In anticipation of my last day – and worried about somehow sleeping late despite two set alarm clocks – I did not sleep well during the night. But I was gung ho and chipper this morning to pack up and out, despite the prospect of the 2-mile portage on the return. Like the wilderness pros that we are, Matthias and I packed camp quickly and bolted across the lake. The return portage was sweaty as expected but it helped that the sun hadn’t even risen yet. We shaved 10 minutes off the portage compared to three days ago and were proud of it. It was another successful venture into the Boundary Waters.
Ol’ Conrad finally indicated to me how tired he was on the return drive to Ely. His gas pedal somehow was sticky and it took Conrad nearly 45 seconds to go from zero to sixty once we were back on the highway. Maybe it’s the fuel-injector or something? I hoped that he could get us as far as Minneapolis.
Back in Ely, Matthias and I took showers and cleaned up at the outfitters. Then we walked around the corner to a café for a stack of delicious blueberry pancakes with maple syrup washed down with coffee and tea. Heavenly.
We were soon on our way back to the Twin Cities. Highway 1 led us to Highway 61 which runs north-south along Lake Superior. I sighed to myself as we passed all of the wonderful stops along the shore (rivers, lighthouses, hiking) and I vowed to return before the end of the summer. We didn’t stop until Duluth where we just used the restroom and I called home to my parents and told them I was on my way! My mom offered to whip up some dinner and invited Matthias and me. We happily accepted and pushed on to the south along Interstate 35. We stopped at a Subway along the way to tide us over ‘til supper.
The Minneapolis skyline was a welcomed site. It was so good to be home! And Conrad was still working. Matthias and I entered my apartment without any problems (thanks again for taking good care of my place, Emily) and unpacked for just a bit before getting back on the road to my folks’ place. My dad grilled steaks and my mom prepared salads and macaroni and cheese the way it should be prepared: baked and with real cheese! Yum. My grandpa and aunt were there and it was just plain fun to relax and talk about the trip. Matthias and I returned to my apartment where we met up with Emily (the one and the same that traveled with me for 8 days earlier in the trip) at the hot tub and swapped a few stories before hittin’ the sack.
Ol’ Conrad finally indicated to me how tired he was on the return drive to Ely. His gas pedal somehow was sticky and it took Conrad nearly 45 seconds to go from zero to sixty once we were back on the highway. Maybe it’s the fuel-injector or something? I hoped that he could get us as far as Minneapolis.
Back in Ely, Matthias and I took showers and cleaned up at the outfitters. Then we walked around the corner to a café for a stack of delicious blueberry pancakes with maple syrup washed down with coffee and tea. Heavenly.
We were soon on our way back to the Twin Cities. Highway 1 led us to Highway 61 which runs north-south along Lake Superior. I sighed to myself as we passed all of the wonderful stops along the shore (rivers, lighthouses, hiking) and I vowed to return before the end of the summer. We didn’t stop until Duluth where we just used the restroom and I called home to my parents and told them I was on my way! My mom offered to whip up some dinner and invited Matthias and me. We happily accepted and pushed on to the south along Interstate 35. We stopped at a Subway along the way to tide us over ‘til supper.
The Minneapolis skyline was a welcomed site. It was so good to be home! And Conrad was still working. Matthias and I entered my apartment without any problems (thanks again for taking good care of my place, Emily) and unpacked for just a bit before getting back on the road to my folks’ place. My dad grilled steaks and my mom prepared salads and macaroni and cheese the way it should be prepared: baked and with real cheese! Yum. My grandpa and aunt were there and it was just plain fun to relax and talk about the trip. Matthias and I returned to my apartment where we met up with Emily (the one and the same that traveled with me for 8 days earlier in the trip) at the hot tub and swapped a few stories before hittin’ the sack.
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