Lots of clear-cut forests for the nearby paper industry...
I can tell that these trees were planted some decades ago, all the trees here are in a perfect row!!! (the red spot is a reflection of the red wrist-band I had laying on the dashboard, thats what you get for taking pictures through the windshield while driving, but I do that a lot.)
A small country store along the highway of US-2...
From a different era, now revitalized by a artist!!!
Here US-2 is getting close to Lake Superior again, the South Shore, big harbor structures poking into the sky behind the suburban houses of the town Superior. You can tell this place was busy at some point of time, this region here is, or was, rich on iron-ore, lumber, and grains.
US-2 and the rich history of these area here in north-western Wisconsin...
Grain Elevators the size of New York City...
Makes me wonder where all that agriculture is now, to fill-up these silos with grains!!!
At five thirty I drive over a newer bride, that spans the St. Louis Bay, into Minnesota to the town of Duluth. I visited here at around the same time in 2004 and it was a miserable adventure, fog so thick, it was worse than San Francisco, and that is bad, the waves in Lake where the size of waves in the Pacific and it was freezing cold. And that in June, how can these people life here???
Rolling into Downtown Duluth...
Today the weather has improved tremendously, compare to 2004, so I park and try to visit this city again, It is situated right between the lake and a steep mountainside. I drive up pretty high to get a good view of the city.
Duluth form above...
On further explorations I come across this unique place with a rich history...
Now it's time again to load up my car with food for the road...
So I drive a few more miles to find "the other kind" of grocery store...
After a few friends recommended to drive along the North-shore, I figured I should and like to, I leave Duluth behind and drive north on Rt-61 that follows the shoreline of Lake Superior, the largest of the 4 big lakes, and I've driven along all of them in the last week. I take the tourist-road vs. the newer and faster highway build in a bit further inland and stop once in a while to check out the scenery.
Lots of places to get down to the waters of Lake Superior...
It's past eight now and I'd like to find a nice place to camp, how about Gooseberry Falls State Park, lets check.
I'm in luck and find an available spot to set-up camp for tonight...
Today I've only driven 141 miles, from Carolyn and Harry's house in Seeley to the Gooseberry Falls N.P. I payed 25 bucks to pitch my tent, 20 for the camping fee and 5 for the car. The weather has been nice, a few clouds here and there but nice clouds, if you know what I mean. Now sitting here it is getting a wee bit nippy, I walk around a bit and scramble on top of these great rocks along the shore of the lake, I make a few phone-calls, and enjoy the very slow way the night shows up here. It is way last 10 and the sky still has some light in it. But still it's time to climb into the tent and leave them nasty mosquitos alone!!!
Tuesday, June 18th... lets see what else there is on Lake Superior!!!
After breakfast and packing-up I'm back driving north on Rt-61, but only for about 10 miles, then I see something I'd really like to look at a bit closer. I've seen lots of photos of it and now I want to have my very own impression...
I park and pay 8 dollars to be a guest here at the Split Rock Lighthouse, a marvel of location, and as I learn later, of engineering. First I get to watch a movie about the rich history of this place, to understand the necessity and importance of this Lighthouse, and the struggle to get it build. Then I take the guided tour and get a closer feeling for what it must have been way when back. I'm not envying anybody that had to live here...
Touring the guided tour of the Lighthouse and the home of the Lighthouse-master...
Then on my own I discover the beach and the vistas of this place...
It's one thirty by the time I'm back in my car driving further north on Rt-61, past Beaver Bay, to Silver City. Here I have to admire a different kind a human achievement, but it also has to do with the Lighthouse history. A huge Taconite production plant, right at the shore of the lake, for easy loading onto ships to deliver the Steel-mills in Ohio.
The look of these huge plants are amazing, I had to drive up to a vista point, build by the mining-company to show off their goods...
Today the plant looks kind of dead, maybe its sunday or no orders are being called in!!!
I took these pictures of the plaques provided by the Northshore Mining Company, very interesting documentation...
Then while we're at it, here is also the stuff about the lake...
I have to get going here otherwise I never get to the West. It's almost two thirty when I turn left onto Rt-1 to go finally westwards again. A lonely road through more forests than anybaody can think of. I'm almost getting bored with it.
Another visit to Ely??? Might as well, it's on the way out west...
It's 3 o'clock, I haven't eaten anything since breakfast, I think it's time for lunch...
Okay I sit down just for this picture, then I have to keep walking around while chewing on my Smoked Trout with Tomato Sandwich...
Not one of my most joyful moment!!!
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