Buffalo Run Campground Duluth, MN

Buffalo Run Campground Duluth, MN

We traveled from Voyageurs National Park to Duluth, MN.  It was a very short travel day and allowed us to complete setting up by midafternoon. We are getting very efficient at setting up and breaking down camp.  We went to Jay Cooke state park just to get out for a couple of hours, but we were pleasantly surprised with our finding.  This was a park that was not on our list of places to see. The St. Louis River flows through the park.  Some of these spontaneous and unplanned adventures turn out to be some of the best.

 

The above is the suspension bridge that is built over the St Louis River.  The weather is gorgeous and very mild for this time of year.

 

Waterfalls are very common in the parks up here. We have guides that suggest hikes to see the waterfalls.  The park rangers are very pleasant and helpful. We have been in many of the visitor centers and chatted with several of them. There are so many miles of hiking trails everywhere.  Outdoor life is a 4-season way of life despite the very cold temps and heavy snow in the winter. The hiking trails are used for cross country skiing and snowmobiling in the winter. We are loving the hiking but have ZERO interest in the severe winters up here. We aren’t seeing as many bike trails here as we have seen in some areas. We still carry the bikes on the rack of our SUV everywhere we go. Karma is absolutely loving our new lifestyle.  He is actually getting very much in sync with us and learning the rules exceptionally well. We work in some training exercises and mask them as playing games with him. He amazes us by all he has learned and how well he is adapting.

These falls are part of the St Louis River as it travels to Lake Superior.

 

We failed to pay attention to where we were walking and found ourselves 4 miles from the park entrance.  We ended up making a 7.5-mile hike that we started late in the day, but we did survive. It has been interesting to track our hiking with our Fitbits. Most days we are logging 5-10 miles a day. Surprisingly, we aren’t seeing as much wildlife out here as we were expecting. We have seen bears, bear tracks, deer and eagles.  Luckily, we haven’t seen any snakes while trekking deep in the woods. Neither of us are fans of snakes. I decided we needed walking poles- not only for the use they were intended, but they are also great to sling any snakes we encounter as far away as possible.

We traveled to Duluth because we wanted to see Lake Superior from the Minnesota side of the lake.  We discovered that this shoreline is called the North Shore.  We drove along the Lake Superior Circle tour from Duluth to Grand Marais, Minnesota.  We stopped at Gooseberry Falls State Park. The weather is surprisingly cool for late June. We had packed away all of our cool weather clothes.  We sure were not expecting to need sweatshirts and jackets in the middle of summer. Hiking boots have replaced our need for sandals most days. 

Karma has learned he has to stop and pose for many photo ops along our adventures. We truly could not expect any more from him. He amazes us daily with how well he has adjusted to our new nomadic lifestyle. He definitely keeps us entertained.  We get stopped multiple times a day by people wanting to pet and brag on him. Wouldn’t it be so cool to know what he thinks about all of this?

More falls and more photo ops along our hike.

 We walked throughout the park and were pleasantly surprised by the falls and area surrounding us.  From here, we traveled to Grand Marais for lunch of fresh local Fish and Chips at The Fisherman’s Daughter at the marina. The temperature was a balmy 48 degrees at noon.  We proceeded on to Judge C.R. Magney State Park to see Devils Kettle.

A maze of roots on a walking path was a common sighting. It is very interesting to observe how plant life has adapted and thrived despite the harsh winters and rugged terrain. Many places we saw trees seemingly growing out of the rocks.

 

A light house at the tip of the pier at Grand Marais was on our list of lighthouses to see in the area.

Devils Kettle Falls have been a mystery for hundreds of years.  There are actually 2 falls, one is shown below. The water from the falls enters a “Kettle”.  From this point where the water went into the Kettle, its destination was unknown.  There were multiple theories, but it remained a mystery until recently. Finally, technology advanced to the point of being able to measure GPM (gallons per minute) of the river. The volume of water flowing above and below the falls was equivalent.  The mystery was revealed that the water entering Devils Kettle entered the river in the visible falls.

Devils Kettle Falls was definitely well worth the hike.

On the road back to Duluth, we had to stop for pictures of this home across the street from the shoreline.  The homeowner is obviously an eccentric. He makes “art” from what he finds on the shore of Lake Superior across from his house. It appears he has been collecting his treasures for many years.

As we traveled back to Duluth along the North Shore, we had a choice to make.  We had to decide whether to hike along the Oberg Mountain Loop or hiking in to see the Falls at Tettegouche State Park.  We opted for the Falls at Tettegouche.  These falls are on the Baptism River as it enters Lake Superior.  There are both high and low falls and we opted to see both. Many of the names of parks and towns have kept the names given to them by the Native Americans. Care has been taken to incorporate Native American history in the area.

Lisa and her faithful sidekick Karma stopped to enjoy the view. Karma opted for a swim and a drink while we were here. Those are the low falls on the Baptism River.

Another example we have seen of the tenacity of Mother Nature. The soil has been washed away from the roots of this cedar tree, yet it not only fights for survival but continues to grow and thrive.

 

The high falls on the Baptism River.  We were unable to get down to the river or to an overlook that would have allowed for a more frontal picture of the falls due the wet and harsh winter Minnesota experienced.  With the water, ice and trees that washed down stream this year, they lost many of their lower trails and overlooks.  We decided to call it a day at this point. We were pretty exhausted having hiked close to 10 miles with over 100 flights of stairs accounted for in elevation changes per our Fitbits.  Time to return to Ethel for rest, food and regrouping for tomorrow. Karma was ready for a nap also.

Lighthouse overlooking Lake Superior

 

Looking at our bucket list for Wisconsin, we discovered one of our planned stops was Pattison Park. We made a bucket list and try to plan our adventures around those key sites. We still have time to incorporate unplanned stops as we find them.   Pattison Park is home of the highest waterfalls in the State of Wisconsin.  We were less than 20 miles from the park, so we had to make the trip.

The High and Low Manitou falls at Pattison Park

View of the downstream side of the Lower falls as it makes its way to Lake Superior

Lisa is with her constant companion, Karma.  Karma has become a great hiking dog. He stays with Lisa mostly and watches to make sure she is okay.  If we are ascending or descending stairs, he will only go as far ahead of her as the next landing.  He waits for her to get there before he moves on.

As we prepared to Leave Minnesota, we were amazed by the beauty of the northern country.  We want to see all of the states on our trip. We thought Minnesota was one of those states that we just needed to check off as having seen, but we quickly learned we were completely wrong.  From the time we left Minneapolis until we reached Duluth, we were amazed by the stunning scenery we found in Minnesota.  We have a lot of places yet to see on our adventure. We may find our way back to Minnesota in the future to see the fall colors. It is definitely a great place to visit during the summer. Neither of us want to experience the harsh winters that are so common up here. It is a great place to experience nature and the beauty God created. Karma approved a return visit to Minnesota.

 

Lake Kabetogama Resort in Voyageurs National Park

                    Lake Kabetogama Resort in Voyageurs National Park

We drove from Isanti, MN to the Pines of Lake Kabetogama Resort on the Lake.  Lake Kabetogama is one of three lakes that are part of Voyageurs National Park. The other two are Rainy Lake and Namakan Lake.  They are also referred to as the Boundary lakes in this area.  They make up the boundary between the US and Canada.  Voyageurs was made a National Park in 1975.  Its name is derived from when fur traders used it as a path to move their beaver pelts from the west to Montreal to sell them.  In this area of the world, the lakes flow north to the Hudson Bay. We stopped in one of the Visitor Centers and had a pleasant discussion with the part time Ranger stationed there.  She and her husband are work camping at Voyageurs for the Summer.  They arrived in the area on May 1 and the lake was still frozen.  Apparently, it was a very harsh winter with a lot of precipitation.  We got there June 20th and the lakes were still 7 ½ feet above normal.   Many areas were closed because of flooding. 

 

This was our view from our front porch. We sure could not have asked for anything better.

After a light rain, one of our camping neighbors took a picture of the rainbow and captured Ethel in the picture.  She shared her picture with us.

 

We went to the Ash River Visitor Center to see the area and have a view of Lake Kabetogama from another perspective.  Many of the trails and overlooks are closed due to the flooding in the area. Thank goodness for good, waterproof hiking boots.

 

This is a Beaver Lodge we were able to see from the Overlook.

We went for a several mile hike in the area.  Much of the time we spent evading large water puddles on the paths.  The amount of water they received in the area must have been incredible.  There is standing water everywhere on the hiking trails that has nowhere to go. We did find Yellow Lady Slippers and wild roses blooming on the trail. We found a cool app on the phone to help us identify plants and flowers.

  

We took the opportunity to go to International Falls.  The National Park visitor center for Rainy Lake is there. We have met several really friendly and interesting park rangers who have been very helpful.

 

Lisa is standing by the Visitor center sign. We were told the blocks were under water just a few weeks ago.

 

The Voyageurs traveled through the area during the beaver trading days.  Most of the Voyageurs originated from Montreal. These men rowed canoes 3,000 miles a season. The first half of the trip was to carry supplies and goods to the Hudson Bay area to trade for beaver pelts.  They would return to Montreal with their canoes loaded with up to 1,000 pounds of beaver pelts.

 

International Falls is home to the largest Smokey the Bear we have ever seen.

 

Walleye is a regional fish of the area. Most of the commercial walleye comes out of nearby Canada. We had walleye at several restaurants since it is the local specialty. We bought fresh pike and walleye at a local shop to put in the freezer. Wild rice is also a local specialty.  They even sell bags of locally farmed wild rice at gas stations. Fishing and boating are huge sources of revenue in the summer. Snow sports keep them in business in the winter.  Biking and camping are also very popular. 

 

We were fortunate enough to capture a sunset over the lake. Life is pretty relaxed at the campgrounds. The people in the area are very active and love the outdoors.  Most of the locals we met were very proud of their state and its beauty.  We say good bye to Voyageurs National Park from the Campground.  It was a fantastic visit but we have to move on.  

Our next stop is Duluth Minnesota. 

Country Camping RV Park: Isanti, Minnesota

 We traveled to Isanti via the Great River Road from De Soto, Wisconsin.  We were surprised to find that the Twin cities are very close to the Wisconsin border.   The Mississippi River winds back and forth across the state lines in this area.  We had the opportunity to see many bluffs along the river, such as the one below.

This is a long-ago memory from when I was a child.  There was a popular Gas Station named Sinclair. Its mascot was the dinosaur below.  I thought they were all gone but obviously there are a few still around.  Sinclair was bought out by Atlantic Richfield (ARCO).  Ironically, the dinosaur was also used by TVA as a symbol of its Fossil Fuel power division.

We finally arrived in Isanti, Minnesota.  It was another easy drive along the highways (not Interstates) of the area.  We are trying to avoid the interstate and follow the highways when we can. It is a much more scenic route. It is giving us a greater insight to the areas.

Our plans for the area are being forced to change.  The forecasted temperatures in the area are competing with South Texas. The heat index is 107, which is insanely hot this far north in mid-June. We planned to spend our first day in Minnehaha city park to look at the falls and ride bikes.  We still made the trip but went early in the morning and returned early afternoon.  

The above pictures are the falls of Minnehaha.  

That’s Karma, the Super dog, and Lisa standing on the shores of 1 of the 10,000 lakes in Minnesota. We learned on this trip that any large puddle is considered a lake in Minnesota, which is how they claim 10,000 lakes.  Karma is responsible for carrying his water in his backpack when we are out hiking. As long as he gets to go, he is one happy dog. He loves all the attention he gets.  We get stopped constantly for people to ask about him and tell him how pretty he is. 

This is a very large City Park. Ironically, this is the first park we have ever seen that you have to pay to park.  Within the park boundaries, we found the home and a statue of the founder of Minneapolis.

 

As we were leaving the park and getting ready to head back to Isanti, we discovered the Veterans home of Minnesota.  There is a full complex with beautiful buildings and grounds for their vets. Memorials and resources for vets are abundant in the area. 

We found Lock and Dam # 1 on the Mississippi.  So, our travels on the Great River Road have come to a close.  This year we traveled the full length of the Mississippi from its head waters to where it enters the Gulf in the Delta.

Karma, the Super dog, is dead asleep as we travel back to Ethel. He is not a fan of the heat.  Poor guy is using firewood for a pillow. He has a rough life. 

With Juneteenth being so hot, Real feel temps of 107, we decided outside activities were not going to be feasible or pleasurable.  We ended up going to the Mall of America.  At one time it was the largest mall in America, with over 2 million square feet.  Now it is the second largest. We were able to get our 10,000 steps walking in comfort.  

That’s a roller coaster in the center of the mall.  Only in America LOL…