Kabekona Lake, Minnesota (10-2-16)

It was evening, already dark, when Lupe arrived at the cabin on Kabekona Lake in northern Minnesota.  Surprisingly, no one seemed to be around.  However, the door was unlocked.  Presumably everyone would be back soon.  Lupe and SPHP went right on in.

Lupe had been here before, way back in June of 2014 – a very long time ago for the Carolina Dog.  Did she remember the cabin?  Lupe sniffed around curiously.  She went up the stairs to the loft she’d loved where she and SPHP had stayed before.  The Carolina Dog’s eyes grew wide, but she didn’t jump up on the bed.  Did she remember the loft?  It was hard to say.

Lupe discovered there were two cats in the basement, but Laddie, the old cat that had been here in 2014, was nowhere to be seen.  The two new cats were both curious and rather alarmed to see an American Dingo in possession of the main floor of their cabin.  SPHP closed the door to the basement.  Even though Lupe likes cats, it was best to keep the cats down there for now.

SPHP crashed on the couch.  Lupe was 700 miles from home.  It had been a long day’s drive.  Best to get a little shuteye, before the gang returned.  Lupe sniffed around a little more, then curled up with SPHP.

Suddenly Lupe was barking furiously!  She had leapt up to defend the cabin from intruders!  Of course, the intruders happened to be John and Joyce, owners of the cabin, returning home from eating out.  With them were Claire and Laura, who had arrived yesterday for the same sad reason Lupe was here.  Lupe calmed down when she realized SPHP was glad to see these intruders.  She most graciously permitted John and Joyce to enter their own cabin.

Service at the restaurant had been extremely slow.  It was already after 10 PM.  Tomorrow there would be a ceremony after church for Connie.  The next day’s schedule was discussed.  Then it was time to hit the hay.  Everyone retired for the night.

The next morning, Lupe, Sandy and SPHP went down to take a look at Kabekona lake.  The lake looked wonderful!  It was going to be a beautiful day!  Lupe would only have half of the afternoon and this one evening before sunset to enjoy the lake, though.  The rest of the day she would be stuck in the G6.  Tomorrow she would be headed home again.

Lupe checks out Kabekona Lake early on 10-2-16. It was going to be a beautiful day at the lake!
Lupe checks out Kabekona Lake early on 10-2-16. It was going to be a beautiful day at the lake!
Kabekona Lake is SW of much larger Leech Lake in N central Minnesota. Photo looks NE.
Kabekona Lake is SW of much larger Leech Lake in N central Minnesota. Photo looks NE.

It was an amazingly warm day for northern Minnesota in early October.  During church, Lupe was confined to the G6 with the windows rolled down as far as possible without allowing her a possible escape route.  She had plenty of water to help her stay cool.  She would be bored, but fine.

After church, SPHP took Lupe for a short walk to a small lake nearby.  Lupe was soon back in the G6, though, until social hour was done.  SPHP brought Lupe a pastry from the church meant for social time attendees.  Lupe wanted to go back with SPHP into the church, since SPHP had neglected to bring her any coffee, but SPHP wouldn’t hear of it.

A little after noon, social hour ended.  Now it was time to go to the cemetery for a short ceremony for Connie.  The cemetery wasn’t far away.  Fortunately the road went right by a field full of black cows and Canadian geese.  Lupe had an exciting, if brief, respite from boredom barking furiously at the cows.

Post ceremony at the cemetery, a luncheon was held back at the church.  Lupe was still stuck in the G6.  However, she did receive a much appreciated ham and cheese sandwich, plus another pastry, to ease both hunger and the monotony of confinement.

Lupe with flowers for Connie.
Lupe with flowers for Connie.

It was after 2 PM by the time Lupe was back at the cabin.  Finally, she could go exploring outside.  Was she ever ready!  The Carolina Dog  charged through the N woods, nose to the ground, delighted to be free again.

Lupe bounded around the cabin.  She went with SPHP down to the dock for another quick look at Kabekona Lake.  She explored the driveway and woods out to County Road No. 37.

Lupe at the Kabekona Lake cabin.
Cabin life at Kabekona Lake in northern Minnesota is awesome! This message has been approved by an American Dingo.
Cabin life at Kabekona Lake in northern Minnesota is awesome! This message has been approved by an American Dingo.
Lupe at the cabin's shed for boating equipment and supplies.
Lupe at the cabin’s shed for boating equipment and supplies.
On the dock.
On the dock.
So, SPHP, will you take me boating? Pretty please?
So, SPHP, will you take me boating? Pretty please?
Lupe on the cabin’s driveway out to Country Road No. 37.
Early October is a great time to be in the north woods of Minnesota! Fall colors are on display. Better yet, the mosquitoes are all dead!

After Lupe’s outdoor reconnaissance, it was time to go back to the cabin to pop the big question.  SPHP asked John about the possibility of taking the boat out on the lake?

John didn’t say no, but as SPHP expected, the events of the past summer meant John hadn’t had the boat out on the lake even once yet this year himself.  There was a long list of tasks to accomplish to get the boat and motor ready for launch.  Lupe wouldn’t get to spend much time actually on the lake.  Nevertheless, SPHP was prepared to spring into action, when John made another suggestion.

Why not take the canoes instead of the boat?  John had a canoe, and there was another one that could be borrowed at the cabin where Sandy and Lib were staying.  That made more sense.  It was a calm day with hardly any waves on the lake.  The canoes would be fun, and would require almost no prep time at all!  The plan was set.  John went with Lupe and SPHP to launch the first canoe.

Soon Lupe was in the canoe out on Kabekona Lake!  John and SPHP paddled over to the neighbor’s dock.  SPHP climbed up a short ladder onto the dock intending to go get the second canoe.  SPHP had barely reached the top of the ladder, when suddenly Lupe decided she wasn’t getting left behind.  She launched herself out of the canoe!

Of course, Lupe didn’t realize the canoe would tip as she made her leap for the dock.  Consequently, she didn’t jump quite high enough.  For a fraction of a second, she clung to the edge of the dock trying to dig her claws in and scramble up, but she couldn’t.  Lupe plunged back into Kabekona Lake sinking beneath the surface!

Now Carolina Dogs, at least this Carolina Dog, are not water dogs.  Although Lupe likes wading in puddles and streams, and even laying down in them, SPHP has almost never seen Lupe swim.  Maybe it was because of her first swimming experience.

When Lupe was 3 months old, on her first trip to the park, Lupe had hurled herself for no apparent reason into Rapid Creek.  Of course, the tiny puppy sank far below the surface.  SPHP was on the verge of wading in to save her.  However, Lupe popped back up to the surface and swam against the current for shore, managing to extricate herself all on her own.

That first experience must have been quite a shock, though.  Puppy Lupe had had no idea she would sink and start to drown.  It was March.  There was 6″ of snow on the ground.  The water in the creek couldn’t have been much above freezing.  Ever since then, Lupe has carefully avoided water that’s over her head.

Did Lupe even remember how to swim?  SPHP peered anxiously into Kabekona Lake.  Lupe did swim back up to the surface!  She was doing the Dingo paddle for all she was worth, but she was confused.  She swam around to the wrong side of the canoe where she couldn’t see the near shore.

SPHP called to Lupe and encouraged her to come.  She swam back around the canoe again, and headed for shore.  When she reached it, she released a great spray of water as she shook herself off.  Despite her unexpected baptism in Kabekona Lake, Lupe was fine.  She went with SPHP to launch the second canoe.

Before long, Laura and Sandy joined Lupe’s canoe fleet crew as paddlers.  Laura went with John, and Sandy with Lupe and SPHP.  It was sunny and warm.  Lupe dried off quickly.  She was quite content to stay in the canoe.

John and Laura in Canoe No. 1 of Lupe's fleet.
John and Laura in Canoe No. 1 of Lupe’s fleet.
Sandy and Lupe in Canoe No. 2.
Lupe's canoe fleet headed for Preacher's Point for no particular reason, other than to relax and enjoy the outing.
Lupe’s canoe fleet headed for Preacher’s Point for no particular reason, other than to relax and enjoy the outing.
John and Laura again, having a good time.
John and Laura again, having a good time.
Meanwhile, back at Canoe No. 2, Sandy was having fun, too. Lupe was still getting used to life as a sea dog. She was careful not to leap out of the canoe a second time.

There was no particular goal other than to paddle around lazily enjoying the day.  Preacher’s Point along the SE shore of Kabekona Lake became the canoe trip’s destination by default.

After going a bit beyond Preacher’s Point, Lupe’s canoe fleet turned around and headed back for John’s cabin.  There was no rush, just a leisurely paddle.  Over two hours had gone by on the lake by the time the tiny fleet arrived back at the dock.  John, Laura and Sandy were done for the day.

However, Lib hadn’t gotten a chance to be out on the lake yet.  She joined Lupe and SPHP for a one canoe sunset cruise back to Preacher’s Point.  The water was glassy smooth.

Sea dog Lupe enjoys the ride while Lib paddles.
Sea dog Lupe enjoys the ride while Lib paddles.
Lib near Preacher Point on Kabekona Lake.

On her second return trip from Preacher Point, Lupe was sailing toward the now setting sun.  Her afternoon and evening on Kabekona Lake was almost over.  The canoes had been a great idea.  Even so, the hours had flown by fast.

Sunset from Kabekona Lake.
Evening glow.
The colors fade.

By the time it was all over and the canoes were put away, there wasn’t much light left at all.  Lupe and SPHP took one last look at Kabekona Lake from the dock before heading to the cabin for supper.

Lupe on the dock again at dusk. Sea dog Lupe, like most sailors, was glad to be back on terra firma on shore leave.
Lupe on the dock again at dusk. Sea dog Lupe, like most sailors, was glad to be back on terra firma on shore leave.

Supper was well underway in the cabin by the time Lupe and SPHP appeared.  The evening was spent in pleasant conversation, except for a brief altercation between Blackie, the jet black cat, and Lupe.

Apparently Blackie resented Lupe getting too close to his dinner bowl.  Blackie let her know it in no uncertain terms.  In return, Lupe made it clear that American Dingoes have no intention of being bossed around by mere cats.  Fortunately, a truce based on mutual understanding was reached in two seconds.

The next morning, it was already time to say good-bye.  Laura had left well before dawn to catch a plane.  Sandy and Lib departed right after breakfast.  A little while later, it was Lupe and SPHP’s turn to hit the long road home.

Lib and Sandy say good-bye.
Joyce and Lupe with Claire looking on from the table.
Joyce and Lupe with Claire looking on from the table.
John & Joyce with Lupe.
John & Joyce with Lupe.
John shares a nugget of Norwegian philosophy.
Claire and Joyce bid Lupe farewell.
Claire and Joyce bid Lupe farewell.

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Kabekona Lake, MN (June 13-25, 2014)

On Friday the 13th of June, 2014, Lupe knew something big was in the works.  SPHP got up while it was still dark and started packing the G6.  SPHP built up the passenger side front seat so Lupe could ride in comfort up even with the dash on a pile of luggage, pillows and blankets, the now traditional trip arrangement.  Shortly before 6:00 AM everything was ready to go.  It was a cool morning, only 53 degrees, under mostly clear blue skies.  It was going to be a great day!  Lupe was bright-eyed and enthusiastic at the prospect of adventure.

Lupe takes a quick break out of the G6 near Bear Butte.
Lupe takes a quick break out of the G6 near Bear Butte (4,422 ft.).
Bear Butte Lake 6-13-14
Bear Butte Lake 6-13-14

Lupe had a long day’s ride across the prairies of South and North Dakota to the north woods in Minnesota.  Lupe had a blast though, barking relentlessly at every cow, horse, haystack and suspicious-looking bush or outbuilding along the way.  SPHP is always amazed that Lupe never tires of this game, but she doesn’t.  Every now and then SPHP had to stop the G6 to give her some water though, because her barker gets dry.

Shortly before sunset, Lupe arrived at the cabin on the S shore of Kabekona Lake.  Lupe was very interested in the smells and sounds of the north woods, but the mosquitoes were out, of course, so Lupe was promptly ushered inside the cabin.  The cabin is now owned by Lupe’s great uncle John and great aunt Joyce (whom she had never met before), although it has been in the family since the 1940’s.

The Kabekona Lake cabin which served as Lupe's luxury resort.
The Kabekona Lake cabin which served as Lupe’s luxury resort.
The original cabin was very rustic (no plumbing, just a two-seater outhouse), but the cabin looks mighty spiffy now after two modern additions.
Lupe meets great aunt Joyce on the stairway to the loft Lupe adored.
Lupe meets great aunt Joyce on the stairway to the loft Lupe adored.

John & Joyce invited Lupe and SPHP to stay in the beautiful loft overlooking the living room, and Lupe was very much taken with it.  She thought it was super cool and made herself right at home up there, first on King III’s dog bed, and then on the futon she and SPHP were going to snooze on.  Lupe spent the evening getting settled in and getting to know John and Joyce.  Lupe also met Laddie, their nice old kitty.  Laddie was not very pleased to meet Lupe, but Lupe is a friend to all cats.  It wasn’t long until Laddie was pretty much adjusted to Lupe being around.

Lupe looking a bit guilty on King III's bed in the loft.
Lupe looking a bit guilty on King III’s bed in the loft.
Ahhh! A dingo could get used to roughing it cabin loft style! Lupe in the lap of luxury in the loft she loved at the Kabekona Lake cabin.
Ahhh! A dingo could get used to roughing it cabin loft style! Lupe in the lap of luxury in the loft she loved at the Kabekona Lake cabin.

Saturday the 14th was a cloudy cool day with some light rain.  After some difficulty, John started a fire in the new fireplace with some rather wet birch wood.  Despite the light rain, Lupe and SPHP walked out to the road and down to the dock on the lake a few times during the day.  SPHP looked for perch or leeches in the water, but saw none.  There was a crayfish though.  Lupe had great fun sniffing around in the north woods.  There were lots of ferns growing and everything was very green.  John said Kabekona Lake was the highest he had ever seen it.  Many people’s docks were under water.  A recent storm had ripped some of the docks loose.

Lupe's new and somewhat reluctant new friend, Laddie.
Lupe’s new and somewhat reluctant new friend, Laddie.

Lupe got to meet her uncle Mark from California, who arrived in the afternoon as anticipated.  While it rained outside, Lupe made herself comfortable on the couch while Mark and SPHP played Rook, the only card game allowed by long tradition at the Kabekona Lake cabin.  Sunday the 15th was another even rainier day.  Mark and SPHP started another fire in the fireplace, because it was still quite cool out.  Much of the early afternoon was spent with John, Joyce, Mark & SPHP playing Rook in front of the fire.

Later in the afternoon, when the rain had finally subsided somewhat, John suggested taking the boat out on the lake.  Lupe joined Mark, John and SPHP in the boat, for only her 2nd boat ride ever.  Lupe got another 4 or 5 boat rides on Kabekona Lake before her trip was over.  She was a very good dingo on the boat, but seemed to not know what to do with herself sometimes. Sometimes she stayed down in the bottom of the boat, but mostly she liked to be sitting on the boat seat at least partially on SPHP’s lap where she could see.

John either trying to persuade Lupe to get in the boat, or using her as support to get out himself.
John either trying to persuade Lupe to get in the boat, or using her as support to get out himself.
Lupe with uncle Mark on her 2nd boat ride ever.
Lupe with uncle Mark on her 2nd boat ride ever.  This whole business of putting out to sea was a bit alarming!

John ran the mighty 6.5 HP motor and steered across Kabekona to the NE part of the lake where the channel to Bucket Lake is.  The water was very high and it looked like it might be easy to go to Bucket, but there were clouds coming from the WSW that looked like they might start raining again, so John thought better of a trip to Bucket and stayed on Kabekona.  Before long there was lightning off to the WSW, a clear sign it was time to turn around and get off the lake.  When the weather was most threatening, John put in temporarily at a dock at Preacher’s Point.  The surprised dock owner soon showed up for a chat, but had no real objections.

Sunset on Kabekona Lake from the cabin's dock.
Sunset on Kabekona Lake from the cabin’s dock.

Sadly, on Monday morning the 16th, Mark already had to leave to head back to Minneapolis to catch his flight to California.  This was a sunnier day.  Lupe and SPHP saw some Canadian geese on one of the day’s trips down to the dock to see the lake.  Lupe and SPHP spent this and the next day helping John with a few small chores or just loafing around.  Starting on the 17th, there were boat rides with John and sometimes Joyce in the evenings until a little after sunset.  This was a wonderful, relaxing way to end each day.

Canadian Geese family on Kabekona Lake.
Canadian Geese families cruising by on Kabekona Lake.

Lupe loved loft living and the cabin in general.  Every morning when SPHP woke up, Lupe was already wide awake in her loft listening to the strange sounds of the birds and animals of the north woods.  The loft windows were always cranked partly open, and Lupe really enjoyed looking out from her high perch sniffing, watching and listening to what was going on.  When Lupe went out to “sniff the air” in the mornings she took off like a shot into the woods.  SPHP would usually hear her barking at some annoyed squirrel before long.

When not inclined to rest up in the loft, Lupe relaxed on the comfy couch downstairs.
When not inclined to rest up in the loft, Lupe relaxed on the comfy couch downstairs.

There were a couple of side trips during Lupe’s time in Minnesota.  John took Lupe and SPHP to The Gullies in the Paul Bunyan State Forest.  SPHP claims to have seen a small black bear run across the road there.  Lupe also got to visit the house in Alexandria, MN where SPHP’s grandparents once lived.  She spent the night there on the 18th and 19th.  The evening of the 19th was stormy with tornado warnings in the area.

Lupe at the house in Alexandria, MN.
Lupe at the house in Alexandria, MN.

On the 20th, Lupe returned to the cabin at Kabekona Lake.  The next day, John & Joyce bought fishing licenses.  Lupe, John, Joyce and SPHP took a boat ride across Kabekona Lake.  There was a huge white cumulus cloud over the E part of the lake.  The water in Kabekona was still very high.  John had no trouble taking the boat down the channel to Bucket and Little Bucket Lakes, where John and Joyce fished.  A bald eagle was flew across the channel and perched high up on a huge White Pine on the N shore of Little Bucket.  (Earlier in the week while at the cabin’s dock, Lupe and SPHP had seen a bald eagle swoop down just 30 or 40 feet away and scoop up a fish from Kabekona Lake – very cool!)

Cumulus cloud just E of Kabekona Lake.
SPHP liked this lovely cumulus cloud just E of Kabekona Lake.

SPHP always brings fish good luck.  John and Joyce caught an assortment of weeds, but no fish.  On the way back, Joyce saw a big turtle on the bank of the channel between Bucket and Kabekona.  SPHP saw a large snapping turtle swimming down in the clear stream.  Lupe was very excited by the voyage both down and back up the channel.  She was somewhat alarmed when the stream passed under the highway bridge, which was a bit like a tunnel.  She liked it, but was a bit scared at the same time.

John, Joyce & Lupe on one of the Bucket Lakes connected to Kabekona by the channel (a stream flowing down to the Buckets).
John, Joyce & Lupe on one of the Bucket Lakes connected to Kabekona by the channel (a stream flowing down to the Buckets).

Lupe sniffed around in the forest whenever she could the next couple of days.  SPHP was kept busy picking ticks off her.  There were beautiful boat rides each evening on Kabekona.  Once, Lupe and SPHP got to hear a song at sunset sung every evening on the lake by several women in kayaks who are friends.

John and Joyce had been telling SPHP that there was a walking group that walks along the road S of Kabekona Lake each morning.  On the morning of the 23rd, Lupe’s last morning at Kabekona, Lupe, John, Joyce & SPHP joined the walking group.  It was just a short stroll, but there were 4 other dogs for Lupe to sniff with.  She had a good time trotting along the road as part of this big pack of friendly dogs and people.

Sunset from the boat on Kabekona Lake was a wonderful way to end each day.
Sunset on Kabekona Lake.  Lupe got to enjoy several long lingering sunsets from the boat, but this one was photographed from the dock.
Lupe's last sunset from the boat on Kabekona Lake.
Lupe’s last sunset from the boat on Kabekona Lake.

Around 3 PM on the 23rd, Lupe thanked her great uncle John and great aunt Joyce for the lovely time at the cabin.  It was time to head back to the Black Hills.  The trip was broken up by a stop at great uncle Andy’s and great aunt Connie’s home in Bismarck, ND.  Lupe spent the 24th at Andy & Connie’s.

Lupe and SPHP found a big still undeveloped field near Andy & Connie’s home where there proved to be jackrabbits and pheasants to chase.  Lupe jumped sideways practically out of her fur in shock and alarm the first time a pheasant flew up unexpectedly right next to her.  Lupe and SPHP also walked Andy & Connie’s yellow lab, King III.  King III was 13 years old though and has a hard time getting around, so it was a disappointingly brief and slow walk for Lupe.

Great aunt Connie and King III welcomed Lupe to Bismarck, ND.
Great aunt Connie and King III welcomed Lupe to Bismarck, ND.

Lupe and SPHP headed W on I-90 again on the 25th.  By the time Lupe was in Dickinson, it was raining hard.  Instead of turning S at Dickinson, SPHP continued W and didn’t turn S until reaching Hwy 85.

SPHP had seen on the highway map that the highest point in North Dakota, White Butte (3,506 ft.), was just E of the highway S of the little town of Amidon, which claims to be the nation’s smallest county seat.  SPHP was hoping to climb White Butte with Lupe for her peakbagging, and was encouraged when the rain stopped.  Unfortunately, SPHP should have done some research beforehand.  The area is all private ranch land.  Despite making several inquiries, SPHP was not able to locate the landowner.  After wasting more than an hour, SPHP gave up on White Butte for this trip.  Lupe did see White Butte, but that’s not the same as climbing it!

In NW South Dakota was some very pretty and desolate looking territory in the Cave Hills area with some interesting high points and ridges, especially to the W of the highway.  As Lupe got closer to her beloved Black Hills, there was a huge thundercloud off to the W too.  The rain and lightning started before Lupe reached Newell, SD.  A few miles S of Newell was an absolute cloudburst, with ferocious wind and lightning.  When the hail started in, SPHP turned the G6 around and retreated back to Newell.  There Lupe waited out the storm in the G6 parked beneath the canopy at the Conoco Station.  Lots of other people were taking refuge there too.

VLUU L200 / Samsung L200
Lupe and the G6 at the Kabekona cabin, June 2014

The storm passed and Lupe moved on.  When she got home, she ran next door to Dog Heaven to claim her treat and feel the love.  Lupe’s 2014 Kabekona Lake adventure was over.

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