There is a lot to be said about spending time in the outdoors. I have been lucky enough to have a little piece of land in northern Minnesota where I enjoy spending time. I know that our place wouldn’t be for everyone, as there is no running water and no electricity.
I did however break down and buy a generator which comes in pretty handy for working on the cabin. Like I said, it isn’t for everyone but our family enjoys it and I don’t see any upgrades in the foreseeable future.
In fact, I am writing this week’s column from the cabin because there were things that I wanted to get done before the summer swings into high gear. Spending a little “quiet time” alone in the north woods is actually pretty relaxing and it really makes me feel just that much closer to nature.
We have no TV, just a radio and on my first day up there, I didn’t even turn it on. That’s what you could call getting away from it all. It’s not the Boundary Waters, but it sure works for me.
Camping can give you a lot of that same feeling. Before we found this land, I was planning on buying a pop-up pickup camper which I felt was all that I would need. If I didn’t have my own space in the woods, I would still be enjoying this area because of the many camping opportunities available through National Forest Campgrounds, Voyaguers National Park and our many State Parks.
You can go to almost any State Park and get that “back to nature” feeling because the campsites are nice and big and there is plenty of nature to explore. Most National Forest campsites are rustic but most offer toilets, water and have firewood available.
I have written in the past about campsites that the Forest Service has available on a first-come basis on various lakes in the Chippewa National Forest. These are rustic sites, with a few located on Spider Lake.
I have often thought about taking the tent and spending a night or two at one of them. I should probably do that while I still have the desire to do it. I guess I still get that kid feeling when it comes to the outdoors. I have a feeling I’d have that “old guy” feeling after sleeping on the ground for a night or two, but I think it would be well worth it.
Locally, we have a nice State park available to us in Myre State Park and Sakatah State park is only 50 miles to the north by Waterville. It was sure good to see the many folks enjoying our area lakes, parks and walking trails this Memorial Day weekend, whether it was fishing, boating, picnicing or just taking a stroll around the lake.
We are lucky to have these many valuable resources available to us right here. I believe that it is what makes this a great place to live.
I have heard that some folks have been catching crappies on Pickerel Lake. I am not sure, but I don’t remember hearing of the DNR placing any crappies into the lake. Evidently, there are folks out there who probably feel that they are much more knowledgeable than the DNR.
If someone did indeed do this on their own, I would have to wonder if this will hurt the long range plan that the DNR had in place for the lake. The plan that the DNR implemented in Geneva Lake seems to be working quite well and is starting to pay dividends with some nice perch and pike.
While I was working outdoors at the cabin, I happened to be standing fairly close to the bird feeders. There were some chickadees and finches on the feeders a few feet away. A pesky red squirrel was busily munching on some sun oil seeds on another. A vision then flashed through my mind so I mentioned to my wife that the only thing missing was a raccoon sitting on my shoulder. I could have been an imitation of Grizzly Adams.
Time spent watching all the critters of the forest is time well spent. Yes, there is a lot to be seen in the outdoors if we take the time to take it in. Just stepping out of this fast paced world and relaxing by a lake or sitting in a park for a few minutes can do wonders as a stress reliever.
Until next time, take a little time to relax and enjoy a little fishing and watch a bobber as it bounces lazily in the breeze; it’s a great way to experience the outdoors.
Please remember to keep our troops in your thoughts and prayers because they are the reason we are able to enjoy all the freedoms that we have today.