Last big trip of the year

We arrived home (St. Paul) yesterday after a fun and relaxing trip.  We were on the road for 13 days, drove 3200+ miles, visited 19 more state parks, visited family and friends and took in a wedding.
One day we drove into Canada and then out again 500 miles later.  On that day we arrived in Grand Portage MN late in the day with the intent to take the ferry out to Isle Royal National Park the next day.  When we talked to the camp host he informed us that during this time of year the ferry would be going out again in 6 days!  We had no idea that it went once a week and not only that but even during the 6 weeks of summer that it goes daily you MUST make a reservation.  So much for one more national park.  With that we directed our attention to state parks.  There are 72 in MN and last year we visited 41.  So for the last few days of our trip we visited friends north of Duluth, visited Terry's mother and visited 19 parks.  We will visit one just outside of the cities this week when we have an appt and then will have 7 left.  I think they will wait until 2014.
After we arrived home yesterday the time was spent unpacking, washing the camper and car and visiting a bit with Travis.  He is working really hard and has lost a amazing amount of weight.  He is looking so so good. 
It is GOOD to be home.  In the last 60 days we have traveled 13,500 miles and slept in the camper 50 nights.  As I walked out to the camper this morning to get the toaster the chill in the air kind of said, "Time to take care of the camper and let travel rest for a time."  Our next venture will be to drive to Naples which will be in mid November.  We need to take care of some health issues, not serious ones, so that is the reason for the mid November departure.
It was so much fun to see Elspeth Zoe for the first time.  She certainly is a cutie!  Here she is at nearly 2 months.  

I have not talked to John as most of the time on our trip we did not have internet or phone but it should be noted that his school, Trinity at Greenlawn in South Bend, recently received the "BLUE RIBBON AWARD" .  Trinity at Greenlawn was awarded this honor for the fourth time and became only the 8th school in the nation to receive it four times.  No school has received it five times.  John will travel to Washington D C in November to receive the award.  Well that is if our nation is not totally shut down by then!!
We saw some beautiful fall colors on our trip.  When a person travels they realize that everyone should plant maple trees just for the fall colors. 
One of the most interesting state parks is Sudan in central northern MN that is an old underground mine.  If anyone travels there be sure to take the $12 tour.  A person travels about a half mile underground and then rides a tiny train through the tunnels.  To learn a bit of how the  miners worked is just amazing.  They made good money but it would not have been for me.  A cubic foot of the iron weighed 300 pounds.  The miners worked very hard and if their candle went out, in the early days, there was total darkness, I mean you could not see your hand an inch in front of your face. 
No, my FP is about gone and it is time to start the day.