Duluth, MN

June 2012 will long be remembered in Minnesota. The 24 hours immediately following our arrival saw at least 10 inches of rain from a storm that included thunder, lightening, wind and hail. There has been sporatic rain since then and many repercussions; road closures, raging rivers, cool temps, and a very red hued Lake Superior.

Yesterday we left a rainy Duluth on MN61 northeast up the North Shore to the touristy village of Grand Marais. This town is much larger than the others we passed along the way and it sits right on the shores of Lake Superior. Most towns sit back off the shore. On the 100m trip we drove through 2 tunnels whose mountain cliffs drop straight into the lake. We stopped at the Split Rock Lighthouse and after the docent led tour browed through the fog horn house, lighthouse and one of the three homes built for the families who made this rock their home for a number of years begining in 1910. It was Kid Day which was really fun to watch. There was more staff, all costumed in 1920's attire, and they had games from the period going on. the lighthouse sits atop a huge cliff, which didn't have road access at the time. All goods and people arrived by ship.

We crossed numerous rivers. As we moved north and gained elevation, the rivers got wilder. We stopped several times to watch the water tumble down moutains, crash onto rock shores and foam muddy red. One such place was perfect for a picnic.

We arrived in Grand Marais on a clear crisp afternoon. We shopped and walked around a bit. We poked through the most upscale Ben Franklin's I have ever seen, a far cry from the sleepy shop I worked in San Marcos. We walked on a rocky shore and picked up a souveigner rock. Kids were trying, with mixed results, to skip them across the water.

We headed back to the car when the rain caught up with us. We had escaped it just north of Two Harbors managing to stay just ahead of the front for most of the day. But here it was, so it was time to head back south.The rain had continued north and east, so we had a nice drive home with only one stop at Two Harbors for dinner. We found an Irish pub for fish, chips, and beer. Perfect. We then walked the pier at the lighthouse that we had seen several days before, but rain, wind and fog had stopped any idea of walking on a long pier.