Manhattan Beach 2015: Trout Lake in the Rain

Manhattan Beach on a cloudy afternoon

This summer has been spectacular so far, so beautiful that summer vacations have been the "best yet" for anyone who spent time at any of our lovely Minnesota lakes. However, we've been busy with projects around the house and just haven't taken the time for a few days at "the lake".

Bob called Manhattan Beach Lodge on Sunday and got a reservation for a few days this week. We should have checked the weather -- as we always do, but the endless good weather made us careless and we forged ahead without a second thought.

Today, we drove through mostly light rain to get here, and since a downpour seemed imminent we didn't even launch the boat today. Fortunately, we got to be outside for part of the afternoon and enjoyed our little cocktail hour in our room, watching the light rain through the window looking out at Trout Lake. Then we had a breakfast supper at Pine Peaks in downtown Cross. It wasn't very good but I was in no mood for bar food and drink.

I think it will rain all day tomorrow so we're planning our day around non-water activities, a new thing for us. I'm really OK with the rain, as I can always find entertainment as long as I have something to read. I am a little disappointed with the resort, which seemed so upscale years ago when we first started coming here for a drink or an appetizer, when we were campers at the Corps of Engineers campground.

Members of a rather scruffy family have spent most of the afternoon in the lobby not far from our room drinking beer and eating various snacks. They go outside to smoke and talk to hotel guests entering and leaving the building, occasionally returning to their chips and salsa in a large Tupperware container, plunked on a lobby coffee table. The venue has something of a bar room feel, just a little tacky.

Meanwhile, the Twins beating the Yankees 4-1in New York but the bases are loaded in the bottom of the seventh inning, and a good outcome seems unlikely. Ah, but the view is priceless and the water is clear and clean only a few feet from our room. The weather will clear by Thursday and we'll enjoy a fantastic sunset after a day on the lake. Life is pretty good.

Click for more stories about Crow Wing County and Manhattan Beach. Summer photos here.