Has it really been two weeks since we arrived in Ashland, WI for our summer volunteer position? After everything that's transpired since we accepted what was supposed to be our 2020 assignment, it is hard to believe we're finally here, much less have been for two weeks! It's been a whirlwind of getting settled, orientation, exploring, and working, but for this post I will focus on where we are exactly and some of our explorations.
We are stationed at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center (NGLVC) about which I will write much more in my next post covering our actual jobs, but for this post it's relevant because it's also (almost) where we live.
Unlike our first NPS stint, we don't have access to laundry facilities or extra fridge/freezer space. The laundry is kind of a bummer because while I have our on-board machine, one of us will have to schlep the big stuff to a local wash-o-rama. The extra food space isn't a big deal at all because we are minutes from town and don't need to keep stocked due to remoteness. Our cell/Internet and satellite radio reception is good. We only get two OATV channels, one a local affiliate out of Duluth which covers weather here, so that's a plus, the other is Antenna TV, which mostly airs old sit-coms from the '50s thru the '80s. All of that is plenty for us.
Since leaving the southwest, I have only occasionally put out any sort of bird feeder, and I'd been looking forward to getting them all set up again. I started, of course, with the hummingbird feeders, and it took them .002 seconds to locate them.
This little guy's flashy red gorget doesn't shine in this photo, but he's a Ruby-throated Hummingbird, the only variety we'll see here. Although I know I must've seen this type in my growing-up years, it's a new one as far as my critter tracking is concerned. This wee one was closely followed by another male and two females, an they are constant fixtures at our place now, bickering over their places at the feeders. I'm sure we'll be taking far too many photos of them over the summer.
I also set up my Super Deluxe Bird Feeding Station! and it's been attracting the Red-Winged Blackbirds, Grackles, Goldfinches, a pair of Brown-headed Cowbirds, a Cardinal, and -- predictably -- a fat little squirrel. It also brings in the Robins, which don't eat from the feeders but seem to like to hang around where other birds do. There's probably some awful bird-reason for that, but I choose to believe they just like to be where the action is.
By far, the most engrossing birding experience has been watching a pair of Sandhill Cranes and their two colts that almost daily crisscross the field.
The daylight arrives early this far north, and one morning about 0430, I opened my eyes to this:
As TBG was heading out the door to capture some photos, I saw a dark shape in the field, but without my glasses on I couldn't readily make out what it was. "What's that animal?" I asked as TBG stepped out. "A bear!" we exclaimed simultaneously. It lumbered across the field and then the road, disappearing into the trees.
Once our jam-packed week of orientation and first two work days were done, we used one of our days off to visit three places we'd been recommending sight unseen to visitors. Our M.O. is the same as two years ago in that we feel obligated to visit and experience as much of the local activities as possible in order to be the most helpful park workers we can be. Rough "job," eh?
We started with Houghton Falls, an easy stop-off on the way between Ashland and Bayfield. Being a Sunday, there were plenty of (loud) people about, and it is a miracle that we were able to get photos of the falls without any of them in the frame. It was a short, pretty hike, and we will continue to recommend it, but it's not one we'll repeat.
Next, we drove to the Bayfield Fish Hatchery, not to see fish (the buildings weren't open that day, anyhow) but to try our hand at spotting some migrating birds for which the hatchery is known. We waited in the car for a rain squall to pass, then set off through the lush forest.
We heard about a zillion birds but saw only a handful, none of which were in the mood to have their pictures taken. We enjoyed our quiet walk there, anyhow, and it could easily be a repeat as summer progresses, especially since much of it is shaded.
Lastly, we headed further north to Lost Creek Falls to round out our day. It was the most crowded, the longest, and the fastest hike we did that day. The draw, as you can see, is the very pretty falls behind which you can stand, and for which folks, in a variety of questionable footwear, were taking turns to get their photo ops. We'll also continue to recommend this hike, though with the caveat that it will probably always be busier than others.
It wasn't everything we wanted to do on our first set of days off, but we're still getting our bearings and finding our groove. Once we do, I think it's going to be a darn fine summer!
Sounds like you’re enjoying your stay thus far. Unfortunately, the weather has been unusually crazy and out of character. I look forward to learning more about the area as you two explore and discover new sites to me. Keep me posted on your days off and let’s try to get together. FYI – I have no cell phone service at my summer home but do ck emails regularly. Hope you have a great summer!
TBG calls it “Weather Whiplash,” and it certainly has been that in our first few weeks here. I will definitely keep you updated on our schedule and a get-together. We’re looking forward to it and getting the low-down on all YOUR new happenings!
After seeing many animal kills on outdoor travel shows
it is quite a different matter to see one in person.
When I lived in Alaska I remember the first time I saw a black bear attack a baby moose,,,
it really left me un-nerved
but as the years passed
I came to realize it was just part of life in the wild.
Fortunately, we didn’t witness the fawns’ actual demise, and I can only imagine how jarring it was for you to see that moose calf’s undoing. There are gray wolves in this area as well, and they get blamed for a lot, but black bear studies show they’re the most likely culprit. You’re right, it’s the way of nature — isn’t it curious that nature gives us emotion to feel sad about what our logical sides know is the way of things?
You are going to be busy not just with work but admiring, enjoying and capturing all the wildlife surrounding you this summer! Keep those great photos coming for us here in the desert.
It is so green, so much water and lots to look around. And it just took two years to get to this summer paradise!
Looking forward on your report about your gig there.
I wish there were more synonyms for green because I’m already out, and I don’t want to be boring 😀 Paradise may be overstating things a bit, as there are still the bugs to deal with, but they must enjoy the beauty of a northern summer, too. Plus, the birds gobble them up! I’ll get busy on the next post about what we’re doing and our training, which has been pretty cool on some days!
What a lovely home you have for the summer! And with so much wildlife for entertainment! Lucky you to have Sandhill Crane babies in your backyard. I’m looking forward to seeing all of the good things you discover during your long stay. You guys really are the perfect hosts, because you’re so interested in your surroundings and you actually get out and explore so that you can offer good advice to visitors.
Selfishly, I’m not sorry that you have to go to the laundromat to do laundry because that gives us a chance to chat, LOL!!
Having our own “private” field is most definitely a huge plus for this assignment. Wouldn’t you know that since I posted this, we haven’t seen the cranes. I’m hoping the parents just took up residence in one of the adjoining fields with their chickies. I’m getting a little tired of the alternative, natural world or not.
It is one of my favorite things to be able to speak with experience and knowledge about a hike or site or critter when folks inquire and know that I can give them helpful info to ensure they have a good (or avoid a bad!) time.
Our phone call was a GREAT way to pass the laundromat time!
What a perfect spot to be in for the summer. Lots of nature to live in and calm the soul and plenty of old fashioned sit coms for a reprieve from the nastiness that is the political news these days! I look forward to following your adventures up in that very green part of the world!
At first I was a little worried about only two TV channels. While traveling more regularly, that wouldn’t phase me, but for our summers I look forward to things being a little more “normal.” However, the two stations we get really are kind of perfect, and you hit the nail on the head with the silly mindlessness of old sitcoms, the vibrant green landscape, and the critters being balm for the soul. So true!
Even with the low water pressure, you guys have a great campsite. If you manage to keep that space to yourself, especially this summer when things are so busy everywhere, you will have won the Summer 2021 Camping Lottery. It also sounds like you’ve landed in a perfect environment. Love all the greenery and the pretty water views (watch out for ticks though – they’re supposed to be awful this year.) And TBG is obviously having fun with the slow shutter speed on those waterfalls! Love it!!
As I type this, TBG is filling the holding tank. It only took 40 minutes for a quarter tank LOL Good thing we have plenty of time for that, and it’s not a complicated procedure. I really, really, really hope we win that lottery!
It is a very nice environment, but you’re ahead of me about the ticks. Oh, yeah, they are here! I will talk about the little bastards more in an upcoming post.
There are a zillion (I counted) waterfalls in this part of the country, so get used to those softly-photographed images, you’re gonna get a LOT more!
This looks like a very suitable spot for the summer. Keeping my fingers crossed that you don’t end up with a neighbor, even if that means more work for you guys at the visitor center.
I learned something about your rig from this post: you have very different water pump than we do. Ours manages to be both extremely loud and whiny and also not very strong so we dread showering without a water hookup. You, on the other hand, have a very nice backup plan in place for a poor water connection.
Your ability to attract hummers continues to amaze me.
The good thing is that they can’t make us work more than our current schedule, but we can offer more time. So, keep the no-neighbor vibe comin’!
I’m so glad our internal water pressure is good. I seriously don’t know if I could’ve lasted a whole summer of dribbling showers, especially with sunscreen and bug spray.
Here are my hummie secrets: I hum a happy tune while I mix their food, and when I hang out the feeders I say, “Here you go, babies! Energy juice!” Works every time 😊
Oh, wow!! Babies everywhere!! Love spring time. Fingers crossed you end up alone in your spot for the summer. We have an onboard W/D, as well. During our eight years we never visited a laundromat except twice when we needed a new part. I washed sheets, towels, jeans, etc. The secret…small loads every day. I never ironed either. Fun times this summer surrounded by beauty. Love, love the waterfalls. Happy exploring!
Well, I don’t know how I missed this comment the first time around! Funny to find it now because we ARE getting neighbors on the 19th 😦 At least we got just over half our time here to ourselves, right? I have done sheets (one at a time) in our little machine, and I do all the other stuff in there in small loads like you say, but when *someone* is a giant and has huge clothes that are very heavy, well, sometimes a laundromat is a relationship-saver 😀
I hope you have quiet neighbors!! Can’t wait to hear about them.
I took a class on using the MH W/D when we first started. They suggested washing everyday. I found washing no more than four t-shirts keeps the wrinkles away. I washed all the sheets at once but dried them one at a time. When we came from hiking, I put that day’s hiking clothes right in…four items. I rarely dried anything but underwear and cotton t-shirts. I lucked out in having a curved corner shower with two doors that slid opposite ways so I had a great bar and open space to hang the clothes I wasn’t drying, like our hiking things. The problem most people have is waiting to long to wash and then having too much. I figure that we’re just sitting around each evening so why not wash!
Oh, I do wash the small stuff as soon as there is enough for a load, exactly like you while we’re hanging out anyhow. We have both a bar to hang stuff in the shower plus an outdoor rack (or cupboard handles if needed :D) The laundromat where we are now has really good big machines, and I can get ALL the big stuff into one washer and one dryer and have it done in under an hour. Nifty-swifty!