Northern Exposure III - 2011 - Day #13

This day was supposed to (and probably did) set all time records for high temperature for the date and was only saved by the very stiff breeze which lasted until sundown.  This must be the first time we have stayed here over the weekend days and the place is crowded with parents and children. We joined the herd and managed to have an adequate breakfast without joining the lomg line for the single, slow, waffle maker.

Three Hammonds plus Rita stopped by and we followed them a little way out into the country on the other side of Norway to an apple orchard.  They did not pick, just bought - a sack of bruised ones for Jerry to feed to deer, a peck of eaters for young Sam to eat alone, and some cooking ones for Carol & Rita's use.  We followed them back to Norway and separated.  We ducked in to the amazing quilting and fabrics store & gift shop.  I browsed, resisted temptation, and went and joined Zoe in the van.  Marissa finally emerged with a big bag of enough hard-to-find supplies to last her, literally, a year or two.

Knowing our time was limited (as cold picnic lunch would be served by Rita strictly by the clock) we limited ourselves to a great browsing store that also serves as a coffee shop. We again resisted temptation for hard goods (although I almost bought a lovely book of photos, but rather similar to several I have already) but we did succumb to an exotic coffee and equally exotic cookie each.  Our last stop was at a bank with an ATM where we were able to replenish our virtually depleted supply of cash and can again feel comfortable at all the places that don't want plastic.

We raced back to the campground to join them all for lunch as some of them had not yet finished, and for the next several hours we socialized in every possible permutation and combination of groups and one on ones, taking occasional strolls to keep Zoe from getting too bored.  Zoe had again shot herself in the foot.  Initially left free to wander in a great deal of space on the first afternoon she had slipped away, made her way at least 100 yards to the entry and proceeded to walk up the road - giving Marissa a string of heart attacks before being recaptured.  Thereafter she was leashed all the time.

In the early evening with the cats in the house and Zoe in lock-down in the camp store we headed back into town to a very nice restaurant for a triple Dutch treat (i.e. by family, as Carol's boys came too) dinner.  Apart from the "vegetable" combination Marissa and I ate identical delicious meals from the higher end of the menu, a nice change after so much "road food", even including dessert.

Back at the campground Jerry lit a fire and we all sat around it beside the RV enjoying the flames and chatting in a desultory manner pretty much all as a group.  It made a great finale to the day.  However, all good things must come to an end and with everybody feeling drowsy we embarked on the round of handshakes and hugs and said goodbye to each other for probably another year.  This is the 44th year of our friendship!

As we prepare to leave Iron Mountain for Door County, WI the odometer stands at an even 1809 miles.