Lake Log: Canoe races & rhubarb wine

Friday, 7/11/2008:
It gets windier every day. We woke up to white caps on the lake, and although the sun was shining, it was just too windy to fish. So Tom & Linda and Deb & Roy headed out to the ForestEdge Winery (north of Walker). We sampled many great wines, all made from fruits, including rhubarb (our favorite), blueberries, strawberries, chokeberries, etc. Since grapes can't grow in this climate, they use the fruits that they can grow. We had a really fun time. In the meantime, Beth & Bill took William, Nicole & Leah around Pike Bay on bikes, while Jared babysat the younger kids. When we arrived home, it still wasn't good fishing or skiing weather, so everyone found their own form of relaxation or fun around the resort. Tomorrow, all of our family leaves, and we will be on our own for the next week. The kids are all enjoying a scavenger hunt right now as we watch the weather channel in the lodge. A storm is coming from Bemidji and we are anxiously awaiting its arrival.

Thursday, 7/10/2008:
We woke up to a rainy, dreary morning, so we

weren't too fired up about fishing. Linda and Deb chatted over a long cup of coffee while debating how to spend the day. By afternoon, Beth and her girls headed out to fish at Strawberry bar with mom and dad. We enjoyed watching the very exciting first-ever Birch Villa canoe races. We decided that Seth & Luke should take some canoeing lessons. Afterwards, Tom, Jared, Seth & Leah headed back to the Mi-Gi-Zi trail for another bike ride. Linda watched Chloe swim with her friends while knitting and listening to her book. Roy and Bill pulled the few remaining kids on tubes and skis.

After a quick supper, we headed out for fishing (Tom, Linda, Leah and Kara G.). We went back to the Potato islands in order to get out of the winds, and once again had a fair catch--5 perch and 5 rock bass. The best catch of the night was the