July 22, 2008

Today was a beautiful summer day. The winds were calm, the temperature was 80 degrees, and the skies were sunny all day long.

Kathleen is driving to Minneapolis tomorrow to pick up our daughter Melissa and our grand daughter Ashley from the airport, so Joe and I decided to stay on shore today to help clean up the house and hang out with Kathleen.

Kathleen and I went on a 6-mile long hike today, walking from our house to the Ottertail Peninsula Community Center, then south down the unpaved part of Sucker Bay Road to Ottertail Point Road to 26th and then finally down the final mile-long stretch of West Shores Road to our house.

Since it was sunny and hot, we were both drenched in sweat within the first mile of our hike which attracted hundreds of biting black flies. We had to use bandannas and our hands to try to keep the flies off our faces and necks. I liked the walk, and the time to talk with Kathleen, but until those flies die off, I don't think I'll take that type of hike again.

We cooled off with a swim in the lake, then enjoyed a cold Leinenkugel beer on the dock as we watched another spectacular Leech Lake sunset.

I did not go fishing today.