Journal entries are just that – the digital copy of my hand-written entries in my journal. If you aren’t interested in the daily details of our adventure, feel free to skip on to the next “regular” post.
Whew, what an exhausting day for only shopping and driving!
After breakfast we planned out meals for the upcoming week as a) there was a nearby WalMart and b) we are planning on spending a few days dry camping out in the National Forest. We head to the food co-op and then WalMart.
Almost out of town (hours after we left and have made it a whopping 5 miles) we stop by the beach to visit the Artesian well one last time. We eat lunch and then round up every emtpy container that we have to fill with spring water.
Down the road we go, only to stop at the Northern Great Lakes Visitor Center a couple of miles down the road. Saw some birch bark canoes, climbed the observation tower and toured the art exhibit. Really nice place, if all about the region that we are leaving.
Roughly 2:00 and we finally hit the road, headed straight for Duluth. The food co-op in Ashland had some delicious looking cookies in a dozen pack and we plan to stop by the source and pick up just one each. We buy a couple of cookies and a brownie thing at 3rd Street Bakery in Duluth and continue on north. After getting gas (and finally getting to use our BP Rewards cards) we sample the cookies. Oh my goodness – delicious! The only possible improvement would be the addition of coffee and tea in accompaniment
Without a specific destination in mind, we search for a campsight along the way. Our goal is a spot in the Superior National Forest that we can use as a base to venture from on the motorcycle.
After stopping at 2 visitors/ranger stations that are closed we stop and have supper. I find that all of the state forests are open for camping for free (and hiking, fishing, etc. Great deal!) so we head in to Kabetogama State Forest. Ashley scouts out two potential spots, but after spooking some large, heavy animal decides she’s done for the night (she’s convinced it was a black bear and since she didn’t hear hooves I can’t think of what else it might be.)
We backtrack a bit to a truck stop with an RV park attachd to it. Fortunately for us, the RV spots were damaged last year, so that none of the hook-ups work. We are able to park for free – which was our goal anyway.
Right next to the train tracks, so a good night for ear plugs.
