Day 6 7/11

Saturday

Woke up in warroad and banged out a longish run around town. I haven’t exactly slacked on running this week, but I also haven’t been hitting it hard, which I think is okay for the second week back starting another session that will likely also end in a series of time trials. They have a 4ish mile bike path in town, so that was the lions share of the run and I checked out a couple neighborhoods before heading back. Again though, very small: less than 2,000 people. Headed west thereafter for Hayes lake state park. Expectations were quite low, so I was actually pleasantly surprised but a conifer laden park and a nice reseviour on a river with a swimming beach. I did part of the hike club loop with mike (he’s aiming for all of them) then split off for the alleged bog in hopes of redeeming the Connecticut warbler I missed at big bog. Not luck at the cedar bog and the mosquitoes were brutal, so I ditched quickly to keep moving and figured I’d move down the path at least a little as it still seemed a little boggy. The. Mosquitoes quickly won out though, and I turned around to head back to the car. On the way past the bog again, sure enough, heard the Connecticut’s song. I whipped my phone out to compare and it even answered back 3-4 times. I walked into the board walk a second time hoping to get and audio recording, but it shut down again, I’m assuming I was too close.

All the same, happily headed back to lunch with unexpected success.

We’d continued in to lake Bronson and had plenty of room on the non electric loop. Checked in, set up camp, then headed over to Hallock for our 5 pm cocktail reservation at far north spirits. We got into town and found that all of Main Street was blocked off with picnic tables out front. I assumed the distillery had a hand in it, but it turns out, just the brewery did. The distillery was actually south of town 5 miles, largely on gravel roads. 

Far north was amazing. It’s very unassuming on a farm, but the inside could be in Duluth or north East MPLS. Chic, Nordic design with a beautiful bar and bountiful cocktails to choose from. We chose different cocktails, then split a second one. All were outstanding.

Next up was revelation brewing back in town. It was hopping. They had a food truck outside and picnic tables lining main street. A good portion of the town seemed to be out for it. They made good beer too. Much more adventurous than warroad.

Back at Bronson, we cooked up some brats and beans; a quintessential camping stalwart. The mosquitoes here were absolutely vicious though. The worst of the trip by far, dictating and earlier bedtime.

All in all though, this was a fantastic day.