ELLSWORTH ROCK GARDENS, LAKE KABETOGAMA, MN

TODAY WE DECIDED TO SPEND THE DAY TOURING LAKE KABETOGAMA. SO WE TOOK THE REALLY NICE RESORT PONTOON AND WENT EXPLORING.

THE PONTOON CAPTAIN

OUR FIRST STOP WAS THE ELLSWORTH ROCK GARDENS

MR. ELLSWORTH HAD A SUMMER PLACE ON THE LAKE WHERE HE DECIDED TO BUILD A ROCK GARDEN WITH FLOWERS AND ROCK SCULPTURES

A RATHER LARGE UNDERTAKING WHICH HE WAS UNABLE TO COMPLETE BEFORE HIS DEATH

AFTER VISITING THE ROCK GARDENS WE PARKED AT A HOUSEBOAT LANDING WITH A SAND BEACH AND HAD LUNCH.  

REMEMBER CLICKING ON A PHOTO WILL ENLARGE IT.

TO SEE FURTHER PHOTOS GO TO THE FOLLOWING LINK

ELLSWORTH ROCK GARDENS

RAINY LAKE BOAT TOUR

TODAY WE TOOK THE VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK RAINY LAKE BOAT TOUR. WE DISCOVERED THAT LOTS OF PEOPLE TRIED MINING GOLD ON VARIOUS ISLANDS ON THE LAKE. THERE WAS EVEN A BOOM TOWN ON AN ISLAND CALLED RAINY LAKE CITY.

THIS IS THE NEW VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK TOUR BOAT

WHAT IS LEFT OF RAINY LAKE CITY AND A 5 STAMP STAMP MILL FOR EXTRACTING GOLD FROM ORE.

THE ICE HOUSE AT AN OLD FISHING CAMP

TWO EAGLES NESTING ON AN ISLAND (LOOK IN THE TREE)

THE ISLAND THE BEST PRODUCING MINE WAS ON

THE LAST PRODUCING MINE SHAFT

THE VIEW FROM THE MINE BACK TO RAINY LAKE CITY 

(EVERYTHING WAS BROUGHT OVER AND BACK IN ROW BOATS).

VIEW FROM THE BOAT

ANOTHER MINING ATTEMPT ON A DIFFERENT ISLAND

FISHING RAINY LAKE

A NEW PARK CAMPGROUND BEING BUILD (ALL CAMPGROUNDS ARE BOAT IN)

RAINY LAKE INLAND WATER WAY USED BY THE VOYAGEURS IN BIRCH CANOE'S

NORTHERN LIGHTS RESORT LUAU

This week the resort had a group of guests who come back every year, so the staff decided to throw them a big Luau with roast pig and all the fixn's. The guests really had a good time as you will see.

THE NLRO 2010 SUMMER STAFF

TOM & PAT, OWNERS - HEIDI, JEAN & JAY - HARLAN & DEB - KEN & VIRG - RICK

THE MAIN COURSE

THE RETURNING GUESTS

GREAT FOOD

GOTTA GO BACK FOR SECONDS

CHOWING DOWN ON THE DECK

LINE DANCING ON THE DOCK

THE EVENING SUNSET WITH THUNDER STORM

VINCE SHUTE WILDLIFE SANCTUARY

We went to this unusual wildlife sanctuary for Black Bears. This gentleman was a logger and was constantly getting his cabin broken into by bears. During the beginning he just shot the bears, but how many bears can a man shoot. So, he started feeding them to keep them out of his cabin and actually became friends with many. This sanctuary is limited to a small circle where the bears are fed. These are wild bears and come and go as they please. The sanctuary is now used to just study them. Because Mr. Shute knew what he started he wondered what would happen when he passed on. His friends started the American Bear Association to continue feeding the bears, allowing tourists to seem them in the wild and allow scientist to study them.  http://www.americanbear.org/

WATER TOYS IN ACTION

Just some photos to show you the water toys being used by Kids & Adults.

I call this "How High can you Fly"

Also some bring their own water toys with them.

Has anyone seen something like this before? 

They put a lot of people on this at one time