Here were our travel details:
4 hour drive to Ocala
1.5 hour drive to Orlando
3 hour flight to Minneapolis, MN (spend the night)
2 hour flight from Minneapolis, MN to International Falls, MN
Cross the boarder
1 .5 hour drive to the Island House
15 minute boat ride to the Island House (spend the night)
Spend the day/night
15 minute boat ride to the mainlan
2 hour flight north on a float plan
(get caught in a wicked thunderstorm- emergency land on a semi-random lake, spend 2 hours with strangers who are becoming more and more inebreated)
15 minute float plan flight to the lake house (after the emergency landing)- spend the night
Spend the day/night
2 hour float plane ride south to Nestor Falls, Ontario
2 hour drive south (cross the boarder)
2 hour plane ride south to Minneapolis
3 hour plane ride south to Orlando
1.5 hour drive north to Ocala (crash at a hotel because we can't bare the thought of any more travel or driving 4 hours home in the middle of the night)
4 hour drive back hom
I mean...that is some serious traveling!
Now, let's look at the pictures and enjoy the memories :)
We had to think of a way to bring Twinkie to Ocala while also being able to break down his cage. So, Nicole came up with this portable Twinkie carrier, haha.
I wanted the kids to see how cold it was outside, and how fast our plane was going.
This was our second plane ride...a little 6 passenger prop plane. It was actually way more smooth than I anticipated.
I got the back seat. Jeremy always gets the front. I loved it!
I don't know if I was allowed to take the photo, but I did. I know, I'm such a rebel!
The only way to get to our friends' home is via boat when the lake is thawed. During the winter, you can drive to the house on the ice! Um...I'll stick with summer visits.
A boat ride is fun every now and then...but I'm not sure I could make it my daily commute, haha.
This ride was fun though.
It was blueberry season! I got to pick wild blueberries, and it was so much fun (and super tasty too!)
I also enjoyed a little time reading and relaxing. Honestly, I wasn't sure what to do with myself without my little people running around, asking me questions, and making messes.
I believe we were riding to dinner :)
This was the interior of the dinner lodge. It was full of fishermen.
The view of the sunset as we rode back to the house. It was probably close to 10 at night.
This was the float plane for our ride north. It was a large planes because we were taking a lot of supplies.
They let me sit up front since it was my first time. I've always wanted to be a pilot. This was as close as I've come. It was SO cool!
So, this is a glimpse of the storm. We flew around one severe storm, but couldn't get around the second. So, we landed on what seemed to be a random lake, however there was a cabin there that is owned by the plane company.
So, we stayed with a group of strangers who were on a secluded lake for a week of fishing. The storm raged outside (lots of lightning, hail, and wind), and the people inside kindly offered us food and drinks. We thought we would only be there a few minutes, or else I think we would have all taken them up on their offer.
Two hours later....there was a break in the rain, and our pilot came in and said, "We've got to go. NOW!!" hahaha. So, we quickly grabbed our shoes, ran out to the float plane, and took off.
It's crazy, this is just 30 miles away, on the other side of the storm. Picture perfect! By the way, float planes are amazing!
The sunset on the lake.
This was the sunrise on the lake. I woke up around 5:15 to take some pictures...and then went back to bed :)
Today was the big fishing day! Jeremy and I got to go out on the lake with a guide and fish for most of the day. It is a rather large lakes, with lots of fun nooks and cranies. And, we were the ONLY people on the lake. The only ones! No one else has a place here. It's pretty unreal to think about it.
We caught Walleye first. We probably caught (and released) about 40. We kept our limit for dinner though ;)
This was the first fish I caught. I was too afraid to hold him. But, I tried to pucker up and give him a kiss.
The fish got bigger as the day went on.
Jeremy was even getting sweet with a fish too.
I would not consider myself a fisherman by any stretch of the imagination, but this was super fun! We would drop the line, and the fish would bit within second. Who doesn't like that?
So, I decided to be brave and hold a fish. I did fine, until it moved. I then proceeded to throw the fish across the boat and scream like a little girl, haha. Check out the fish in the bottom left corner. I don't think he liked learning to fly.
2nd try, with a smaller fish. I was able to hold this one nice and tight.
Look at my fish!!!
Once we were done, we proceeded to filet the fish. I saw "we". I didn't do a thing. I think Jeremy filleted one or two. The guide did the rest.
The view from the fish filet station, about a mile from the camp. We didn't want raw fish smells near our cabin, in case it lures the local bears in...
I think I could hold that fish! ha!
And, here is dinner! I don't think I have ever, not once in my life, caught fish, filleted it, then fried it for dinner just hours later. I'm not much of a fish eater...but this Walleye was excellent! I hate a third fillet.
We went hiking after lunch. So, I am not a hiker, or an outdoorsy person. I pretend like I am, until I have to do it...and then I whine a lot.
Jeremy wanted to explore the land, since no one really has had a chance to yet. I'm not a big fan of exploring unknown places without nice paths, where bears and snakes could be. It was so scary and I really, REALLY tried hard not to whine and complain (I failed).
But, we finally made it up some large rocks. It was almost rock climbing...almost. But, I really wanted to be a "good wife", a "fun wife", so I kept going.
This was a pretty view.
Can you see me? Look how woodsy and adventurous I am. I'm hidden in the grasses.
Jeremy- the great explorer
After our hike, we got to go fishing again. This time, we decided to go all the way around the lake. I am SO glad that we did. The scenery was amazing!
I caught a Northern Pike. I didn't want to hold this guy. He was bigger. He was slimy. And he had sharp teeth. I was happy with a picture.
I think Jeremy really enjoyed this afternoon of fishing.
He caught several Northerns. This was probably the biggest one.
Jeremy had a fish jump out of his hands too! I'm not exactly sure what happened, but I do know that out of the end of it, I had Northern Pike poop on my pants, and I almost jumped out of the boat, once again screaming like a little girl.
This is the top of a waterfall. The lake on the other side is at least 20 feet lower than the lake we are on. So, we pulled up to a little "path" and went to check it out. Of course, I whined my down, while also winding my way down....ha. ha. ha.
It was beautiful and well worth the side trip.
I was still afraid of bears ;)
And, one of the most beautiful sunrises I've ever seen. It was a stunning way to start our day of crazy travel home.
On our way back, it was just the pilot, Jeremy, and me, so we were on a much smaller float plane. I loved it. The flight back was really rough though, so I don't think Jeremy liked it too much. Our pilot was really young, but I felt confident that he knew what he was doing. I really enjoyed his flying and "playing" in the clouds.
With our friend, Phil and Nancy. Thanks for inviting us up!
I enjoyed trying to find shapes in the lakes we flew over. I thought this one looked like India.
It was a whirlwind of a trip, but also fun. I enjoyed fishing with Jeremy and going somewhere completely new and interesting.
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