Minnesota, land of 10k lakes, summer vacation (boating too)

[scottchbrite]

Bear with me. I wasn't planning on doing a post about our trip, but the lake and experience made me want to share. I think some of you will enjoy some pics of a different lake experience from another part of the country. I wish we took more pics.
A little backstory first. I met Pat, one of my best friends, 20 years ago while racing in Douglas Wyoming. I was racing with Jay Payne and Pat and his dad were pitted next to us. They had a ”new to them” Competition Eliminator dragster that we were really intrigued by- basically a 300” Ford inline 6 cylinder with a billet Alan Johnson head and mechanical fuel injection. We shared a bunch of Coors lights that weekend and ended up becoming life long friends.
Fast forward to 2019. We were planning on doing a family trip for his 40th. He had bought a lake house on Roy Lake, MN and his wife wanted to do a party for him. Several years prior, Pat and his family came out to my 40th that we did at Big River and Parker. COVID hit and those plans went to shit. As soon as restrictions were loosened, we booked tickets and we’re off….
BTW, the boating is near the end

The night before, the family watched The Great Outdoors to get in the spirit!

and then up at 0 dark thirty and haul ass to the San Diego Airport. 3 girls don’t do this too well.

 

[scottchbrite]

Flying with your wife and young kids is always entertaining. $100 extra baggage fee due to over weight bags and “Mad Dad” happened. Then, on the flight from Dallas to Minneapolis, I had a heavyset guy sitting next to me, who kept falling asleep and then leaning on me. That was literally their entertainment for the 1:45 hour flight- laughing at me.
Once on the ground, we picked up our rental. We used the TURO app and snagged a Jaguar F-pace for a bunch less than a regular rental car company. The first evening there was a trip to The Mall of America. I won’t bore you with pics of that because my wife BROUGHT ALL HER NORDSTROMS GIFT CARDS and went shopping…… no sales tax in MN…. We did find an Alpaca store too. She has a thing for Alpacas and she wants a few for our property. We’ll see about that.
Also, I was floored at how rusted out cars were!

 

[scottchbrite]

On our first full day in Minnesota, we did our own thing. We stayed at The Great Wolf Lodge. My kids (6 & 8 years old) had never been to a real water park, it was way cheaper than CA, and we needed to kill a few hours. It was fun but 4 hours was enough. They had a blast but it was time to drive North.

 

[scottchbrite]

On the way to Pats house in Sartell, MN, we stopped to visit another friend of mine. JR Clark and I were both employed by Jay Payne. JR was our clutch guy and truck driver. JR’s dad is Richard Clark of Clark Copper Head Gaskets. We often serviced the funny car in their shop in Blaine, MN. I haven’t seen JR in close to 15 years, so it was fun to introduce him to my wife and kids.

and this was us circa 2002 I think.

 

[scottchbrite]

After dinner and drinks with JR, it was time to keep moving North. We stopped at Pats house for the night. It’s about an 1.5 hour drive up. Some really beautiful country. The next morning, we got an in depth tour of the family business. His family owns a rather extensive printing company. Unfortunately, all I could share were pics from outside. Needless to say, my wife and I were blown away. It’s awesome to see your buddy not be a typical “son of the boss” and actually be an integral part of the business.

I do have 2 kids but the youngest falls asleep as soon as we start driving

And the print shop

 

[scottchbrite]

Now for the boating part!

Pats lake house is on Roy Lake in Nisswa, Minnesota. That’s just outside of Brainerd, MN, which is where the NHRA national event is held every year. I’ll let some of the pics show what I’m talking about. I had NO idea how pretty it was.

Later today, I’ll update some more. I’m still going through pictures

Our digs for the rest of the week

 

[scottchbrite]

 

[Havasu blue label]

Dbl lakes are the best

 

[fmo24]

I’m loving all these travel threads. The varied beauty of our country is something I wish everyone could experience in their lifetime. And the people we have met along the way are awesome.

 

[cakemoto]

I spent 11 months three years ago working in northern Minnesota we did lots of fishing both summer and winter.I was in Grand Rapids…

 

[WYRD]

Trip of a lifetime right here, well done

 

[lakemadness]

Those are gigantic, I mean great... Great pair, I mean great pictures...

 

[Hardly Satisfied]

Great pictures

 

[DaveH]

10,000 lakes and 10 trillion mosquitos.

 

[rivrrts429]

This is an awesome thread. Thanks for sharing. Hoping you have more to post. Looks beautiful there.

 

[Tank]

Awesome. 1) I want to see more of that 62 Impala your standing next to post #4. 2) Don't visit there in winter!

Great pics!! Thanks for sharing.

 

[checkrdpast]

Thanks for sharing ,just awesome

 

[clarence]

I grew up on a MN lake.

Glad you are enjoying the experience.

 

[scottchbrite]

On My first day there, we had some maintenance to do. We picked up the Weed Roller at the shop and then had to mount it. I have never heard of a Weed Roller. Its a 12v motor that turns an aluminum roller with paddles on it. It sweeps back and forth on the bottom of the lake and keeps the bottom nice and sandy and no weeds in the swimming area. I fabbed up some brackets out of a damaged bibini top and some carriage bolts.

 

[scottchbrite]

The first day out on the boat was pretty much spent touring the lakes. It’s a whole bunch of lakes connected with scenic no wake channels.

 

[scottchbrite]

The lake houses in this area are quite impressive. If you don’t know who Lee Anderson is (I didn’t), Google Lee Anderson’s boat house. He has a huge collection of wooden boats and they get driven. I saw a few on the lake over the week. His son has the only performance boat I saw.

For the love of boats

For the love of boats - Download as a PDF or view online for free

www.slideshare.net

 

[spectra3279]

Just left there this morning. Had a load from st. Paul to joplin mo

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[spectra3279]

After dinner and drinks with JR, it was time to keep moving North. We stopped at Pats house for the night. It’s about an 1.5 hour drive up. Some really beautiful country. The next morning, we got an in depth tour of the family business. His family owns a rather extensive printing company. Unfortunately, all I could share were pics from outside. Needless to say, my wife and I were blown away. It’s awesome to see your buddy not be a typical “son of the boss” and actually be an integral part of the business.
View attachment 1022746

I do have 2 kids but the youngest falls asleep as soon as we start driving

View attachment 1022747 View attachment 1022748 View attachment 1022750

And the print shop

View attachment 1022751 View attachment 1022752

I always find it funny how kids can fall asleep in any position and be comfortable.

I can't do that shit anymore.

Sent from my SM-G973U using Tapatalk

 

[Blackmagic94]

Wow that is a badass dockagon

 

[brgrcru]

Looks like a great trip
Beautiful family
Not much to share .

Went to Minnesota for my 50th to watch the Vikings 6 years ago.
Thanks wife and kids

beautiful state, nice people, lots of lakes .
and the supposedly the biggest candy store . We went to .

I also know jay Payne , that I sub hauled for in a different life
Many years ago .

 

[scottchbrite]

Looks like a great trip
Beautiful family
Not much to share .

Went to Minnesota for my 50th to watch the Vikings 6 years ago.
Thanks wife and kids

beautiful state, nice people, lots of lakes .
and the supposedly the biggest candy store . We went to .

I also know jay Payne , that I sub hauled for in a different life
Many years ago .

Maybe we’ve crossed paths. During the off season I would work with Terry at the truck yard. Eventually, I ended up working at Brad Anderson’s -BAE- during the off season because it was more beneficial for the race cars.

 

[scottchbrite]

Awesome. 1) I want to see more of that 62 Impala your standing next to post #4. 2) Don't visit there in winter!

Great pics!! Thanks for sharing.

I dont have any other pics of the car. I do know it’s an all original, numbers matching car. His dad is the original owner I believe.

 

[nowski]

Thanks for sharing 1 of 10,000 lakes with us. It's nice to know that there's more to life than news, weather and Havasu...

 

[nowski]

Maybe we’ve crossed paths. During the off season I would work with Terry at the truck yard. Eventually, I ended up working at Brad Anderson’s -BAE- during the off season because it was more beneficial for the race cars.

BAE, in Ontario? If so I've been to that shop, impressive place...

 

[havasuhusker]

Great pics! Thanks for sharing!

 

[X Hoser]

Maybe we’ve crossed paths. During the off season I would work with Terry at the truck yard. Eventually, I ended up working at Brad Anderson’s -BAE- during the off season because it was more beneficial for the race cars.

Scott, I think maybe our paths may have crossed too? It’s a good thing if so. I’ll PM you

 

[scottchbrite]

BAE, in Ontario? If so I've been to that shop, impressive place...

Yes, Brad is Jays father in law. Jay married Shelly Anderson. We kept the cars there when we were on the west coast. Also, Jeremy, Brad’s parts guy, and I ran a car together for several years and I still occasionally stop by to check out all the super secret cool stuff.

 

[scottchbrite]

I few more random shots. My kids tubed damn near everyday. My oldest got pitched off and wouldn’t go again unless I went with her. After that she was good to go again.

 

[scottchbrite]

Jokingly, my buddy Pat, calls this their London Bridge

 

[ridebig]

You gonna blow some coin on a kick ass drag boat?

 

[Sleek-Jet]

MN lakes are great. We vacation up at Lake Vermillion north of Duluth.

 

[scottchbrite]

You gonna blow some coin on a kick ass drag boat?

I’ve kind of done that already- the Hot Boat forum days and racing in Blythe. It wasn’t that exciting other than that’s actually how I met my wife. If I’m going racing again, it’s with Pat and Mike and their Comp car. The car is a serious contender, has a lot of potential, and Pats a good driver.

 

[scottchbrite]

I finally got the rest of the pics off of our shared IPhoto deal.

We met up with Pats parents. They just got a new Premier 25’ toon with a 350 merc on it. Im not a toon guy but it was pretty rad.

We went to Ernies for lunch and then to one of the many sand bars. This was Love lake sandbar.

 

[scottchbrite]

Final pic-
4th of July. This pic was taken at 9:30 at night! The kids were chasing Loons, while waiting for the nightly firework displays put on by the neighbors. Epic fireworks with lightning in the background.

This trip really drove home to my wife that we need to explore future options out of California.

 

[Lunatic Fringe]

That chain of lakes is a special place for me.
My parents home is on Gull lake between Ernie's and the entrance to Love Lake.
I spent every summer growing up on that lake.
Dad has passed away but Mom is still there.