![a seat at Scenic Cafe a seat at scenic cafe](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhe9Sis9atq2O_oVMXPpeM2AH3h3bG6LwAn5TlP3UV_SDaR7K5MYrMtPgfI3SD_MISBeKKERfe2DbGiET9WLwWg2IwiVDpIQI-wsFTABJQjWZPLA9ffnAW1c0QnSAiSNhPbnXn3kaQ4jrA/s320/IMG_4197WSM.jpg)
On a visit to my folks this summer, I took a leisurely drive up old Highway 61 from Duluth to Silver Bay. I stopped for lunch along the way at the
Scenic Cafe and further on up the road, stopped again to take a walk down to a river.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhggsuimxkoLbogTlQYDAKl1eyTpz0SjV6aqTQkCiEL8lkhGaH7cgo23luqcD0hHpthvLGyemV2cgM_4LdM5b4rwzVteIJqI3mozybn6Nc1SUec4kx9Y_t-UvMgdRfnB-qHsXLuJyrhh4M/s320/IMG_4204WSM.jpg)
Hwy 61 has lots of rivers. It brought back memories of my last few years living in Duluth, when I learned how, through the good folks at the
UMD Outdoor Program to winter camp and ski frozen rivers. I have skied many of the rivers between Duluth and Two Harbors and beyond, and it was nice to remember this as I sat soaking up the warm sun on a rock on a Friday afternoon.
![Velkommen Velkommen](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgbitzJCV3MtEmRePjng9SewMSNghhH5QJ5ZAzRZHmlkCdQ2litFLu_LQSaInC7FJ8NkQw94kWVWkFCRIstMUNkKhoukYr41aaq8CNNKF9bku9jiR8l9vojjkphvVmRqvoSr2Sz-uimiFs/s320/IMG_4253WSM.jpg)
Just outside of Two Harbors I stopped again, at one of my favorite gift shops,
Brad Nelson Designs, located in a Norwegian stabbur, a building style originally used as a storehouse for food or grain. While perusing their many European imports and Brad’s own designed and handcrafted silver jewelry, I chatted with Brad’s mother, who often manages the shop (I just had to buy one of her handmade stuffed Swedish dala horses and a felted eyeglass case). Afterwards I strolled around outside to snap some more pictures.
![dala horse dala horse](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEizjJFP4PlJKJstqoz9MhTNz4IaSmYAXQmSboX8aTablgz_JsomfZyW9CnAndOU2OelnmPQobfShQVN429czNL3tfzTUpOGSMGhor0wIQ-f4gJYhKJq6FtvDplSEGnWgG5WDsJlsOI9xTo/s320/IMG_4388WSM.jpg)
In addition to his design work, Brad maintains an extensive rock garden, adorned with succulents, flowers, intriguing stones, bits of architecture and other interesting artifacts. He was given a stone slab in the shape of MN which will soon be incorporated into one of his rock walls.
![MN Rocks! MN Rocks!](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgVXd4Q3GTWqjKS1l46WU4vaGZoyXUHemCtX5Y9vwbD5YqVEwFi-l1tGL_THy3UmVhuA1egqSXZvTIITzghFL6y2ZFCPzV9BmQDXjFccmx4kWGlfvOAUK9f1a8hNdxSf2o8LwQobKJNT-I/s320/IMG_4239WSM.jpg)
If you ever find yourself on a leisurely pace up the “North Coast,” I recommend you take the Old Hwy 61 route on the outskirts of Duluth and make sure to stop for lunch and a gander at Brad’s work and gardens. You may just find the North Coast to be one of your favorite vacation destinations.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiux2cGXdPsaYZyhSYnzkYXKU6Us4WfvtPmjUfNs0hQJpyOxbHc-b_ImneH5HxtXqj51O6lAdu00YWfheObSpIYvleOsL1DVcFw36r2mAdmETW42d17mK1Jrg6626WAsbxN4ghgVwlnaFM/s320/IMG_4232cropWSM.jpg)
Farvel! Cheers!
To visit my web album with more photos from my visit to the north coast, click
Here.