Superior Hiking Trail-Split Rock Loop.  Annabelle and Nathaniel always use chalk to "graffiti" this shelter.

Lake Superior from the Superior Hiking Trail, Split Rock River Loop (next to the shack)

Nathaniel with a butterfly on his hand.

Nathaniel with butterfly.

Annabelle with a butterfly.

The Split Rock River - flowing very high.  We usually sit on this rock for lunch, but it became part of the river.

Our favorite camping lunch - cucumber, cheese and Ritz sandwiches.

Falls on the Split Rock River Loop

The new trailhead at the Split Rock River Loop of the Superior Hiking Trail, right off 61.

Nathaniel buried...

Annabelle.

Corundum beach

Bench at our campsite - overlooking the lighthouse.

View from the bench in above right photo.

Our campsite at Split Rock State Park.

Camp Chili

2 Step Falls at Tettegouche - recent rains had the area flooded.  This is the highest I've seen the water.

High Falls at Tettegouche

Shovel Point at Tettegouche.

Mic Mac Lake at Tettegouche.

Cooking camp pizza in the pie iron.

View of the light house from the fire pit in our campsite.

Annabelle with a s'more

The CCC Trail at Gooseberry.

Fifth Falls at Gooseberry.

All packed up - due to the state government shutdown, we had to cut our vacation short by 5 days.  The state parks all closed at 4 p.m. on June 30, just 4 days into our planned 10 day trip.  It was very disappointing.

Split Rock - Pebble Beach on the last day - the day the parks shut down.

We moved to Bluefin Bay Thursday night.  It was a great place to stay - and we enjoyed the pool, hot showers and even a yoga class in  the morning (my first and LAST yoga class).

Hot tubbing at Bluefin Bay.

We also rented bikes at Bluefin Bay.  Nathaniel handled this big bike masterfully.

Hiking at Cascade River State Park.  We could still enter the park for day use, you just can't park inside the state park grounds.  Cascade has parking on the road - so it was a good choice.  The bathrooms were locked and entrance to park barricaded shut.

Lookout Mountain Trail.

Lookout Mountain summit - socked in with fog.  

This was the least satisfying vacation I think I've ever had.  We gave up and came home on Friday.  The hotels were booked for the holiday weekend....and I didn't feel like setting up camp again.  It was doubtful we could have even found an available campsite.  I'm very disappointed that the budget impasse ruined our vacation.

Back home - Nathaniel eating a quick lunch before attending the Twins/Rays game. 

Nathaniel at the Twins stadium.   My distant cousin, Ben Zobrist, plays for the Tampa Bay Rays....and Nathaniel went to the game specifically hoping to see him.  Sadly, it was Ben's scheduled day off - so they didn't get even a glimpse of him.

Annabelle celebrated her 13th birthday with friends....

Lunch out at Baker's Square....

Pizza from Dominos...

Yum!

More friends...

Annabelle's hydrangea in full bloom in the background (the white flowers visible between the 2 girls.

And hot fudge pudding cake with raspberries, strawberries and whipped cream.