Black’s Cliff Resort’s Birch Bark Blog

We had quite a day at the resort.  Many storms rolling through.  One sent the entire resort into our basement.  When the call came from Craig that there was a hook echo involved in the radar, everyone headed to the basement to ride out the storm.  Craig is a former professor of metorology at Nicholet College so he makes the call when to have everyone in the basement.  If he does not make the call in time, the tornado siren in Hazelhurst gets everyone moving.  Today luckily we had no siren go off, but took precautions anyway.  One way to get to know everyone at the resort is to spend 45 minutes in the basement in close quarters with one bathroom

Al Zeitz showing up quite wet after running down from Holiday in the pouring rain

Someone else who had a run through the resort warning people to head to the basement

Kids having fun with the Star Wars toys could careless if there was a tornado as long as they got to play with ships

Getting comfy, we pulled out the folding beach chairs which still had Lake Superior sand in them

Now this cracked me up, storm raging outside but the Zeitz family was picking up our wireless internet in the basement and staying connected.  They had some game going that could not be stopped storm or no storm

We have one more set of storms on the Minnesota and Wisconsin boarder we shall see if everyone ends up in the basement again tonight.  You know you are a regular at the resort when you have spent a few afternoons hanging out in the basement with the neighbors

Anyone have a favorite storm story from their visits or time spent in the basement with everyone at the resort?

Blueberies are at the height of the season.  We have spotted a huge patch of them and are furiously picking whenever we can get spare time.  Steve claims to have a blueberry harvester that makes the job much easier.  We shall see tomorrow.  Blueberries to me are the easiest wild berry to pick.  They do not involve any prickers just a lot of leaning over.  Also the patch we found is right next to the road so if a bear wants a snack we can bail out to the car easily

I caught this good looking doe crossing the road by the resort.

It has been a beautiful few days with cool nights and low 80’s.

From things hanging around the resort it is evidence to the good times being had

We have started a new adventure for families.  Located somewhere in the resort is Yertle the Turtle and his treasure box.  In order to find Yertle and claim part of his treasure a GPS is needed or can be borrowed from us.  By following the coordinates to a few smaller treasure boxes you can find the coordinates to Yertles location.  Using sharp eyes you may find him also.

The head in the woods has the first clue.  Find the head and find the clue

Our first finders Nathan and Phillip took about 45 minutes with their parents to find Yertle.  Phillip was also smiling over finding some treasure at Yertles locations.  The head in the woods did not scare them off.

In other news the resort has mysteriously changed hands.  If you have any problems with a cabin or septic all complaints can be filed with Terry in South Chicago

The 4th of July week means one thing, time for the 15th annual Roy Tungett Horse Shoe Tournament.  10 of the 11 cabins at the resort headed down to Hilltop for Ting Soda, a few beers, pizza and horse shoes

Mr Tungett and the 2010 players.  This year there were 17 teams entered

Newly added this year is The Pony Plaque for those that have never gotten on the winners plaque.  Notice the top of the list is Terry Hixson who has put a lot of effort into winning by distracting other players but has remained a Non winner

Gloria Vs. Linda in a classic game of strategy and gamesmanship.  Each is praying the other wins so that they can sit the rest out and enjoy the tournament from the sidelines

Linda and her partnert came out on top and she is consoling Gloria or is it the other way around…..

The official referee Tom Hixson with his ruler making sure everything is legal

Kate from Ireland showing great form.  She will be going back to the big island a olympic swimmer and horseshoe champion

Rick Agnew getting the best dressed award for putting these color combinations together

In the end it came down to Sarah and her superior bounce technique.  Hit the ground before the pit and bounce the shoe in

Brigid and her sharp eyed marksmanship learned from the streets of South Chicago

Troy and his hometown advantage.  He sneaks down to Hilltop in the offseason and throws shoes when nobody is watching

Finally Tim who was our 2nd place winner last year.  Could he and Sarah pull out an upset over Brigid and Troy?

In the end the great horseshoe god “Oh No” was called upon to once again present the awards

Nobody messes with a Horseshoe god in a US Marine shirt in Chinese

Our 2nd place winners receiving their awards from Dawn who got 2nd place last year with Tim

Sarah will be using her prize to work out all year to get in shape for 2011 tornament

1st place winners Troy and Brigid with “Oh No” enjoying their moment of winning and getting on the plaque again

Congrats to the 2010 winners and a big thanks to Mr Tungett for organizing the festivities again

One last award to give out “The Pony Plaque” to Terry the longest running non winner.  Should we point out he is the only member of the Hixson family on the plaque

Afterward the real party started with Rick and his musical instrument.  Only this instrument would match that outfit

After the tournament at precisely 5:30 everyone shows up on the playground with a dish to pass and their meat cooked.  If you are late you may miss out on the great deserts

Everyone enjoying great friends and a great meal

Voted as the best dish was Dawn’s Ten Layer Jello  Don’t wiggle it too much or the tower falls over

Afterwards the kids favorite time came with Terry giving everyone and Alligator Ride they will not soon forget.  See everyone back in 2011 for the 16th annual Horseshoe Tournament only 51 weeks away and counting

Eight dove in the water for the “Big Swim” across the lake.  There were 5 first timers.  Most afternoons in the summer you will see heads bobbing across the lake for anyone brave enough to do the “Big Swim”

The trusty boat spotters staying close to the swimmers in case anyone needed to jump on and to keep other boats away

The Peanut gallery cheering everyone across the lake

Sarah a veteran of many a “Big Swim”, taking it a little slow with her bad knee and cheering on Kate from Ireland who was swimming farther than she ever had before.  Go Kate GO!

We made it!  Now who is swimming back?  4 did make the return trip swimming back and 4 jumped on the boat.  5 new lake swimmers can go home to brag they made it across the lake.  Kate was thrilled to make it but will not be swimming the English Channel when she gets home

After 3 days of rain it was time for some activities outside of the resort and the 4 walls of the cabin.  Antiquing in Ironwood at Dan’s and everyone found something they could not live without at a good price and then it was off to The Black River Road and Potowatomi Falls.  Sarah was happy to be outside and in the sun

Linda enjoying the view off the hill

One thing the rain did was make the falls fuller.  It was a good time to check out the falls with good friends

You can not be on The Black River Road and not make a quick stop at Black River Harbor to put your feet in Lake Superior.  Awesome day and everyone learned what a Pasty was on the way home stopping in at Joe’s Pasty Shop in Ironwood for a famous pasty.  Pasty is pronounced Pass- t- e  NOT Pastie.  Pastie’s can be found in the red light district of Ironwood but not at Joe’s Pasty Shop and they look at you a little funny if you ask for a Pastie instead of a Pasty

It has been a very wet and soggy 4th of July.  Fireworks and Ski show in Minocqua canceled two nights in a row due to heavy rain.  Folks have been having fun regardless in the rain.  Nothing was stopping Rich from grilling hamburgers flood or no flood.  He would have been grilling in a boat if needed

The spirit of the 4th was still found through the resort.  Kim took it to a new level with her LED lighted flag

Rain was not stopping the nightly game of Screw Your Neighbor in Muskie Inn.

One of the best things a soggy 4th brought out was Kim’s Rubbarb Crumble.  Lots of rain and time to bake instead of baking at the beach.

The pre party get together waiting for Gloria and Rich to arrive for their surprise 35th anniversary party.  Do you think 7 bottles of wine would be enough?

A very surprised Rich and Gloria arriving back from dinner with their family Eric, Alaina, Sarah and little Amelia who planned the party without their knowledge.  Way to go Kim and Will for setting things up for the family… now on to those 7 bottles of wine and cake

Congrats on 35 and many more years ahead!

One rule after 35 years, no smashing cake in anyone’s face.  A nice evening was had by all.  The beautiful and delicious cake came from the new Whistle Stop Bakery in Minocqua on 70 West

It was also Kate from Ireland’s birthday.  With her phone service not working up here for text messages from her family with brithday wishes, it was nice to have a cake with her 2nd family

The Mosquitos along withe everyone else had a great time…. and the bottom of the 7 bottles of wine was not quite found.  I hear Gloria and Rich are having a wine party later in the week

First day of vacation, first cast and first fish.  Abigail Hebert fishing with her dad Charles, caught her first fish on the first cast.  Dad is a little jealous that Abigail has caught a fish bigger than he has so far and Abigail is not sure she wants to go swimming in the lake if this is what she is swimming with.  I asked her how big was her fish and she just said “scary fish”