Visits with Relatives, Artists, and Geocaching in the Dakotas

 August 25, 2025

A great campsite in a national forest in northern Wisconsin

Lake Kampeska, Watertown, SD

We made stops in Minnesota to visit my cousin, sprinkle some of my sister's cremains on our great grandparents' grave, and see my father's two younger sisters in Sioux Falls, SD.

My great-grandparents emigrated from Norway and began farming in Kandiyohi County, Minnesota. My mother used to spend summers on the farm as a kid.  Her first cousin died last year, but according to his obituary, one of his sons still operates the farm, which has remained in the family for four generations.

Now for some serious geocaching!  When we left Houston, we had found caches in every county of the lower 48 states except for Iowa, North and South Dakota, and Nebraska.  We finished off Iowa earlier this month, so now we are roaming the upper Midwest.  The terrain is surprisingly varied, with many lakes and glaciated features.  Many birds, including white pelicans, are seen on the waters.  Rivers are high from recent rains.

Seen while geocaching:

Brian tried one on at the store, but they didn't have one big enough for his noggin.

No need for one in Houston anyway.

Rusty the Dragon with glowing red eyes and animal bones at his feet.

Grain Bin Sculpture Park in Foley, MN

Brian and I visited Dinkytown in 1973

Minnesota River Overlook, Granite Falls, MN

Also in Granite Falls

Geocaching brought us to the Terry Redlin Art Center in Watertown, SD

tiny roadside chapel

We had to solve a riddle to figure out the combination to open this one near a donut shop.

While waiting for an appointment for an oil change and tire rotation in Fargo, ND, we headed about an hour east to Detroit Lakes, Minnesota, and found some of Thomas Dambo's Trolls.  Each one involved a half-mile hike through wooded areas - good exercise on a beautiful 70-degree day.   Detroit Lakes has launched Project 412 (there are 412 lakes within 25 miles of DL) to promote public art and outdoor recreation.  One of the trolls was in a sculpture park that has reproductions of Charley Harper's artwork.  I discovered this artist when I began to collect posters he created for the National Park Service about 40 years ago.  I have posters, t-shirts, jigsaw puzzles, and a wall calendar featuring his work.

 

Jacob Everear

Barefoot Frida

    After leaving Fargo, we found ourselves out among the sunflower fields of North Dakota.  48% of sunflowers grown in the U.S. are grown in ND.  My deceased niece loved sunflowers, so it seemed fitting to sprinkle a few cremains on a sunflower.  Her cremains are mixed in with my sister's.  A little way down the road, we saw a bald eagle feasting on roadkill along the shoulder . . . the setting was not very majestic, including where we saw one not far from our house.  We always appreciate seeing one, no matter where we find it.

All facing the early morning sun

We stopped at Ronald Reagan Minuteman Missile State Historic Site.

We spent a few hours on the gravel roads around the small town of Gilby.  It is nicknamed "Geocaching Disneyland" due to the numerous creative gadget caches that require tasks or manipulating objects to get the combinations or access the container.  My favorite was "Strong Man at the Fair."  Brian did the honors for this one. using the big mallet to hit the springboard to make the cylinder holding the paper log pop out of the top of the black tube.

Our next destination was Graham's Island State Park in Devils Lake.  We arrived at our campsite with enough time to drive to the other side of the lake to visit White Horse Hill National Game Preserve.  We weren't lucky enough to spot any elk, but we did see bison with calves and prairie dogs.

view of Spirit Lake, aka Devils Lake, from White Horse Hill overlook

Thank you for joining us on our adventure.  More to come!

We Fly Away to Keep a Promise to Ourselves

August 19, 2025

Six years ago, on a whim, we took a day trip from Copper Harbor in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan out to Isle Royale National Park in Lake Superior.  We spent more time on the boat getting out there and back than we did on the island.  We promised ourselves that we would return someday and spend a few days.  We kept our promise this month.

A 45-minute seaplane flight brought us to Washington Harbor on the west end of the island, where we had reserved two nights in a cabin.  After checking in at the Windigo Ranger Station, we settled in at the cabin.

We enjoyed a beautiful sunset from the seaplane dock on the first night.

Washington Harbor, Isle Royale

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We set out on a 3.6-mile hike, but I only managed 2 miles. We returned to the cabin without doing the 1.6-mile uphill section.  (Thank you, Scott, for pushing me hard during our physical therapy sessions so I could make it as far as I did.)  I found a quiet spot at the water's edge to sprinkle some of my sister's cremains.  A few minutes later, a red fox crossed the trail and looked back at us.  We were hoping to see a moose, but it didn't happen to us, although they are often seen in the area around our cabin.

enjoying morning coffee on the deck of the camp store

On the day we were scheduled to leave, the flight was "on hold" because of a low cloud ceiling.  Then all of a sudden, we were told it was on the way.  

We flew over some of the smaller islands in the archipelago.

Rock of Ages Light in the distance

 

waters of Lake Superior are below us

Fewer passengers on the return flight, so Brian had the back seat to himself, and I sat in the copilot's seat.   Promise made in 2019, promise kept in 2025.   We are grateful!