July 5, 2011 -- In/On Leech Lake

By 10:00 a.m. the temperature was already 74 degrees on its way to a high of 82. The wind was brisk at 12-15 mph out of the NNW with gusts up over 20 mph. There were white caps on the top of good-sized waves rolling across the lake. The sky was mostly sunny, with some big billowy white clouds, which are typical for a Minnesota summer day.

It was too windy to go out on the lake, so Kathleen, Ashley and I had fun doing things on shore. After just hanging out on the dock and enjoying the beauty of the lake, we got on our bikes and went for a ride. We only made it to a point between Harbor Drive and the community center before we were forced to turn around and ride back because the black flies were biting us. Still, we managed to get in a 5 mile ride.

When we got home we were hot from the bike ride so we jumped into the lake and swam. The water was probably 74 degrees, but we were so hot from riding our bikes that it felt wonderfully refreshing. We played and swam for about a 1/2 hour or so when we noticed that the wind was starting to die down a little and the waves were no longer as big.

Taking advantage of the respite from the wind we got the Hot Dog tube ready by filling it with air and attaching the tow rope. Then we got it loaded into the boat, got the boat onto the water, and the Hot Dog tube into the water.

This the same 3-person Hot Dog Tube that Ashley and Kathleen rode on in Leech Lake.

Ashley went on the tube first and had a blast. Kathleen then joined her on the tube (it is made to hold three adults) and I pulled the on it all over Sucker Bay. We had a great time, but the wind picked up a little so we came ashore.

We had a wonderful dinner as we watched the sun drop into the western sky on the other side of Sucker Bay. Ashley really wanted to have a fire at the cabin fire pit, so I went next door and got it going. Ashley also wanted to invite the Newman's over for the fire and to share in some S'mores.

Just after dark John, Karen and Johnny Newman joined Ashley, Kathleen and I around the fire for some fun conversation and some tasty northwoods S'mores. Finally after midnight we called it a night and all went home.

We were all tired from the biking, swimming, tubing and playing at the lake. Another wonderful summer day at Leech Lake. The only thing missing was fishing. Maybe tomorrow...