Summer! Okay, as I compose this post it is only 39F at 6 am, but here in northern Minnesota we call that summer. Later today the mercury will rise to 70F which is heavenly.

Molly and I drove up to our remote cabin 70 miles south of the Canadian border. Although remote, three years ago a new cell tower was erected in the vacinity. Thus, we may now use our mobile phones. My youngest son and his wife have enjoyed this enhanced technology, and spent the week “working from home” on Northstar Lake … kinda nice. Yesterday evening after the work day was done, and a good family dinner / BBQ was had by all we took a sunset cruise on the lake.

Our first visit was to check up on our Eargle’s nest where I am happy to report all is well. Next we visited our Common Loon’s nest where life was also laid back and content. Loons nest right near the water’s edge where they are safe from land based predators. In this case, my friend is utilizing a small island for even further protection.

As we floated and watched the sun disappear behind the pines, this pair of Common Loons swam around us! Life is good. (human pictured is me … golden retriever is Finley)

Tomorrow morning I hope to check out a remote 30 mile long dirt road through a bog habitat. This road has been on my visit list for some time, but I did not want to first drive the route during the winter. If I had a breakdown or got stuck, it could have been days till another car came along, and tows from deep within the Boreal Forest are extremely expensive.

Sun has just set on Northstar Lake. Peace!