DAY 2
6. I would have liked to be on the road by 6 AM, but breakfast at the hotel was not available until 6 AM, so I settled for leaving at 6:30. My first stop this day was in Hibbing, a city noted for all of the iron mining in the area and also known as the birthplace of Greyhound Bus Lines. The Greyhound Bus Museum is located here. I have been told that it is far better than one would expect, but due to the early hour (7 AM) they were not yet open. I might have to do a return visit someday. In this photo I managed to get the museum, my passport, my bike, and myself all in the same photo.
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7. Remer claims to be the home of Bigfoot, and a plywood silhouette had been erected next to the city sign on the edge of town, but it needs repair and is no longer standing, though the remnants are still laying there. I got my photo of it, none the less. I would have rolled the Wing over there, but the soil was rather loose sand, and I decided against it. I headed west for my next stop and about three miles down the road I realized that I had not included my passport in the photo, which is a requirement. So, I had to turn around, go back, and take a new photo, shown here, then head west once more.
8. Bemidji is home to Paul Bunyan and Babe the Blue Ox. Paul has been there since 1937 and Babe joined him two years later.
9. Minnesota is also home to the headwaters of the Mississippi River. I have visited here several times, but this was the shortest one ever. This is in a state park, so I had to purchase a permit for entry, then found a place to park, walked a quarter mile or better to the headwaters, got my pic, and got out. I was more than happy to get away from the tons of tourists when I left. I drive a truck for a living, so tourists tend to be a pain in my neck, and this trip was much like when I am working: I know where I have to go, and getting there is my entire focus.
10. I was now leaving the northern forests and working my way out into open farm country. I made a quick stop in Park Rapids for lunch, then headed south to Inspiration Peak, a high point on a glacial moraine left ages ago when the last ice age retreated. I had many more miles to make today, so I simply got my necessary photo and headed out again without hiking to the top.
After leaving the hills of the moraine I found myself out on the open prairie. Originally tallgrass prairie, it all fell to the farmer's plow in the 1800's and now we see corn, wheat, and soybeans as far as the eye can see. Being wide open, the wind also blows here, and it gave me a chance to wear my tires out on something other than the center.
11. When I was growing up, I became friends with a kid on a neighboring farm. Phil and I did everything together and got into more than our fair share of trouble. Eventually my kids got to know his kids and they got into their fair share of trouble too. Rare as this usually is, we have remained lifelong friends to this day. He and his wife are now retired and have a home north of Ortonville, overlooking Big Stone Lake, which is the headwaters of the Minnesota River. Since I was going to be in the area, I arranged for a short visit, and I fully intended to only stay for about an hour. Best laid plans often go astray, and Tess said she had a beef roast in the oven. My plans were suddenly changed. I arrived there at 4 PM and didn't leave until 7.
12. I still had two stops to get before turning toward home and I soon realized that it would be dark when I arrive at my last stop, so I decided to strike it from the list, but more about that shortly. My last stop for the day is located in Ortonville, an area known for granite stone. Paul Bunyan's boat anchor is located at Ortonville, as shown in the photo.
13. My last planned stop was the Laura Ingalls Wilder Museum located in Walnut Grove. It was 7:30 when I left Ortonville, thundershowers were creeping in from the west, and it was a two-hour ride to Walnut Grove. It would be dark when I got there, and I have no idea if the museum has a brightly lit front or not, so I headed for home instead. I can head out to Walnut Grove another day.
14. Zans Mexican Restaurant in Mankato was on the list, but my wife and I got that one back in May. After looking at the photo I realize that my rider number is pretty much washed out, so there is a good chance that I will return here for a better photo when I go to Walnut Grove. The food was great, so I won't mind a return visit.
There are a number of stops left in southeastern Minnesota that I still need to get, but that part of the state is really nice riding when the leaves change color, so I might wait a little while before going down there.
From Ortonville I headed for home, and took my time, making a couple of extra stops just to relax a bit. I arrived home just before 11 PM, with 579 miles for the day, and a total of 1199 for the trip. I had a great time and look forward to returning to some of these areas again.
