Fourth of July and Boat Ride on Lake Itasca

The 4th has come and gone quickly like the rest of the summer.  Notice the hazy sky from Canadian fires up north. 

We had a BIG parade at the campground.

Then early this week a long time friend brought his boat to Lake Itasca and gave us a 3 hour ride. 

All these people gathered to wave at us as we drove by.  Actually, it is the place where water drains out of Lake Itasca and becomes the Mississippi River.  You can walk easily across it if you have better balance than I do.  Here is where the long river starts it journey south to the Gulf.

On our ride we came across several loons.  This Momma Loon was out for a swim with her two chicks which were bigger than the ones on our lake.  We were puzzled because one of the chicks appeared to have no head. 

But soon it's head popped out and joined the parade.  I think it was sleeping with it's head tucked beneath its wing.

We saw a couple of Bald Eagles. 

I really think that the Lord went overboard with the feathers on Loons.  Unlike some species, it is the same for both sexes, which is good cuz they sound looney enough without having to go more looney over who looks better in their summer dress.  Loons are heavy and their bones are not hollow which allows them to dive for their fish lunch.  But the weight requires them to get a long "run" in order to get into the air.  You can hear the "pop, pop, pop," of their wings hitting the water as they struggle to take off. 

"Let me see, if I stretch out my leg, I can scratch that itch." 

We saw several Bald Eagles... oh, I already said that.

There were just a few Pink Lady Slippers in full bloom left.  Most have withered.

What a great ride and the weather was absolutely perfect.  So maybe we just might have hit the one perfect summer day in Minnesota for our boat ride!