Boundary Waters Blog

     Most people think we live in a remote wilderness off the beaten path at the end of the Gunflint Trail.  Mary and Mark Black of Black Magic Kennels that I spoke about in yesterday's blog entry bring new meaning to that phrase.  I have tried to explain to people how and where they live and I never do that good of a job.  Who better to explain the process than Mary herself in her own blog, Off the Beaten Path.

"Now we have to gear up for a 1/2 hour or more snowmobile ride, warm up a truck, drive to town, pick up our supplies, drive back to the trailhead, transfer stuff to the snowmobile and ride back. The two-hour drive turns into a half-day adventure now. This is just another fact of life when you live Off The Beaten Path. From here on out anything that we need is hauled in and taken out by snowmobile and Otter sled. On Thursdays I bring in groceries, gas, dog food, clean laundry etc. in heavy duty plastic boxes. On Sunday out goes recycling, garbage, empty gas cans, etc. in those same boxes."

     Since Mary works in town during the week she must stay overnight in town or her entire day would be spent commuting.  They live east of town, which in my mind will always be north but the way the northeastern part of Minnesota is people from around here call it east.  It's about 20-30 miles up the shore then a turn inland for another 20 or so miles but it isn't easy going at all.  They do not have telephone service, electricity or water at their location.  It's amazing what they can do with what they have and I really encourage you to visit them sometime Off the Beaten Path.