Camping in Lake Shetek

We didn't even bother bringing the laptop with us on this trip, and I'm SO glad we didn't! We had so much fun being disconnected, and it's awesome how being alone in the woods with only yourselves brings you together in a unique kind of intimacy. It was awesome, and much needed. It makes for a lot of typing now, though!! I kept paper notes on our activities so I wouldn't forget, so here goes:

We set out fairly early on Sunday morning to get a jump on the driving which was a good thing because with all of our stops, we ended up getting there right at check in time at 3:00. On our way, there was tons of roadkill, mostly raccoons, a couple of skunks and one poor golden kitty :*( We did see a bald eagle diving in for lunch in the prairie grasses, the camera inconveniently tucked into the backpack in the backseat, of course. We did get a few photos of Sleepy Eye, Walnut Grove and the Laura Ingalls Wilder museum. Once we made it to Lake Shetek, we got our camper cabin key and some firewood from the friendly ranger, as we pulled into our parking spot, right away we saw a little chipmunk scurrying about! His hidey hole was right next to our cabin and that pleased me as I adore the furry scurriers! As we checked out the privvies across the way, a little tree frog hopped and surprised us. Turns out he was one of many we would see over the two days! So cute!

After dumping off our bags, we went for a hike around Loon Island, named for what were at the time thought to be loons but were actually cormorants, but all the developing of the lake area scared them away permanently :( I was hoping to have photo ops of loons or pelicans (sheteks!), but instead I was only able to score a few of some gulls and what we thought was a golden eagle. The hike was quiet and romantic and got our appetite worked up for some dinner on the campfire! Since we are condo-dwellers and have no room for things like fishing and camping gear, our idea of camping is renting the camper cabin and bringing fish from Coastal Seafoods. Seems a little like cheating, but who cares? We had poached walleye with lemon, butter, salt & pepper, roasted tomatoes, corn on the cob and s'mores. We enjoyed the fire until we were spooked by what we thought may have been a coyote but turned out to be a baby deer. *rolls eyes* City folk! We missed a wonderful opportunity of using the telescope due to my freakitude about the wild life, but watched the sea of stars above our heads as we held each other on the safety of our little deck. That's my favorite kind of star gazing anyway :) And we heard a hooting owl!!

The beds were a bit too firm for me and I kept waking up with numb limbs, which I suppose was just as well as I had to pee a half-dozen times. I managed to refrain from using the bucket and instead woke John up so he could protect me as I marked the rocks outside the cabin. The moon and stars were so bright at 4:00 am we didn't even need the LED lantern! The Milky Way was visible and looked like a great mist across the dark cloak of night. It was gorgeous out as we gazed once more into the glowing universe. Venus was shining like a diamond, too. Planet of love, you know <3

More tales to continue...