Thursday rolled in a little slower than the days before—and I honestly didn’t mind. Kenobi and I started with our morning “business” walk down to the Hovland Dock, coffee in hand, lake breeze in our faces. A loon drifted by on the glassy water… and, of course, I didn’t have my camera. Cue dramatic sigh.
Turns out, that kind of set the tone for the day. A bald eagle soared right over the cabin while I was grilling (camera? nope). Later, on our hike, I spotted a beautiful little songbird I didn’t recognize—but my camera settings were all wrong and I missed the shot. Then, a beach I had dreams of photographing? Packed. People everywhere. Just one of those days where the magic shows up, but you fumble the catch.
Still—there were moments worth savoring.
Kenobi and I set out for the Kadunce River hike, a gorgeous trail that’s advertised as a short 0.9-mile jaunt to a bridge, but actually connects into the Superior Hiking Trail, just like Devil’s Kettle. What they call the “tourist hike” is only a teaser; the real adventure stretches far beyond.
While I may have missed the bird shot of the day, I did catch a vibrant orange moth that practically glowed in the forest light, and a peaceful scene of a fisherman on the river, surrounded by the soft rush of water and summer green. I also snapped a few wildflower photos—sweet, soft, and plentiful, even if they didn’t quite set my creative world on fire.
Later, we headed into Grand Marais to unwind. I grabbed fish tacos from The Fisherman’s Daughter (I might be on a mission to try the whole menu), and Kenobi? He was perfect. Sat beside me like a true gentleman, waiting patiently for his “bites,” completely unbothered by dogs, people, or distractions. He just watched the world go by, tail wagging, eyes alert. I say this without exaggeration: he is the greatest dog who ever lived.
We spent the rest of the afternoon wandering—people-watching, poking around art galleries, sniffing through specialty shops, and admiring the coastal town charm that Grand Marais just oozes. Fresh-caught Walleye, Whitefish, and Halibut fill the coolers of shops along the shore, and the creative spirit is everywhere.
We also stopped by the North House Folk School, which offers traditional craft demos and sailing adventures aboard the Hjørdis, a 50-foot, traditionally rigged schooner. (Mental note: must come back for that.)
We headed home early and grilled up more Whitefish for dinner, tucked in, and called it a day. No big wow moments today—just quiet ones. And sometimes, that’s more than enough.
On the Trails with Kenobi 
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