Ted, our friend from the canoe club, wanted to visit Ely, Minnesota again but this time instead of canoeing he wanted to rough it in a cabin. Veterans on The Lake Resort on Fall Lake just northeast of town was our destination. Ted & Connie, Harold & Laurie, Wil & Gloria, Alice & I started the planning process and decided September 5th thru the 16th, 2019 worked well. So soon we were on our way. As it worked out, Ted & Connie had a family wedding close to the Illinois - Wisconsin border a few days before our trip. After the wedding they got a time share in the Wisconsin Dells and invited Alice & I to join them. We met on Thursday September 5th after a 9-hour drive from Ohio. The 2-bedroom condo was fantastic with great sunny weather. We went to the Moose Jaw Brewery and Restaurant for some of the hottest wings I have ever eaten. Sweat was pouring off my head and Connie just kept laughing at me. We got pictures with our horny crowns on then went to the Wisconsin Brew Pub which was not a brewery but just a pub with great Wisconsin cheese curds. A couple drinks there and then on to Monks Bar and Grill where we watched Green Bay and Chicago play football with a very fun crowd of fans. Green Bay won and the bar crowd was very happy.
Friday morning the 6th we relaxed and socialized until breakfast at a local pancake joint. Omelets and Belgium waffles hit the spot. We filled up the gas tanks and drove on north 2 hours to Eau Claire, WI where we met Wil & Gloria at the Candlewood Suites Hotel. It's a stay place with fridge, stove, microwave and dishwasher for only $89.00 per night. At dinner time we went around the corner to the Tap House where we had a great walleye dinner. The other couples went back to the rooms while Alice & I drove around downtown Eau Claire just to see the town. We ran into a local park along the Chippewa River where there was a food truck party. Lots of folks were lined up at the trucks but we were still too full of our walleye to join them. Back at the hotel all of us went to Johnny's Lounge, which was in the Holiday Inn next door for drinks then sat on the patio talking in the cool night air.
Saturday we were up at 6:30 am (time difference from home) and I went to the fitness room to work up a sweat. Wil & Gloria had the same idea then we met Ted & Connie at 9 for breakfast back at Johnny's and had a decent buffet. We left Eau Claire for the Leinenkugel Brewery 14 miles away where we bought socks and other nick knacks and had samples of you know what. Another 2-hour drive took us to Duluth, Mn and weather that far north was very cool, 59°. Trying to get to the Holiday Inn downtown we hit a closed road barricaded by a police officer who informed us they were having the Duluth Drag Races and Car Show downtown. After detouring around we found the hotel then tried to meet everyone at the Duluth Pack Company. Ted & Connie were staying in the same hotel but walked over the highway before us and disappeared. Wil & Gloria were staying in an Air B n B and met Alice & I. After phone calls to Connie we all figured out that they went to the Duluth Trading Company a whole different business in a different area. We all soon met up at the Canal Street Brewing Company for food and drinks. Wil & I played some cornhole and everyone walked out to see Lake Superior. The breeze was very cool coming off the lake. We walked back to the Duluth Pack Company where Connie and I had fun trying on hats and acted real goofy with Alice playing photographer. Wil & Gloria headed back to their place while us other 4 found the Hoops Brewing Company and watched the Cleveland Indians lose to the Minnesota Twins. Lots of folks were playing board games and just hanging out in the brewery. We were back in the hotel and in bed by 10:30 Duluth time.
Sunday September 8th was Ely day. We met Ted & Connie at 8:15 in the lobby and found a McDonalds for breakfast. We wanted to stock up on food before getting to Ely as prices were cheaper, so we headed up St Rt 61 towards Two Harbors where we found a Super One Grocery. Ely was 128 miles or another 2 hours drive and all Alice could say is "all I see are trees and the yellow lines on the road". Welcome to the Northwoods!! We stopped at a Forest Service Campground to use the facilities and it was a nice place with the prettiest latrine we have ever seen. It even had flowers and curtains in it. Pulling into Ely we saw their Harvest Festival which was in full swing. We ate some festival food, visited the vendors where we got free stuff and saw a great dog stunt show with all rescued dogs. It was fun. At the festival is where Harold & Laurie finally caught up with everyone. Now we are 8 strong and all drove the 3-4 miles to Veterans on the Lake Resort and got settled in. The 5-bedroom cottage on Fall Lake was dated but nice. After getting the furnace turned on, we ate Harold's pulled pork, had a campfire and watched football on TV. Everyone was having fun and enjoying the Northwoods of MinnesOOOta, as Connie pronounced it.
Monday September 9th was cool jacket weather. We had a group breakfast of Belgium waffles by Wil & Gloria then Alice & I walked the resort area checking the out place. There are lots of old, dated, wooden cabins that looked in need of repair, but the resort is a wonderful place to relax and play. Everyone loaded cars and drove to the Kawishini Falls and hiked the .8-mile trail to see some beautiful falls. I wanted to hike more but the weather wasn't the best. Alice & I went back to the cabin where we made chili for a late lunch or early supper. Everyone else went into Ely to shop. Later after eating chili we again walked the around the resort and even played some horseshoes before going back and playing card games and drinking for the rest of the evening.
Tuesday morning September 10th Alice & I cooked a breakfast of French toast then we all went into Ely and visited the International Wolf Center. There is some great information on wolves, and it was fun watching the ones they had on display. Shopping in town was next, then appetizers at the Boat House Restaurant before heading back to camp. Alice, Connie, Ted and I walked over and played horseshoes while Harold & Laurie cooked a real turkey for supper. TV, naps and poker rounded out the evening.
Wednesday was 9-11. Flags were flying at half mast in observance of the tragedy in New York City so many years before. We had bagels for a quick breakfast so everyone could get going in the dreary, misty morning. In fact, it misted or sprinkled most of the day. Most went back to the wolf center to see the feeding of the wolves. Alice, Harold & I went for a drive around the lakes north and west of Ely. We saw the old mining shaft and plant on the north shore of Shagawa Lake. It wasn't open for tours until later in the week. We also drove over to the Fall Lake Campground and explored the sites and boat ramp. Around 2:30 pm we all met at camp and rented a pontoon boat. Harold & Laurie wanted to go fishing so everyone but Alice (smart gal) donned heavy clothing and jackets and got on the boat. It was 51°, very breezy and misting but real fishermen and women don't care, however, no fish were caught for the day. Getting back to camp and warm clothes, we drank and played games until a great dinner of Lasagna made by Wil & Gloria. I took another small walk while others watched a movie. It was an early to bed night for Alice & I as we had plans for the morning.
Thursday September 12th I was up early as I wanted to see the Grand Portage. After a Harold breakfast of wheat waffles, Alice & I headed out for a 3-hour drive to Grand Portage and Grand Marais. It was drizzling around Ely, but we soon drove out of it and just had gray clouds and wind. In fact, Lake Superior looked very angry as waves beat against the shoreline. The National Park Service runs the Grand Portage Nation Monument and visitor center with all its information and the reconstructed fort was very interesting to Alice & I. The best part was everything was free except the souvenirs. Heading back south from the fort we stopped at the Grand Portage Lodge & Casino were I just had to lose $20.00 before getting pizza and drinks for lunch. Further south brought us to the small tourist town of Grand Marais. We drove around checking out the town and lake shore then found the Voyagers Brewing Company. Of course, I had to stop and try some new MinnesOOOta beer. Back on the road, once we turn off the lakeshore highway towards the tree lined woods to Ely, it got foggy then misty the closer we got to Ely. Ted & Connie had beef stew for supper then games of Farkle rounded out the evening. After a long but very great day, bedtime was at 11:00.
Friday the 13th was not an unlucky day for us. In fact, we had a wonderful day starting with eggs, bacon and potatoes cooked by Laurie. It was still drizzling but Wil & I just had to get out on the lake. Wil used a kkkayak and I had a 17' Aluminum Craft canoe, aka, an old heavy battleship. We paddled on the windy water out around a couple islands then back towards the boat dock. I had a very hard time keeping the canoe on course in the strong winds and my shoulder muscles were aching by time I got back. Plus, I was soaking wet from the rain. Wil paddled over to the cabin shoreline and I thought he was just going to wave at the folks in the cabin, so I paddled around the bend and beached the canoe. After putting it away I waited for a spell but no Wil. I walked back to the cabin where Wil had beached his kkkayak and was already in a hot shower warming up. We all saddled up and rode back into Ely and toured the Ely Museum which is on the grounds of the Vermilion College. Lots of neat Ely History from the natives to the logging and mining booms and up to the canoeing scene. We then went to Dee's Bar so we could use their WIFI to book hotel rooms for the return drive home. Alice & I were heading through Illinois and stopping in Rochelle, an 8.5-hour drive from Ely. Wil & Gloria were making plans to go through the upper peninsula of Michigan and Harold & Laurie were driving through Chicago. Ted & Connie were not sure. After Dee's we found a toy store which had some neat toys then the Krazy Wabbit bar which was the local joint. Fun times. Everyone but Alice & I went back to the cabin. We were having a surprise birthday celebration for Connie and we had to get a table at the Ely Steak House. We were a fun crazy bunch of kiddy acting adults, but after all, it was a birthday. Back at the cabin we played right-left-center until bedtime.
Saturday September 14th and the day to leave. We had the cabin paid for another night, but everyone was ready to go home. It was cloudy, drizzly and cold all week, but won't you know, Saturday morning was sunny and going up to the 80's. Crazy Ely weather. Wil & Gloria made some rib sticking biscuits and gravy then everyone packed up and went their separate ways. Alice & I made it to Rochelle and an hour later we got a text from Connie. They were staying at the hotel next to us, but Connie assured us they were not stockers. We asked if they wanted to go get a bite to eat but Ted was tired, so Alice & I got fast food and relaxed in front of the TV.
Sunday September 15th and only 6.5 - 7 hours of driving until home. We were really missing our dogs and couldn't wait to see them again. We arrived safe and sound after a wonderful trip with wonderful friends in that wonderful Northwoods of MinnesOOOta.
View All Our Pictures From the Ely Trip