.

IMG_0162

We were able to see a couple of bald eagles, a nesting pair of ospreys, a deer, and a whole bunch of trumpeter swans.  I know a bunch of geese are called a gaggle, but I have no idea what the proper name for a bunch of swans is.

_MG_9345

I took Marty on some of the back roads of the refuge in hopes of seeing a wolf, but our chit chatting probably gave them an early warning of our approach.  Winking smile  I do believe she enjoyed stopping at some of my favorite hidden spots.

_MG_9347

After we got back to the rig, it was time for Marty to choose her new diamond willow walking stick from the three sticks I had finished.  I was happy to see that she picked out the one with what I thought had the prettiest markings.  I wasn’t sure if it would be tall enough for her, but she said it was just right.  I hope it travels many miles with her.

73 Tamarac NWR, 201324

Shortly afterwards, Steve declared that the smoked ribs were ready, so I brought out the homegrown tomatoes, Cole slaw, and watermelon that I had to complete the meal.  It was a delicious ending to our day.

73 Tamarac NWR, 201325

Today I got the chance to take Marty to Minnesota’s first State Park.  Itasca State Park just happens to also be the place where the mighty Mississippi River begins it’s journey to the Gulf of Mexico.  We spent most of the day there, took several short hikes to see some vistas and immense trees, and Marty got her feet wet in the headwaters of the Mississippi.  I tried to get her to walk all the way across, but like me, walking on anything with bare feet just isn’t something either of us are comfortable with. 

My chuckle for the day came when I used the ladies room at one of the two visitors centers.  As I sat down to relieve myself, I noticed a poster on the inside of the stall door.  On it was a lesson on what ground water is.  What a state park.  They even try to educate you when you are a captive audience.  Rolling on the floor laughing It was a fun day for both of us.

The plan this evening was to go to Ice Cracking Lodge (wonderful name for a place in northern Minnesota) for some tasty Thunder Burgers.  I was shocked when we got to this little bar/grill to see the place packed to the gills at 5:30.  It turned out to be Friday Bingo Night at the local lodge in Round Lake.  Holy Mackerel!  I think we got the last two available seats in the place, and the noise from the bingo caller and players almost made me deaf.  I guess they take bingo seriously up here.  Disappointed smile

Sorry to say, Gypsy will be on her way to International Falls tomorrow, and I’ve got errands to run in Fargo.  I’ve really enjoyed her visit, and hope we up meet again soon down the road.

_MG_9364

                                                                               THE END!!

Thanks for stopping by… talk to you later,  Judy

27 comments:

  1. How fun that you guys got to explore together. I know Marty needed some good fun time with a fellow traveler and it sure sounds like fun and good food.

    ReplyDelete
  2. What a nice visit. Marty made a great choice on the walking stick...
    The ribs sure looked yummy!

    ReplyDelete
  3. Sounds like the two of you had a great visit.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I believe the name for a group of swans is a bevy. I learned that last year when I was trying to find out what kind of swans we had seen in a field here in Oregon. I managed to find out they were not trumpeter swans, but tundra swans. My ID was graciously confirmed by the Bird Lady of Blogland (tee-hee). That walking stick looks just right but has Marty seen the last picture? Too funny.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love your photos of your friend, especially the last very appropriately placed pix. Couldn't keep myself from looking up "bevy" of swans and thought you might like to see this website ...... http://www.palomaraudubon.org/collective.html
    Dinner looked yummy!

    ReplyDelete
  6. What fun and great pictures of Gypsy. love the walking stick and FOOD

    ReplyDelete
  7. Sounds like a great visit. Dinner looked good.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Sounds like a great day with a friend. I'm with you on walking barefoot ... have never been comfortable doing it.

    ReplyDelete
  9. Itasca is a great park! Glad you enjoyed your visit with a friend.

    ReplyDelete
  10. What a wonderful way to spend the day...enjoying a good friend in the outdoors, does't get much better than that.

    I love walking barefoot, especially in the cool green grass.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Isn't that wonderful....to spend a day or two with a friend and to be able to share some of your favorite places. I think that's one of the real benefits of blogging and social media...you get to meet such wonderful people and sometimes you get to meet them in person!

    ReplyDelete
  12. What fun... meeting up with a fellow blogger to enjoy a day in the outdoors! Having that great dinner just put icing on the cake... or is it sauce on the ribs? Can't help but hope we have the opportunity to meet you one of these days.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Looks like you had a great visit and great food!

    ReplyDelete
  14. I love walking barefoot on carpet and inside my house. But that's about it! Sometimes I walk on the backyard grass but I always seem to step on something or trip. Sounds like you had a great time. I enjoy all your pictures and adventures.

    ReplyDelete
  15. What a great time you all had. I'm happy to hear Marty had a wonderful visit.

    ReplyDelete
  16. You're a wonderful tour guide, whether it's a bunch of school kids or a single person. Glad you had a great time. :c)

    ReplyDelete
  17. Sounds like you and Marty had a grand time...glad the visit was good!

    ReplyDelete
  18. Looks like you gals had a great visit! Ice Cracking has Bingo at 6 on Friday and Monday and they are closing on Tuesdays starting this week. We go there every once in awhile to eat..great food and friendly people! Bingo draws a loud crowd! We stay away those nights:)

    ReplyDelete
  19. Always fun to meet fellow bloggers and you gave her the grand tour!

    ReplyDelete
  20. Fun! Love meeting fellow bloggers. Those tomatoes look wonderful.

    ReplyDelete
  21. You are correct to call a group of geese a gaggle but only when they are not in flight. In flight they are called a skein, a team or a wedge. The previous Comments also correctly identified a group of swans as a bevy but that is again when they are not in flight, when they are they are also called a team or a wedge.

    ReplyDelete
  22. Most interesting. Of all the regions of the Gopher State I'm very familiar with the Northwest is the least. Been to Itasca several times but that about it. That's gonna change....:)

    ReplyDelete
  23. Awww two of my favorite bloggers!meeting up! I met Gypsy two years agi and really enjoyed her visit!

    ReplyDelete
  24. Not to many places where you can walk across the entire Mississippi, supper looked yummy. Have added Ice Cracking Lodge to visit for a thunderburger.

    ReplyDelete
  25. Nice posting dear, beautiful birds, sweet food I love it. Thanks for sharing !
    Resort in Bhimtal .

    ReplyDelete