LAKE ITASCA & THE MISSISSIPPI HEADWATERS IN MINNESOTA

We headed south and arrived at Itasca State Park, home of the lake of the same name and the Mississippi headwaters.
A beautiful park, many hiking and bike trails, we enjoyed seeing Lake Itasca and walking over the Mississippi as it left the lake on its 2552 mile journey to the Gulf of Mexico. We have seen the Mississippi many times on our travels, a huge river, so it was quite moving to see it as this tiny stream.


THE MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI

 

 

TURTLES IN LAKE ITASCA
 
 

CROSSING THE MISSISSIPPI

 

 

LUNCH TIME ON OUR HIKE

AITON HEIGHTS FIRE TOWER - 100 FT AND 135 STEPS TO THE TOP

LAKE ITASCA
 

VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK. MINNESOTA

No problems getting back into the States, a real nice border man, chatted about what we were doing, then asked where we flew into, then asked us if we had ESTA, no we have a visa, did they not give you an I94, no we say, they told us they had stopped giving them out. Border man says - they're always changing things! Is he not supposed to know the rules!! Then he says he'll just have a look in the trailer so Roy started to get out - no he says - on my own - you might have a gun in there! I am sure he was joking. He wasn't long, came back and said were fine, I asked him about when we leave, he said we will know when you leave the country - thanked him saying I didn't want to get in trouble. You're good he says! Phew! Yet again I realize that American customs seem to make the rules up as they go along.



THE BIGGEST SMOKEY BEAR IN ALL THE WORLD AT INTERNATIONAL FALLS

Voyageurs National Park was on our list and the rain would not stop us. We knew it was a water based park with 500 plus islands and 655 miles of shoreline. Sadly the boat trips had finished for the year so we did a hike, watched the video in the visitor centre and imagined!

Once used routes for travel and trade, the voyageurs (canoemen) maneuvered their lightweight birchwood canoes through the North Woods, transporting trade goods between Montreal and the Canadian Northwest. They returned with pelts of beaver and other animals, which were shipped to European markets.

 A RAINY DAY AT RAINY LAKE IN VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK

VOYAGEURS NATIONAL PARK

RANIER - THE OLDEST OPERATING CANTILEVER RAILRAOD BRIDGE IN THE U.S.

LOVE THIS SIGN! - TOTALLY HONEST - FAIRLY RELIABLE!!

BIG VIC
 

AU REVOIR CANADA - YOU'VE BEEN SUPERIOR!

Our last day in Canada, sad to leave but glad that the weather has lasted for us, again, today we had sunshine and 21oC

We briefly visited Kenora on the Lake of the Woods, this enormous lake with 65,000 miles of shoreline - unbelievable! Kenora was the usual town, full of shops and eateries with a lakeside. The little towns we have driven through on our Canadian travels had so much more character about them.

We may not have seen moose but bald eagles have been flying overhead the last two days and autumn colours are delightful.

JUST LOVE THESE ROAD SIGNS - KING!!! SLIGHTLY OUT OF DATE



FALL IN LOVE WITH FALL



SIOUX NARROWS

NESTOR FALLS

BALD EAGLES EVERYWHERE

LAKES & TREES AS FAR AS THE EYE CAN SEE

We finally left Superior and headed northwest, saw the beautiful Kakabeka Falls, stopped at Atikokan for the night beside remote Finlayson Lake. They were gearing up for the hunting season which starts in October, they say the sit will be full then, hunting for moose - hope they have as much luck as we have had viewing them!

KAKABEKA FALLS

LEAVING

ENTERING

We are nearing the end of our time in Canada, it has been superior!! We drove today over a quiet byroad, towards Lake of the Woods, got out to have a look at a pretty river and spotted moose tracks! That's probably the closest we are going to get to seeing the elusive moose.

MOOSE TRACKS



TURTLE RIVER - CAN YOU SEE ANY MOOSE?

CRYSTAL BAY CAMPSITE IN VERMILION BAY

THE ONLY WILDLIFE AROUND - THIS CUTE CHIPMUNK WAS WAITING FOR THE TRAIN

GREAT TRAIL AT CRYSTAL LAKE CAMPSITE

FORT WILLIAM HISTORICAL PARK, THUNDER BAY, ONTARIO

Camped at Fort William we travelled back in time to 1815, experienced the heyday of the Canadian fur trade. Amazing in size there are over 42 authentic, reconstructed buildings. We had a personal hour and half tour, we were the only folks there for the 10-15 tour! Our guide, Joseph Robillard, was the Cooper (that's barrel maker) and he was a mine of information. We sampled Bannock bread (I can't remember the native name) freshly made over the open fire.
We then drove the 20 odd miles to the Canadian/U.S. border and back just so we can say we have completed the Lake Superior Circle Tour. If anyone wanted a wonderful tour you cannot go wrong with this fabulous circle tour - we have loved every minute. We have taken five weeks to do this stunning tour.


OUR GUIDE

THE DOCTORS HOUSE

THE FUR STORE



FUR STORE



WOLVERINE PELTS



THE JOINER'S SHOP - REMINDED ME OF MY DAD'S BENCH

THE COOPER'S SHOP



VIEW FROM THE LOOKOUT TOWER



THE LADY WHO MADE THE BANNOCK CAKES

FORT ENTRANCE

We drove into Thunder Bay and had a  look round, like most towns full of shops, apartments etc. but the harbor area was pretty. Weather has warmed up, we had a sunshine day that reached 16oC!

Tomorrow we head northwest towards the Lake in the Woods, still in Canada and more remote I think.



THUNDER BAY YACHT HARBOUR

SLEEPING GIANT FROM THUNDER BAY

SLEEPING GIANT PROVINCIAL PARK, ONTARIO

Continuing west, we visited Ouimet Canyon, almost 2 miles long and 500 ft deep with vertical cliffs of 360ft. Hidden in the boulders on the canyon floor are rare Arctic flora, so of course no one was allowed there but the views from the two viewing pods were superb.

OUIMET CANYON

We drove up a rough road to Amethyst Mine Panorama, the largest Amethyst Mine in North America where we enjoyed picking a rough stone to bring home. Amethyst is a coloured crystalline variety of the mineral quartz that occurs in beautiful shades of purple and is used to symbolize deep love, happiness, sincerity and wealth so Roy bought me some earrings!

THIS ONLY COST $1000

 

CAN YOU SEE THE SLEEPING GIANT? I LOVE IT THAT THEY HAVE THE SECOND LUMP FROM THE RIGHT AS HIS ADAMS APPLE!

Had a great day exploring Sleeping Giant area and at last we saw wildlife! White tailed deer aplenty on and around the campsite, a ruffed grouse on a hike and a WOLF! Walking towards us on the road! Couldn't believe it - amazing. We were talking to the ranger after to confirm it was a wolf and she said there were a couple who were becoming habituated, some stupid people feel the need to feed them! Still no moose though unless you count the stuffed one Roy was with! I have my own theory, its coming up to hunting season and they have all gone to ground - at least that's what I

hope. Weather has been much cooler but no more rain, 9oC.

MY WONDERFUL WOLF

ROY'S RUFFED GROUSE

ROY AT HIS OWN LAKE - GARDNER LAKE

THUNDER BAY LOOKOUT, A CANTILEVER WHICH WENT OUT OVER THE LAKE

THUNDER BAY LOOKOUT

SILVER ISLET

SILVER ISLET BAY

WHITE TAILED DEER ON CAMPSITE