The Campfire Trail

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August 22 - Resort Adventures

August 22, 2020

Day 235 - 131 Days to go
Base Camp Coffee of the Day: Caramel Apple

The temps are heating up again and what started to feel like campfire weather is gone. It's odd that we wait all winter and early Spring for the nice warm weather. The after a bustling Summer season, I find myself looking forward to Fall just to relax. After Labor Day Weekend hits in a couple weeks, we'll be preparing for the September/October fishing groups. It's all good and every season has it's own special feel and complexion. For now Summer marches on!

Adventure Quote: “Life, should be a discovery, an adventure, and like most adventures, you don’t know you’re having one until you’re right in the middle of it.”

― E.A. Bucchianeri

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August 21 - Resort Adventures

August 21, 2020

Day 234 - 132 Days to go
Base Camp Coffee of the Day: Lost on the Trail (Guatemala)

We are going into another weekend and still staying quite busy. Family get-away's have been the theme this year. It seems that the strange season has made shorter trips to home in less crowded destinations more popular than ever. Maybe that part of the trend will continue in years to come. I've tried my best to separate the politics from the practical and simply do what I can to give our guests a great summertime experience.

As Summer is nearing the end our cabins are busy on weekends but kind of quiet during the week. This will give me more time to relax on the deck with some coffee and think about the upcoming slower off season. I'm not completely sure what we would like to add to the list of things to do this winter but I'm sure we'll think of something.

Until then, the pool is still very refreshing, the evenings are starting to reach "campfire" temperatures and watching the lake, and the world, go by is my favorite pastime!

Adventure Quote: “I know not all that may be coming, but be it what it will, I'll go to it laughing.”

― Herman Melville

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Saturday, August 22, 2020

August 20 - Resort Adventures

August 20, 2020

Day 233 - 133 Days to go
Base Camp Coffee of the Day: Ozark Mountain Turtle (Chocolate/Caramel/Pecan flavors)

I realized just this morning as I looked at the date on the posting and saw "August 20". For whatever reason, late August has always seemed to be when we would get around to taking our Northwoods trips to the Boundary Waters area of north Minnesota. In all honesty, if the winters weren't so long and cold there, we would very likely had moved north instead of south from Iowa back in 1993.

The Boundary Waters hold a special attraction to me. It is a remote and beautiful area, covered with thousands of lakes and waterways. We've stayed in the area in campers and cabins many times and every August I will get this "itch" I call it, to travel north. It looks like this year it will not likely happen, but the fond memories stick with me and I'll imagine being there in the evening as I sit out on our front deck looking at our southwest Missouri lake.

Adventure Quote: “The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”

― Eleanor Roosevelt

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August 19 - Resort Adventures

August 19, 2020

Day 232 - 134 Days to go
Base Camp Coffee of the Day: B52 (Kahlua/Irish Cream/Amaretto flavors)

Yesterday I found myself considering the future of our Resort Adventure and today those thoughts continue. My resort adventure really began when I was very small with trips to Minnesota lake resorts with family and friends. Those one week trips were like heaven to a small kid. As an adult, I kind of forgot those adventures until my kids reached the age where I almost felt they would be deprived of an important part of their lives if I didn't expose them to their own resort adventure. My personal experience was wonderful, but the experience of watching my kids live their adventure was priceless. My over-riding thought was, "This should be a part of everyday life".

Is that even possible?

I think yes.

Adventure Quote: “Let us step into the unknown and pursue that flighty temptress, adventure.”

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August 18 - Resort Adventures

August 18, 2020

Day 231 - 135 Days to go
Base Camp Coffee of the Day: Lost on the Lake (Colombia/Sumatra blend)

I've been reflecting on our "Resort Adventure" and how it's changing. A year ago, we were presiding over four resort properties and now with the sale of Cross Timbers Cabins and The Fisherman's Hide-Out, we are looking to the future adventure and what it might look like.

The picture to the right was taken by a good friend Don Taylor during one of his stay's at the Rainbow Haven Resort. I added the caption "My goal is to build a life that I don't need a vacation from". In many ways, that statement is the epitome of my Resort Adventure. Even though it can be a lot of work on some days (sometimes entire season's) It's a fun work with an abundance of rewards.

At nearly 60 years old now, I am appreciating the life more and more. I've asked myself if this is what retirement will feel like for me and the answer may be yes. Who knows for sure at this point, but if this lifestyle turned out to be a peek at retirement, it wouldn't be that bad.

Adventure Quote: "Here's to having an excellent adventure and may the stopping never start"

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August 17 - Resort Adventures

August 17, 2020

Day 230 - 136 Days to go
Base Camp Coffee of the Day: Lost in the Dark (Colombia Dark French Roast)

The exterior front entrance of the Gold Rush Treehouse has received a treatment that sets it apart a little from many of the other treehouses. We've created a private space with firepit and benches behind a rustic cedar privacy fence. By the time we've completed the design features here, it will be a very appealing space.

Adventure Quote: “Wherever you go becomes a part of you somehow.”

― Anita Desai

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August 16 - Resort Adventures

August 16, 2020

Day 229 - 137 Days to go
Base Camp Coffee of the Day: Lost in the Woods (Colombia/Costa Rica blend)

Today's Gold Rush feature was provided by my sister and her husband. We were looking for the perfect "Prospectors Cabin" ambient light fixture and the "Perfect" fit was an old wood burning box stove they had stored out behind their garage. After a bit of reconditioning, it was filled with sticks and a flame light bulb. With the door cracked open, it looks exactly like a wood fire crackling inside

Adventure Quote: “Not all those who wander are lost.”

― J.R.R. Tolkien

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