That is NOT what was planned. We left Fargo at 7:30, heading south on I-29 (speed limit 75). A bit less than an hour later, we crossed the South Dakota line (speed limit 80). After 3:15 hours and 204 miles, we turned off on 2-lane SD-34(speed limit 65) headed for Pipestone.
After a great lunch at Lange's Cafe in Pipestone, Sandra had a sudden attack of heat and wanted to head home immediately. So we pulled out without visiting the park, cancelled our reservation at Cherokee, and headed out on US-59 (speed limit 55, like even the best 2-lanes in Iowa).
We passed through Cherokee about 3 PM, figuring we had about over 312 miles to go. Turns out that a bit of a calculation mistake on the spreadsheet dropped about 80 miles. We finally got in at 10:30, after 721 miles and 15 hours. Bill's glad he can still do that kind of driving when needed, but doesn't want to practice it.
We saw lots of possible tidbits, such as Ida Grove, the town that has a castle theme in its architecture, but didn't have time to write much down.
Route for the day was I-29, SD-34, MN-30, US-75, IA-3, US-59, IA-2, ES-71, I-29, US-36 and MO-13. Whew. Total miles on the trip was 2741.6
Friday, July 19, 2019
Wednesday, July 17, 2019
Day 9, Gooseberry to Fargo
Well, here we are in Fargo, in our last of the contiguous 48 states to visit. We got off to an early start, heading toward Duluth. Breakfast this time was at McDonald's in Two Harbors, but gas was a dime higher than reported on Gas Buddy. We needed an oil change, but were in the wrong lane in heavy traffic going thru Duluth. After we cleared the metro, travel was clean until we hit a real downpour; never heard the thunder but it had to be there.
As we neared Leech Lake (still in the rain), we ran into a real traffic jam - hundreds of campers, mostly trailers of all sizes, filled parking spots and the road coming in. It turns out there's a big rock festival called the Moondance Jam. We were lucky to get thru w/o much delay.
Lunch was a Perkins at Detroit Lakes. It took 1-1/4 hour to be served and eat. No return there! Then in Moorhead we hit a detour that wasn't well-marked. Finally got in a bit after 2 PM. After off-loading, we headed for a Valvoline oil change place; so did everyone else. After a good wait in the heat, it was back to the motel.
Just a block away, we saw the Space Alien Bar & Grille. How could we resist, especially w/ Sandra's cow-abduction socks and Bill's Roswell T-shirt.
Tidbits:
287.5 miles for the day, 2021.5 miles for the trip. Tomorrow we take I-29 south into South Dakota, then cut over to Pipestone, MN for a visit to the National Monument there. Then it's US-75 south into Iowa, with RON at Cherokee.
As we neared Leech Lake (still in the rain), we ran into a real traffic jam - hundreds of campers, mostly trailers of all sizes, filled parking spots and the road coming in. It turns out there's a big rock festival called the Moondance Jam. We were lucky to get thru w/o much delay.
Lunch was a Perkins at Detroit Lakes. It took 1-1/4 hour to be served and eat. No return there! Then in Moorhead we hit a detour that wasn't well-marked. Finally got in a bit after 2 PM. After off-loading, we headed for a Valvoline oil change place; so did everyone else. After a good wait in the heat, it was back to the motel.
Just a block away, we saw the Space Alien Bar & Grille. How could we resist, especially w/ Sandra's cow-abduction socks and Bill's Roswell T-shirt.
Tidbits:
- What's with the pink trash cans on MN-194 west of Duluth?
- The Fond-du-Lac Indian Reservation sign, as well as all the lake and river signs are in English and Chippewa.
- The Upper Mississippi River in northern Minnesota is already a stream to be reckoned with.
- Akeley, MN, has a Paul Bunyan statue and a Blue Ox café (complete with mural).
- Want to visit the Bullwinkle bar? Try Nevis, MN, also home of the Firefly Event Barn.
- And then there's the pink bicycle about 20 miles east of Detroit Lakes.
- Detroit Rapids has a Spaceman Storage unit.
287.5 miles for the day, 2021.5 miles for the trip. Tomorrow we take I-29 south into South Dakota, then cut over to Pipestone, MN for a visit to the National Monument there. Then it's US-75 south into Iowa, with RON at Cherokee.
Tuesday, July 16, 2019
Day 8 - Grand Portage and return
A hot day, a lot of hiking, and low bandwidth - you'll get a story today, but the pictures will come later. We headed out at 6:55 AM, confident that we'd find a place for breakfast not far up the road, probably in Silver Bay. No hurry, we stopped and took a few pictures at scenic spots along the way. It turns out that Silver Bay is a Company Town, & we didn't see a café anyplace. We bypassed Tettegouche State Park, since the walk would be a bit far (2 miles & not smooth). Couldn't find the turnoff to Illgen Falls, and we bypassed Caribou Falls since were getting hungry. Finally Schroeder - the Cross River Falls easily photographed from the roadside stop!
Just past Schroeder we found Temperance Falls. 40+ years ago we took a nice hike up the gorge; this time we shot what we could from near the road.
No food in Lutsen, and we skipped Cascade Falls until later. Finally, Grand Marais, a real touristy port town. We found a café, had a late breakfast - not bad but badly overpriced. Now it's time to head north to Grand Portage. This was the site of an early trading post and a portage trail that bypassed 8 miles of falls and rapids on the Pigeon River. It's now on an Indian reservation, so it sports a casino near the rebuilt stockade on the National Monument. There's also a state park, with a 1/2 mile accessible trail to the 130 foot falls on the Canadian border. Sandra stayed in the car, while Bill power-hiked the paved trail to take pictures, then power-hiked back - one Gatorade down.
.
We left the park at 1:15 to return. The main stop was Cascades State Park. A wooded trail led to the upper cascades, and Sandra made the trip with Bill. Bill took pictures, drove out of the park, and found another trail to the lower cascades. More pictures.
Finally on our way back toward the motel, with a stop for food at a restaurant reputedly with prize-winning BBQ. The meat tasted good (pulled pork), but the presentation of everything was weird (& prices, ok course, were high). Bill took a couple of pictures around the motel and planned for tomorrow,
232 miles for the day, 1734 for the trip. Tomorrow, it's MN-61 back to Duluth, then MN-194, US-2, MN-200, MN-34 & US-10 to Fargo.
Just past Schroeder we found Temperance Falls. 40+ years ago we took a nice hike up the gorge; this time we shot what we could from near the road.
No food in Lutsen, and we skipped Cascade Falls until later. Finally, Grand Marais, a real touristy port town. We found a café, had a late breakfast - not bad but badly overpriced. Now it's time to head north to Grand Portage. This was the site of an early trading post and a portage trail that bypassed 8 miles of falls and rapids on the Pigeon River. It's now on an Indian reservation, so it sports a casino near the rebuilt stockade on the National Monument. There's also a state park, with a 1/2 mile accessible trail to the 130 foot falls on the Canadian border. Sandra stayed in the car, while Bill power-hiked the paved trail to take pictures, then power-hiked back - one Gatorade down.
We left the park at 1:15 to return. The main stop was Cascades State Park. A wooded trail led to the upper cascades, and Sandra made the trip with Bill. Bill took pictures, drove out of the park, and found another trail to the lower cascades. More pictures.
Finally on our way back toward the motel, with a stop for food at a restaurant reputedly with prize-winning BBQ. The meat tasted good (pulled pork), but the presentation of everything was weird (& prices, ok course, were high). Bill took a couple of pictures around the motel and planned for tomorrow,
232 miles for the day, 1734 for the trip. Tomorrow, it's MN-61 back to Duluth, then MN-194, US-2, MN-200, MN-34 & US-10 to Fargo.
Monday, July 15, 2019
Day 7 - Calumet to Gooseberry Falls
Woke up quite early this morning, so we were on the road by 6:15 EDT. Naturally, the only place open for breakfast was McD's, so we went hungry for a while. At Ontonagon, we finally found a café open, with 10 men drinking coffee and us eating. This was a side trip via MI-38. After breakfast we took MI-60 back to MI-28, which ran into US-2 and relatively heavy traffic. Despite that, we got thru Duluth before lunch. Two older US Steel lakers were in port in Superior, and Sandra wanted me to stop (on the interstate) to take their picture. No!
We stopped for lunch at Judy's Pies in Two Harbors, then drove down toward the port to see what was happening. En route, we captured the Lake County Courthouse.
At first look, the port didn't seem to have anything exciting going on. A large laker was taking on ore on the other side of the dock.
When, to our surprise, we had a visitor - one A of the new-fangled 1000 foot lakers coming in to port.
All we could say was "Wow!" It's amazing how they maneuver such a massive boat/
We headed northwest on MN-61, through a series of tunnels, toward our night's destination, Gooseberry Park Cottages and Motel - and drove right past it to Gooseberry Falls State Park. We (luckily) found a parking place, and headed up the trail marked "To Falls." The park is features a series of falls, and a bit of recent rain had them running at a reasonable rate. The upper falls are almost underneath the highway bridge.
Our next stop was the oft-photographed Split Rock Light, which was built in response to a wreck nearby. There's a lot of iron ore in the rocks along the North Shore, so magnetic compasses are often in error. The light was made obsolete by radar.
We stopped for lunch at Judy's Pies in Two Harbors, then drove down toward the port to see what was happening. En route, we captured the Lake County Courthouse.
All we could say was "Wow!" It's amazing how they maneuver such a massive boat/
Note the size of the boat compared to the people on the jetty.
A tug gives the Edwin H. Gott some help
We headed northwest on MN-61, through a series of tunnels, toward our night's destination, Gooseberry Park Cottages and Motel - and drove right past it to Gooseberry Falls State Park. We (luckily) found a parking place, and headed up the trail marked "To Falls." The park is features a series of falls, and a bit of recent rain had them running at a reasonable rate. The upper falls are almost underneath the highway bridge.
Upper falls
Upper falls close-up
Middle falls
Our next stop was the oft-photographed Split Rock Light, which was built in response to a wreck nearby. There's a lot of iron ore in the rocks along the North Shore, so magnetic compasses are often in error. The light was made obsolete by radar.
A telephoto view of the lighthouse
Trying for fine art up by the lighthouse
Every light needs a foghorn
The coast that required a light
Back to the motel to register and move into the room - just in time before a thunderstorm delivered a roaring deluge. After the rain stopped we crossed the highway for supper. The folks up here are awfully proud of their food!
295.4 miles on the day, 1501 for the trip. Tomorrow it's up to Grand Portage & back, looking at scenery, especially waterfalls.
Tidbits of the day:
- The UP has a Sleepy Creek
- Lake Gogebic sports a Hoop & Holler Bar
- Wakefield features a very large wood Indian statue
- Sign west of Hurley: "Watch for Blowing Snow and Drifting Sand"
- There's a Bad River Casino - is it a bad casino on a river or a casino on the Bad River?.
East of Brule we saw a rocking chair with a fishing pole, an arrow, and a stump with an axe - all at least 10 feet long/high - Brule also sports the Kro Bar
Sunday, July 14, 2019
Day 6 - Laundry Day (plus)
It's time - we brought enough clothes for 6 days, including what we had on when we left. Lake Linden has a nice little laundromat in the ground floor of an old wooden building, so that's where we headed. But first, breakfast at Lindell's. After breakfast we headed out to Bootjack again to see exactly where some important (to Bill) places were. The old store is long gone & you can't tell it was ever there. The cottage location - well, not much left.
The area you see was a hidden lot, perfect for play. To the left is the location of the cottage - Bill couldn't crawl thru the brush to look for foundation remnants.
On the way out, we'd passed a lady walking with two walking sticks in her left hand, while her right one held a phone to her ear. Half an hour later we saw her again - same configuration. Back at Lake Linden we got gas at the lowest price we'd seen ($2.79), bought ice and a Yooper candy bar, and ate lunch at Beakers. Then it was back to the motel to fold clothes and watch the Royals debacle on the Tigers' feed. The Trailside Lodge was a very satisfactory place, which caters to people running ATV trails - it even rents ATVs.
We went back to Calumet to look for the old depot where Bill & his mother arrived & departed via the Copper Country Limited. In the early years it was a steam train, clearly visible across Portage Lake when it passed by morning & evening.
We tried a "southwestern cuisine" restaurant for supper. Food was OK, nothing special, but they were proud of it. Back to the motel & start loading for an early departure tomorrow.
62.1 miles for the day, 1201 for the trip. Tomorrow we head east on MI-26, MI-28, US-2 & MN-61 to Gooseberry Falls, MN
The remains of the breakwater
On the way out, we'd passed a lady walking with two walking sticks in her left hand, while her right one held a phone to her ear. Half an hour later we saw her again - same configuration. Back at Lake Linden we got gas at the lowest price we'd seen ($2.79), bought ice and a Yooper candy bar, and ate lunch at Beakers. Then it was back to the motel to fold clothes and watch the Royals debacle on the Tigers' feed. The Trailside Lodge was a very satisfactory place, which caters to people running ATV trails - it even rents ATVs.
The Calumet Depot, end of the line and its line ended. RIP
We tried a "southwestern cuisine" restaurant for supper. Food was OK, nothing special, but they were proud of it. Back to the motel & start loading for an early departure tomorrow.
62.1 miles for the day, 1201 for the trip. Tomorrow we head east on MI-26, MI-28, US-2 & MN-61 to Gooseberry Falls, MN
Saturday, July 13, 2019
Day 5, Copper Harbor and back
Up and at 'em by 7:30, breakfast at Miners Café in Laurium, then off on MI-26 north. At Kearsarge, we had to take picture of the stone USS Kearsarge (a WWI destroyer, not the Alabama's bane) - didn't climb on it like Bill did as a kid during Copper Harbor trips.
We took the cutoff on Cliff Road, past the site of the Cliff Mine, first of many economically successful mines in Copper Country. Our first view of Lake Superior and our first waterfall came at Eagle River. We also picked up our first rocks here.
The day started out cloudy and cool, giving the lake a dark cast instead of that scenic blue, so we concentrated on the next waterfall, Jacob's Falls (on Jacob's Creek - Bill remembered associating it with the hymn about Jacob's ladder).
Eagle Harbor is the Keewenaw County Seat and is notable for its lighthouse. Tours are available - for a price. We opted for photos from a view tower.
Now it's time for Brockway Mountain Drive, known for the long views it provides. On the way up the mountain's wooded side, Bill saw a black bear cross the road and disappear into the woods. Up on top, we were disappointed that no lakers were in sight, but Bill used his longest lens to capture a yacht/fishing boat running parallel to the shore.
Copper Harbor itself hasn't changed all that much - a few more motels, only a few restaurants, and minimum access to the waterfront. We noticed that most waterfront property on these natural lakes is privately owned, limiting our chances for good scenic views. Our lunch was a mediocre pasty at Tamarack Inn, so we started back toward Calumet via Lakeshore Drive and Lac la Belle.
It's 22 miles from Lac la Belle to Gay, an old mill town. The route features sand beaches, and a great place for rock picking - so we picked a bunch. Then it was on to Gay for a beer. Want proof?
118.7 miles for the day, 1144 for the trip. Tomorrow we do the laundry and do a little additional gallivanting.
The stone Kearsarge
We took the cutoff on Cliff Road, past the site of the Cliff Mine, first of many economically successful mines in Copper Country. Our first view of Lake Superior and our first waterfall came at Eagle River. We also picked up our first rocks here.
The rock beach at Eagle River
Eagle River falls
The day started out cloudy and cool, giving the lake a dark cast instead of that scenic blue, so we concentrated on the next waterfall, Jacob's Falls (on Jacob's Creek - Bill remembered associating it with the hymn about Jacob's ladder).
Jacob's Falls
Did you know this stretch of Lake Superior coast has sand dunes? Bill didn't remember this section, but it provides good views and access to the beach.
View from the dunes
Another type of ladder - a long way down
Eagle Harbor is the Keewenaw County Seat and is notable for its lighthouse. Tours are available - for a price. We opted for photos from a view tower.
Now it's time for Brockway Mountain Drive, known for the long views it provides. On the way up the mountain's wooded side, Bill saw a black bear cross the road and disappear into the woods. Up on top, we were disappointed that no lakers were in sight, but Bill used his longest lens to capture a yacht/fishing boat running parallel to the shore.
The cloud cover remained, along with a slight haze from far-away fires, so we couldn't test whether Isle Royale could be seen from here. The clouds did add some interest to this shot of Copper Harbor.
One of the main attractions of Copper Harbor is Fort Wilkins State Historic Site. The fort, placed to protect/keep the peace during the copper boom, was active from 1842 to 1870 and was manned by a small infantry detachment. The buildings in the pictures are original, with restoration of buildings and stockades by the WPA. Two first-person interpreters did a nice job staying in character, but I tried to ask questions that would allow them to answer w/o causing them difficulty.
Private's wife waiting for some water to start the washing
Private in the 1st U .S. Infantry, ca 1870, on fatigue duty
Parade ground and post buildings
Sandra is her own character
Copper Harbor itself hasn't changed all that much - a few more motels, only a few restaurants, and minimum access to the waterfront. We noticed that most waterfront property on these natural lakes is privately owned, limiting our chances for good scenic views. Our lunch was a mediocre pasty at Tamarack Inn, so we started back toward Calumet via Lakeshore Drive and Lac la Belle.
A rock beach in a cove along Lake Shore Drive/MI-26
Haven Falls at Lac la Belle
It's 22 miles from Lac la Belle to Gay, an old mill town. The route features sand beaches, and a great place for rock picking - so we picked a bunch. Then it was on to Gay for a beer. Want proof?
Caught!
118.7 miles for the day, 1144 for the trip. Tomorrow we do the laundry and do a little additional gallivanting.
Friday, July 12, 2019
Day 4 - Around Copper Country
This part of the U.P. is on Eastern Daylight Time, so it's hard to get to sleep by 9 PM when it's still just about broad daylight outside. Our plans for the day included some research on Bill's connections, and a tour of Bootjack. We started with breakfast at Lindell's Chocolate Shoppe in Lake Linden. This is definitely an institution, with very private booths, and oak everywhere. To top things off, our breakfast was excellent, one of the best I've had on the road.
After Lindell's we decided to make a run out to Bootjack to see where Bill's grandfather's cottage once stood. The state had taken the land for a boat launching area on Portage Lake, and the only possible sign is a bunch of large rocks that probably were part of his breakwater - not worth a picture, especially with a thunderstorm moving in. We did take a few shots of the house where Bill's grand parents lived and his mother grew up. This was originally a company house provided by the Calumet & Hecla mining company.
Back to Lake Linden for a visit to the Houghton County Historical Society's research facilities, temporarily located in the basement of an old church due to some flash flooding. Bill did learn that most of the ancestors around in 1902 worked for C&H.
Next stop, Hancock, home of Finlandia University and the Finnish Heritage Center. It's also the home of the Kaleva Café, known for Finnish style pasties, which we naturally had for lunch. We got some good information on the role of Finnish immigrants and their descendants, as well as some pronunciation hints - the Finnish language is unrelated to any of Europe's big three families (Romance, Germanic, Slavic).
Back to Lake Linden, where we saw that the Historical Society museum was open. Interesting exhibits, and it has a short train ride available:
The sun was shining, the clouds well to the south, so we headed out to Bootjack once again. It's all so built up along both Portage & Torch lakes, one can't get close to the water for photography. We continued to Jacobsville so Bill could reminisce about childhood visits to the Jacobsville store for an Osogrape and pictures of the Jacobsville sandstone cliffs. The old lighthouse there has big No Trespassing signs, and even wants $5 to take pictures from the road. We finally found a spot without a house or sign to get this shot of the cliffs overlooking Keweenaw Bay.
On the way back, we stopped at another institution, the Dreamland Hotel (ca 1913), where we shared a local beer.
We returned to Calumet to visit the Keweenaw National Historical Park visitor center. Bill found some information that a distant cousin in Finland would like. Then it was another excellent pastie, this time at Tony's in Laurium, a stop at a supermarket for some of that local beer, and back to the motel.
113 miles for the day, 1025.2 for the trip. Tomorrow it's Copper Harbor and return via scenic routes.
Lindell's
Flashing Lindell's interior
A booth at Lindell's
After Lindell's we decided to make a run out to Bootjack to see where Bill's grandfather's cottage once stood. The state had taken the land for a boat launching area on Portage Lake, and the only possible sign is a bunch of large rocks that probably were part of his breakwater - not worth a picture, especially with a thunderstorm moving in. We did take a few shots of the house where Bill's grand parents lived and his mother grew up. This was originally a company house provided by the Calumet & Hecla mining company.
House, much updated - it just 'ain't the same'
Back to Lake Linden for a visit to the Houghton County Historical Society's research facilities, temporarily located in the basement of an old church due to some flash flooding. Bill did learn that most of the ancestors around in 1902 worked for C&H.
Next stop, Hancock, home of Finlandia University and the Finnish Heritage Center. It's also the home of the Kaleva Café, known for Finnish style pasties, which we naturally had for lunch. We got some good information on the role of Finnish immigrants and their descendants, as well as some pronunciation hints - the Finnish language is unrelated to any of Europe's big three families (Romance, Germanic, Slavic).
Back to Lake Linden, where we saw that the Historical Society museum was open. Interesting exhibits, and it has a short train ride available:
Dummy engine once used in the copper mines/mills
The varicolored Jacobsville sandstone
On the way back, we stopped at another institution, the Dreamland Hotel (ca 1913), where we shared a local beer.
Dreamland sign
The old hotel
The moose & muskie -they've been there as long as Bill can remember and likely much longer
We returned to Calumet to visit the Keweenaw National Historical Park visitor center. Bill found some information that a distant cousin in Finland would like. Then it was another excellent pastie, this time at Tony's in Laurium, a stop at a supermarket for some of that local beer, and back to the motel.
113 miles for the day, 1025.2 for the trip. Tomorrow it's Copper Harbor and return via scenic routes.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)