Mon 22 Sept

Having a very nice mini-vacation up north. Saturday was a great day, albeit a very busy one. We started with walking to the Farmer's Market for pastry - I had an almond croissant - and cappuccino at the coffee shop. Hit the road right after walking home. The drive north was amazing! The fall color has just popped out all along 51. I found myself oohing and aahing all day. We had lunch in Ashland - whitefish sandwich and yummy sweet potato fries. Drove up to the B&B which is very lovely. Color hasn't yet come to the lakeshore area so maybe we can still look forward to that for Apple Feat. We have the "suite" tonight with a huge bedroom with sitting area, a second small bedroom with twin beds to use as a dressing room, and a nice bathroom. The innkeepers are very personable. We drove into Bayfield right away as church was at 4 pm. Just enough time to stop at an orchard to pick up fresh apples for hiking. Went to Maggie's for pizza after, then hurried back to Port Wing for a Sara Thomsen concert at the little gallery. A very nice small setting, and a very nice talented folk singer. A snack and wine break at intermission with good conversation. A lovely end to a beautiful day Sunday breakfast was wonderful at the B&B. we had good conversation with the other guest couple and the innkeepers over amazing food. Drove off to the North Shore in beautiful sunshine (but no real color here). Stopped for a buffet brunch at a very up-northy place where we sat on a cool screen porch overlooking the lake. Finished our beers outside in the sun to warm up. Checked in to the hotel for a quick nap. Hiked at Oberg Mtn which is only an hour's hike but as beautiful views of the inland maples which are in high color here. Drove back to the hotel and hiked to the trailhead up the hill about 3/4 mile and out to the little waterfall. We were both quite tired from our busy day yesterday, so we went back to the room to read for a couple of hours just to rest. Drove to Papa Charlie's around 7 pm and shared a veggie pasta dish and dessert, then back home to bed. Writing this around 7 am. Time to head to the showe and breakfast at the Lutsen before a full day of hiking. We have smoked fish, honey crisps, and pastry and cookies for our trail lunch!