Back from Up North #1

[jesse_the_k]

Spent a lovely long weekend in Up North in Rhinelander. Tragically, the air quality was unhealthy for sensitive groups so I couldn't swim. I hate this timeline.

We cooked up a storm, including a strawberry crumble to die for, based on Nigella Lawson's recipe made GF on the fly.

I spent most of my time chatting with great friends and admiring beautiful clouds. So lovely I didn't take any pictures!

I'm giving myself comment amnesty, so feel free to drop pointers to your DW in the comments.

Comments

[luzula]

Sorry you couldn't swim, I remember the post you usually make every year about how much you love it. : (

I have a question for you, because you are my expert on socialist songs in English. Do you know an English version of this lovely Icelandic Mayday song with lyrics by Halldór Laxness? There's a translation here, though it clearly isn't meant to be sung.

Wow!

[jesse_the_k]

What a fabulous song and performance! It's the first one I've seen that acknowledges the mundanity of working life -- most of the May Day songs I've heard pulse with pride at the strength of the working man (gender chosen carefully).

Sorry to say I don't recognize the tune, nor the sentiments.

Yep, nothing beats lake swimming -- except maybe ocean swimming?

Re: Wow!

[luzula]

Huh, a pity it's not more well known! I've translated it to Swedish and plan to sing it at the next May Day rally.

I personally prefer lake swimming, if only because in the ocean you never know when you're going to swim into a stinging jellyfish.

[starshipfox]

I'm sorry you didn't get to swim. :( It sounds like a nice trip though.

[jesse_the_k]

Thanks!

Lolling about, contemplating our wild youth, and eating good things is always a nice time.

[ismo]

Oh, not being able to swim is THE WORST. On our recent trip to the UP, we had the smoky air too, but not being THAT sensitive, I swam anyway.

[jesse_the_k]

I'm happy you could swim: Michigan or Superior?

Are there wake-free areas where you can paddle without a care?

[ismo]

My brother's place in the UP is on a very secluded lake with covenants about boats and things, so when we were there, we swam every day. Most of the time, there was no one else on the water but the loons. We drove up to a lovely Superior beach at the mouth of the Huron River, just east of the Keweenaw. It was in a national forest area, and there was not a boat in sight, except far away, going around the islands to the north.

[jesse_the_k]

Ahhhhhh, that sounds so lovely.

We had all-loon-sounds-all-the-time, and eagles diving for lunch. It was just the right time for flourishing ferns by the roadside.