Walker

Our trip to Walker has been a trip down memory lane for me. Opa's cabin was on Ten Mile Lake and visiting each year was definitely a highlight. Each year we needed to make a trip into Walker to see what had changed and visit a few stores. I loved this time with my kids when they were little - such a fun time with family. We went by the old cabin my dad built and it looks good. The color is now green not brown and they added a garage which he always wanted to do but otherwise looks the same from the road. I wish we could have gone to the lakeside to take a peek but I guess that is considered trespassing!

Hackensack has changed very little. A couple of new stores replaced the old ones but Swansons, Mark's Grocery, and Sun and Fun for ice cream never go away! Owl's Nest Motel and store are still there - always mom's favorite place to check out that store and buy a bit of something. Lucette is still there bigger than life and apparently she and Paul Bunyon had a son - Little Paul. LOL! A restaurant called Lucette's is back but it is no longer a pizza place so in name only I guess.

Walker has a lot of new stores but Reeds is still there and has expanded. We didn't wander into the others but more of the same - clothings, souvenirs, etc. The new brewery was fun to try out on a rainy afternoon. Bill liked his triple hop beer. My sparkling blueberry tea was pretty good, too.

We had to stop in Ackley to have our photo taken with the tallest Paul Bunyon in the World- yep that is what they say. If he stood up he would be the 60' which is supposedly the tallest. I am fascinated by how many cities and states want to claim Paul Bunyon fame.

To wrap up the Paul Bunyan things up here in the northland - we went to his "guest house" on a resort outside of Walker. The house is made of a 'tree stump" and he has left his red axe just outside.

The last day was filled with sunshine and we hung by the pool but the evening brought dark clouds and torrents of rain for very short periods. We did go down by Leech Lake once more and caught a lone pelican swimming. The loon was from earlier this week. The pair clearly had a nest there (plus there was a sign saying they did) but their behavior indicated that as well. We couldn't see it and didn't see babies.

We had dinner at Mustang Sallys which was right by our RV resort. It was not bad but Bill wanted them to play the song over and over... thank goodness they do not.

July 2022