North Shore of Lake Superior

That is one reason we came, heard this place was pretty, and indeed it is. North Shore of Superior in Minnesota and Ontario is just as pretty as promised. The lake is huge - the largest fresh water lake in the world - containing 10% of the entire world's fresh water resources. Our first two nights we stayed in the US and hiked in Minnesota state parks, then on to Thunder Bay and Red Rock Ontario.

Split Rock Lighthouse, according to state historical sites people, is one of the most photographed sites in Minnesota. Don't know about that but Matt and Laura have a similar photo. So that's makes two.

The Gooseberry Falls State Park hike probably will be one of our all time favorites. The series of water falls on this river running into the lake were both dramatic and beautiful. A couple of them, in narrow gorges, had a tremendous roar.

Also hiked the Cascade River State Park trail which has a series of water falls leading to the lake (under the bridge).

We went down to the rivers edges several places and to enjoy some cool shade, as for a change we were having a hot day. Talking low 80's so you know we were uncomfortable.    

In Thunder Bay at Fort William, a reconstructed historical trading post for the Northwest Company and later the Hudson Bay Company, there were historical actors and reconstructed buildings of the old trading post.

One of the most interesting buildings housed the birch bark canoe building operation. They were actually building real birch bark canoes. In the early days of the fur trade, large canoes would go between Montreal and Thunder Bay in six weeks with 8,000 pounds of trade goods. Paddled and portaged by 10 to 12 men, strong men.

The highway did not always follow the lake shore, it occasionally turned inland into thick forests,

or wheat fields. According to local newspapers, Canada is having a good year of grain production.  The North Dakota farmers will have some competition in the world market for wheat.

Had lunch here, walleye sandwich. Locally caught from Lake Superior. I am getting to really like walleye or pickerel as it is also referred to. It is the prevalent offering on the menu when "seafood" is available.

And this is where we are staying in Red Rock, east of Thunder Bay. We had a glass of wine and read yesterday evening in those white chairs, feet on the orange bucket. Tough duty.