Day 4: Lake of the Woods, Echo Trail, Lake Jeanette, Norway Trail, and Astrid Lake Trail

Since I tend to be an earlier riser than Dan, Monday morning I took my coffee down to the beach on Lake of the Woods. The weather was perfect and sunny and gorgeous, and I think I could have sat there for hours had I remembered to apply sunblock!





However, we had more exploring planned, and broke camp again, this time heading east into the Superior National Forest. We drove along the Echo Trail, stopping at Lake Jeanette to camp in the national forest campground.

Lake Jeanette:



This dragonfly landed on my head and Dan's shoulder, before deciding to hang out on our laundry line for a little bit:


After we set up the tent (again, and for the final time this trip,) we drove six miles down the Echo Trail and up a forest road, and hiked part of the Norway Trail:






On our way back to camp, we noticed all of these dead trees, probably from flooding:

Helped a turtle cross the road:

Found some Swamp Buttercup:

Some baby pinecones:

And new evergreen growth:


After dinner, we walked up the Echo Trail a little bit, and took the Astrid Lake Trail to Lake Nigh:



More Pitcher Plants:

Pink Lady's Slipper:

Bluebead Lily:

And Lake Nigh. Perfect, glassy, and gorgeous:




More False Lily-of-the-Valley:

And wintergreen:


More turtles on the way back to camp:


The mosquitos and no-see-ums forced us into the tent early this evening, but it ended up being a good thing -- we were both TIRED!