On our way west from Lake Superior we felt a need to stop in Bemidji, Minnesota. As a teenager I rode my bicycle from Seattle to New York and spent the 4th of July there. I have fond memories of that day including this statue of Paul Bunyan and his trusty sidekick Blue Ox. The statues have been there since 1937 and look in marvelous shape.
Had to get a picture of one of the many wind turbines we drove by on Interstate 94 traveling west across North Dakota.The view from our campground!Our campground “Boots Campground” is located in Medora just south of the Theodore Roosevelt National Park’s South Unit. We cycled our tandem bike around the loop in the center of the park.
At one of the waysides in the South Unit there was a free exhibit going on that let us look directly at the Sun through two different telescopes with powerful filters on them. We wish we had a screen shot of what we saw but, oh my was it amazing.
Not only did this volunteer couple know a lot about observing the Sun, they were experts at solar energy for RVs. We picked there brain a bit.The beginning of a nice 30 mile tandem ride through the South Unit’s only road. I thought North Dakota was flat……WRONG!No, we did not run it over with our tandem but it was the largest snake we have seen to date on this trip.Looks like a nice downhill coming up!
The South Unit or RNP has many bison but we only ran into a handful of them….not literally thank goodness!
This bison was “King of The Hill” for the moment. Can you find him?Oh my is the scenery gorgeous. Not sure what the Grand Canyon has on this place but…..we will see in January.
Here are some good pictures of the scenery we had all afternoon while cycling.
Some other wildlife included about a billion prairie dogs and a number of wild turkey.
This little prairie dog was not bashful but made all sorts of strange noises when we stopped the bike to take its picture. These abundant characters live together in what are called “prairie dog towns” placed throughout the park.These “turkeys” did not let us get close enough for a truly good picture but they are magnificent.
I suppose this is really not an oddity up North?Oh to be young!Who has larger shoes? Laurie or Bullwinkle?
Guess this moose was “in a hurry”Not something we are used to running into in a larger grocery store.This is not an anomaly….Every pizza we had in Minnesota was cut like this. Who gets stuck with all the crust pieces?After seeing these all over the place on the trail we are still wondering if they are nests built by small woodland creatures or just random happenstance?This has to be the absolute best man made trail ladder we have seen. Very functional too.We could not find the ugly one?These rock cairns were here and there on the trail. Usually used for trail navigation above tree line we feel these were more ornamental in nature.This is the famous Split Rock as when the Split Rock River hits it splits the river into two.We figure the C.B. stands for Canadian Border but are not sure. We found these markers at high spots on the trail and fairly near to the border.The state parks on the North Shore have some fairly friendly squirrels.We purchased this handmade clock for our camper from the artist at a Finish festival in…..of all places…..Finland, Minnesota. The outer ring is red cedar and the inner is birch. Two tree species we see a lot of. What do you think it looks like?Our next adventure?
After almost 7 weeks of hiking on the Superior Trail we have put together a few pictures of seemingly random “oddities” we came across.
Had to take a picture of this cute little critter on a trail head sign. Is this what we will look like after we finish the trail?This picture does not do justice to the huge amount of wooden carvings and statues all over this person’s lawn. We looked up Pax Vobiscum and found it to mean “peace be with you”.No, Laurie is not the oddity we are talking about here. This is called Black Beach near Silver Bay, Minnesota. The sand is actually taconite. This is a broken up sedimentary rock containing around 15% iron.On the North Shore this taconite is melted down and used in steel production. It gets REALLY hot on the feet though.This character’s house/shop sold fur pelts and firewood? Not sure if the “maybe” sign is there for “maybe we have fur” or “maybe we are open”!This was hanging on a wall in the lodge we ate lunch at one time. Amusing, and, basically true.Can you see the smiley face in the potato chip? That is what my face looked like after I ate it!No, we did not submerse ourselves.Thought this was interesting. Damage caused by humans and beaver at the same time.We suppose that foot travel includes snow shoes.This is an ice house built on the shore of Lake Superior by the CCC back in the 30s. Our guess is that it has had some restoration as it is in magnificent shape. Gooseberry Falls State ParkMore CCC work at Gooseberry Falls SP. We would love to have one of these in our yard at home!Wouldn’t you just love to be there when giant pieces of rock split off into the lake? Well….not too close to there.
As we wrap up hiking this gorgeous trail called the Superior Hiking Trail (SHT) we had two very interesting “hikes”. One was along the Kadunce River gorge. We have rarely walked a formal trail under these conditions. Actually, the gorge walk was parallel to the spur trail that led us up to our hike on the SHT.
Laurie is thinking to herself…..Should we really do this…..Heck yeah!Roy found a nice dry spot to admire the photographer.We couldn’t imagine what would happen when all that cliff side rock comes tumbling down.Such a beautiful trail to walk up.
Our first attempt at using the “panorama” feature on our camera. The water must have been flowing hard to erode that cave Laurie is standing in.Roy had finally had enough of the beautiful gorge but to get out, we had to scale this almost vertical wall of rock fragment.
The other strange hike recently was along the actual shore of Lake Superior. Lots of really coarse sand (stones really) and many rocky outcrops. One and a half miles of really tough but absolutely gorgeous hiking.
We found a group of hiking Boy Scouts to take our picture in front of Lake Superior.No….this island is not actually on the trail but we are and it was only a short swim if the water was not in the 50sThose pebbles are really hard to walk on. It was futile to try to take the pebbles out of our boots until the end of the lake walk.The hiking poles do not help when hiking on REALLY coarse sand.Always liked the challenge of skipping a stone into a lake.The rock piles called “cairns” usually show a hiker the trail in poor visibility or high altitude where no trees grow for blazing. Not sure why they were needed when the trail goes along the lakeshore?The solid rock at points along the shore of Lake Superior was much easier to walk on. Still had to be careful not to slip though.
That wrapped up our 1.5 mile lake walk on a beautiful and sunny day.
This picture we call “Entwined Trees” was taken many years ago on the Bristol Hills Trail (A branch trail of the Finger Lakes Trail System) and it has inspired us to keep a look out for other “interesting” trees over the years. It hangs in our office at home as a reminder of symbiotic love.
Since we started hiking on the North Shore of Minnesota we have been intrigued with their tree population. The species and the way they grow and/or die.
If it weren’t August we would say these trees are covered in frost.Best we can figure the death of these trees was drowning by beaver pond.
There are many birch trees in the area and most stands seem to have the taller birches “lopped off” toward the top for no apparent reason. We actually have met a few folks that make homemade birch syrup. We have not tried it but folks claim it is a totally different flavor than maple syrup.
The entire North Shore is “littered” with sheared of birch trees. Must be something about the prevailing winds that shears them off?Here is an up close view of those lopped off birches.Not sure what to call this but the roots system is awesome!Talk about a far reaching root?This tree must provide some shelter to a lucky animal during a storm.
The hemlock population seems to be thriving. Their roots make our hiking very difficult though.
This cedar is attempting to make a friend but the other cedar wants nothing to do with him.The beginning of some special relationship?We have seen many downed trees that refuse to go quietly. This poor fellow has fallen over a creek but has new limbs reaching for sunlight.This is an example of the root systems we have to hike over every day. Not sure if the trees mind us trampling their roots as we walk by but very rarely, one or two of them seem to make a creaking sound of approval?Many a tree seem to be sheltering a rock or two with their root system.We called this “Squid”Here is another view of our favorite tree on the North ShoreHanging on for dear life. The drop off is a few hundred feet.An example of the scrub growth we see as we climb in altitude. The highest point on the SHT is only around 1900 feet. Lake Superior is at around 700 feet.Many days the trees seemed to be enveloped in a dense, eerie fog coming off the lake.Do we call this “the embrace” or “the kiss”? Notice the SHT trail blaze on the left one (or is it the right?)The “Bilingual Tree”. Nothing too special but it is planted just about on the Canadian border at the Northern terminus of the SHT. It is also the Eastern terminus of the Border Route Trail through the Boundary Waters.Just a wee bit of hand holding going on here.Long distance relationships are hard for trees too.Don’t know how these twin trees manage to hang on? The hundred foot drop off is not shown here.
We have been slowly working our way northward on this wonderful trail. Many awesome views of Lake Superior as expected. Many views of inland lakes/ponds as there is much beaver activity around here and Minnesota is called “the land of 10,000 lakes”! We have run into two different (we think) bear and many moose prints and scat piles but Bullwinkle is still being elusive. We did hear a cow moose (we figure) calling for a mate yesterday. I tried to entice it but with no luck. Could it tell I was not a male? We are 225 miles into the 310 mile trail and plan on another week or two to finish it up before heading westward on our adventure.
Here are some pictures of things we have seen the past few weeks:
What an awesome view of Bean Lake we had for about 1/2 hour as we hiked by.The very happy couple found someone to take their picture at an overlookBean and Bear Lakes near Silver Bay, Minnesota.A sample of what Laurie has to look at each time I hike UP in front of her.This was a “standard” view when the trail is not opening up to Lake Superior.
Same light, different person and, actually, a different day as we must use each trail head one day to start and the next day to end.Walking “into the light” at the end of a tunnel. Always wondered what the expression “light at the end of the tunnel” signified. Here it is!Nice spot for a lunch or just to relax.One of the many bridge designs we found on the SHT. Turns out, Laurie walked over all of them.. Here is proof.
The SHT does not really use these lean-to structures for sleeping but for a temporary respite from a storm. There are many really cool backwoods bivouacs on the trail for camping.One of my favorite lunch spots so far on the trail. Looking at the river you would never guess it has been a dry summer here on the North Shore.Absolutely wonderful view upstream from a creek crossing.A view of the “elusive” Minnesota Route 61 as it snakes its way along the coast of the big lake.A peaceful view with what we will call a “sun rainbow” peaking out.Laurie gives height perspective to the chimney rocks near the Split Rock State ParkThere he is!Where is Dando?Can you find me now?Check out the lake fog rolling into the hills of the North Shore over the tread of the SHT
This bridge made me feel like an old man trying to get across. Don’t think it was designed that way.That puts a wrap on today’s blog entry!
We are camping at the Grand Marais Municipal Marina for a week. We are very intrigued with an endeavor called North House Folk School. They hold classes for locals and tourists alike in many different cultural genres. The have a working blacksmith shop, a timber building (post and beam) exhibition and many others. Info can be found at www.northhouse.org. They also have a resident schooner that sails a few times every day for a small fee. We opted for the evening sail and had a superb and relaxing time with 4 other guests, 1 hired crew and one volunteer crew.
Hjordis means “Sword Goddess” in Norwegian.Laurie is ready to go sailing!The Hjordis is a schooner as its Aft mast is taller than its foremast. Capt. Andrew noted that there was only on other ship in the harbor with 2 masts but it was a yawl as its foremast was taller.The two-man crew took care of all the sailing chores but we would have helped if asked.
When not busy with sailing chores Captain Andrew told the story of the missing submersible that was launched from the Hjordis a few months ago. He explained the University of Minnesota at Duluth has a very large marine research vessel that is trying to find this rogue submersible. He pointed to the large research vessel off the port side of the schooner and tried to contact it.
The Captain, Andrew, was quite the character. He kept us amused by doing all sorts of things. At one point he tried to hail a big research vessel from the University of Minnesota to ask them what they were up to. They did not cooperate.
We had an evening of calm but steady winds and we were grateful for that. Many nights we sit on the beach and wonder what would happen if we were sailing when the lake was really angry like on the fateful day of the sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.
Our view for the first 30 minutes of the sail as we were the only ones “brave” enough to walk up there and sit. Very peaceful indeed!This is the entrance to the harbor we are camping at. Local folks like to jump in the lake and swim off of each point.The sleeping quarters back in the days when the Hjordis was used as a personal pleasure schooner.A small galley in the schooner but when it was in personal family usage it was big enough we suppose.
Jon Morris and myself. Two retired folks doing a bit of travelling.
As we cycled in to Beaver Bay to do laundry Jon was sitting there taking care of e-business on his phone. As he travels, his mail service based in South Dakota, scans his mail so he can choose which to have them open and scan for him to read online….Very cool indeed. He noticed our tandem bike with all of our laundry in our trailer Bob. We struck up a conversation for a few minutes and found out simply that he was an Iraq war vet. We decided to thank him for his service by buying him an ice cream while our clothes were drying. His eyes watered a bit when we gave it to him and then we had a long conversation about, well, lots of things.
Jon served 8 tours in Iraq and on the last one was hit with an RPG and suffered a traumatic brain injury (along with other injuries). After “recovery”, as he says, “you never recover from something like that”, he stayed in the Army and managed to eke out 28 years of service before the PTSD took its toll. He said he has absolutely no regrets regarding his service and he has been traveling the country in his RV for the past year. He gave us all sorts of neat hints on how to live life on the open road. When leaving he gave us his cell phone number and mentioned he was settling down and buying a house in his home town of Beaver Bay, Minn. He now wants to return to a simple life of hunting, trapping and fishing. He also wants to volunteer driving vans for the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) that take veterans to their medical appointments He said that if we were in the area again to give him a call and we would have a place to stay.
One thing we do miss on the road is the ability to simply go downstairs and throw in a load of laundry. As we met in a laundromat a bit over 20 years ago visiting one to clean our clothes is like a walk down memory lane.
Not quite as easy as a trip downstairs but when you have no downstairs??
This year, as we hike the Superior Hiking Trail, we noted that it uses this bike trail as a temporary detour as trail maintenance is being done on the SHT. As we had good memories of the bike trail AND it just happened to travel the 14 miles from our campsite to the town of Beaver Bay we decided that a short bike trip might be in order.
The max load for the Bob trailer is 75 pounds. We figured about 40 pounds of laundry would be a simple task for our sturdy trailer.
12 years ago we cycled our tandem around Lake Superior and had a wonderful time on the Gitche-Gami bike trial that covers almost 30 miles or so of the North Shore in Minnesota. You can read more about this wonderful bike path at http://www.ggta.org/
Do you think the caution sign is necessary with the “undulating road” sign above it? There were some nice hills though.When riding over these wooden bridges our tandem sounded just like a freight train that hauls iron ore mined in the area..
Boy was it a hot day! Being out in the sun versus generally being in the woods really makes a difference. I remembered the trail as relatively flat and along the lake shore but Laurie remembered differently. She was right. There were many ups and downs as the trail “kissed” the shore and then left it many times.
We wondered how often they have to change this sign with the population resting at 181?
About an hour later we were putting our clothes into a machine at the laundromat named “The Mother Load”. Great name. Off to lunch at Camp 61, a nice touristy restaurant. Fish and chips were ordered as we actually saw the fisherman bringing in the fish we ate! Very good indeed.
Gotta love that name!We stayed for lunch but that is all.
To cross or not to cross…..Or….Why did the hiker cross the closed road?Notice the name of the trail head we are trying to reach: Sucker River!
A few days ago we accessed a trail head right where a major bridge had been washed away by a storm sometime in the recent past. Our hike went nicely but the next day, in order to access that same trail head and continue to the next one there was no way to get the truck or scooter across the river. Our Plan: park the scooter on the other side of the river (the same side as the trail path for the successive day’s hike) and when we “popped” out at the trail head we would “trespass” through the construction zone and “walk the plank” the workers put across the river to get from one set of machinery to the other.
As I ponder: “Is this a good idea?”Nobody seems to be looking so here goes nothing!Boy are those cranes big!End of the road……or is it?Looks like that plank was there just for us to “walk”I figure if it holds me, Laurie will be no problem!Anyone see me do that?Looking back at the scene of the crime.Funny….that machine was not here when we left our scooter here?Our savior awaits. It played by the rules and didn’t enter the construction zone.I guess if the road is closed on one side, it must be closed on the other.
A local construction company has this for a lawn ornament. An old crane holding up a defunct lawn tractor.
Seeing this on the way to the hike made us wonder if we should “test the waters” of the area.
