Thursday, July 11, 2013

July 10, 2013

North Shore Road

Today we did a day trip to the northeast tip of Minnesota.  Yesterday was so foggy we could not see the shore less than 50 yards away.  Today was sunny with occasional clouds and light breeze.  No fog at all. 

Day 1 Silver Bay MarinaYesterdayLake Superior, 61 Silver Bay MarinaToday, same spot.

The North Shore Road runs along the shore of Lake Superior, sometimes right on the shoreline and some times cutting through forest  up to a hundred yards from the shore.  Along the way are some small communities, ‘resorts’, and numerous small homes and cabins that appear to have been there a long time.  There are a few newer resorts but most buildings are time and weather worn.  Very pretty country and view of the lake is like looking out at the ocean.  There is nothing out there but a vast blue merging with sky. 

Lake Superior

Very near the tip of the state is Grand Portage National Monument.  Monument is dedicated to showing and instructing in the life and ways of the Native Americans and European traders in the times of the fur trades.  Nice new visitor center and restoration of trading stockade and demonstration of Indian and Voyager living, canoe building, food preparation, play, etc.  Informative docents everywhere.  Well worth the visit even if we had to drive over 90 miles one way.

Grand Portage National Monument

Grand Portage National Monument birch bark

Recently harvested birch bark

 

 

Grand Portage National Monument bread oven

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Oven is just about ready

P1000251

Bread rising

Grand Portage National Monument The great Hall

Great hall used by trading company to entertain VIPs

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Touching Lake Superior.  Would not want to swim in it.  Water temperature is 40 degrees.

A few miles further up the road is the Canadian border.  The border here is the Pigeon River.  A half mile walk along a paved and boardwalk trail takes you to the highest waterfall in Minnesota. 

Grand Portage State Park Pigeon River high falls

High Falls.  Canada on right, USA on left.

Return drive was just as pretty as the drive up AND we found a DQ.  Smile



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