Today's trip into Wisconsin will take us across this state's most northern route, US Route 2, thru Hurley, Ashland (where we once again glimpse Lake Superior), and Iron River on our way toward Duluth. Our campground for tonight is the Northland Camping and RV Park in South Range, Wisconsin, just a stone's throw from Duluth.
Northland Camping and RV Park, South Range, WI
So there you have it. That's our crossing of Wisconsin, all 110 miles of it from Ironwood to Duluth. A very beautiful state. Maybe next time we can spend more time further south.
We got an early start the next day as we headed northwest toward Duluth, about 10 miles away, on US Highways 53/2. Just outside Duluth (pop. 87,000) we picked up I-535 and crossed St. Louis Bay / St. Louis River where we picked up I-35 west toward Minneapolis-St. Paul. Duluth has a rich history as a Great Lakes port and we saw numerous giant silos and ships throughout the port area. Duluth has the largest metro area on Lake Superior and is accessible to ocean-going vessels from the Atlantic Ocean (2,300 miles away) via the Great Lakes and the St. Lawrence Seaway. The greater Duluth-Superior, Wisconsin port area ships primarily coal, iron ore, and grain. Crossing the bridge over St. Louis Bay is one impressive sight, especially as the bridge makes a wide-arcing curve eastward giving one an almost 360-degree view of the port. One impressive view from the bridge. Too bad I couldn't just bring the motorhome to a stop and take some pics!
Aerial view of Duluth, Minnesota with Lake Superior in the background.
After leaving Duluth in our rear view mirror, we soon picked up SR 210 that would take us a good ways across Minnesota. The scenery gradually changed as we continued west toward Brainerd. Fewer forest areas, more farmland, and a whole lot more lakes. No wonder Minnesota is called the Land of Ten Thousand Lakes. Oh, and I should mention that we crossed the Mississippi River about 30-minutes outside Brainerd. The river at this point in its over 2,500-mile journey south to the Gulf of Mexico is a mere shadow of the mighty Mississippi that you see in, say, St. Louis, MO. Interesting to see it this far north and looking like any other little old river one sees across the America.
A short distance outside Brainerd, SR 210 joined US Route 10, which turned out to be a very nice four-lane divided highway. We took US 10 all the way to Detroit Lakes, passing thru Staples, Wadena, and New York Mills. As we approached Detroit Lakes, we began to see one lake after another on both sides of the highway. And if we didn't see any lake, there were signs directing us to one lake or another north or south throughout Otter Tail County, Minnesota. I found out later there are over 400 lakes within a 25-mile radius of the city of Detroit Lakes -- and we saw several of them as we turned south on US Route 59 toward Pelican Rapids.
We continued to head south on US 53 until we picked up SR 34 that would take us to our campground for the next couple days in Barnesville, MN, just 30 minutes southeast of Fargo, North Dakota, on I-94.
Wagner Park Campground, a Barnesville city park, is located conveniently off SR 34, just a half-mile off I-94. And this little city campground park turned out to be a real gem. We had previously decided to take an extra rest day here to break up our journey. It's a real bummer driving the motorhome day after day after day, so taking a day off is a real treat. In addition, Fargo is home to the Roger Maris Museum and I was prepared to make the 30-minute trip to take advantage of its proximity. As it turned out, the Maris museum is very "low key," in keeping with this famous ballplayer's wishes. Maris was always a private guy and the museum reflects his wishes. If there was going to be a museum (and there wasn't one for many years), Maris wanted it to be "very accessible" for the public with no admission charges: "Put it where people will see it, and where they won't have to pay for it." And that's the way it is today. You'll find the Roger Maris Museum in the West Acres Mall, just a couple blocks north of the intersection of Interstates 29 and 94. The museum is situated in an entrance hallway next to Sears. In 2003, the museum was completely rebuilt and now has new glass, lighting and ventilation to better preserve and showcase the artifacts. Other new features include: a video room to watch a collection of videos while sitting on actual Yankee Stadium seats from the Maris era; a replica of Roger's Yankee Stadium monument; a replica of Roger's 1961 locker; and displays and artifacts from Roger's youth and MLB playing days. On display outside in the hallway are mementos (bats, balls, photos, jerseys, etc) from his playing days for several teams -- all behind glass display cases. I found it very interesting to view the displays, but again, it was all very low key. Not even a small gift shop to buy a postcard. Still, it was all in keeping with his wishes.
One of the displays showing the bats and balls used during record-breaking feats. Some of the more famous items -- such as the ball and bat used when Maris hit his 61st home run on October 1, 1961 -- are most likely on display in Cooperstown and Baseball's Hall of Fame.
Replica of Roger's locker at Yankee Stadium
View of Wagner Campground and RV Park, Barnesville, MN
And here's a couple views of our campsite at this exceptional campground. Well-maintained grounds, clean restrooms/showers, and only $22 a night. What a deal!
One last note before closing this blog entry. Last night, in looking for a place to eat, Lynette found a place about 10 miles south on I-94 in Rothsay, MN: Ole & Lena's Pizzeria, advertised as the "best Norwegian-Italian restaurant in Rothsay." Turns out the pizza was superb and we thoroughly enjoyed our dinner in this out-of-the-way gem of a restaurant. Each of us ordered our own 8" personal pizza: Lynette opted for something called "Liquor Pig" that had BBQ pork, bacon, onions, and cheese. A house margarita completed her order. I choose an "Uffda," which is basically a meat-lover's pizza with sausage, bacon, pepperoni, and cheese. I started with a Leinenkugel Honey Weiss and finished with a Canadian brew, a St. Ambroise apricot ale; both were quite excellent.
Lynette in front of Ole & Lena's in Rothsay, MN
"Ole" and "Lena" on display inside the pizzeria.
Just to give you a perspective of how "small" Rothsay is, right across the street was the Rothsay Farmer's Co-op -- typical of these small towns that dot the American Mid-West.
As if I hadn't had enough pizza and beer, as we were leaving I spotted the Mosquito Landing Ice Cream parlor right next door. Well, I just had to try some of their blueberry cheesecake and left with two scoops in a waffle cone -- just enough for dessert!
Then, just as we were about to catch I-94 for our short trip back north to Barnesville and our campground, we spotted a giant prairie chicken next to the off ramp. Well, I just had to check it out. Turns out Rothsay is the prairie chicken capital of the world and the city elders decided to erect this over 9,000-lb. beast to celebrate this fact. In keeping with my manners, I decided to offer a bite of my blueberry cheesecake ice cream to this magnificent bird. He declined my offer; maybe lactose intolerant?
Another view the prairie chicken, looking toward the interstate.
Thus ends our two-day stay in this part of Minnesota. Tomorrow we'll catch I-94 west toward Fargo, North Dakota (again). Our destination tomorrow night is a KOA campground near Bismarck, about 200 miles away. Other than a weather forecast for rain, this part of our journey west promises to be fairly uneventful. I-94 is pretty straight and if the land in-and-around Barnesville and Fargo is any indication, we'll be able to see FOREVER in this landscape of flat, flat land. And I mean FLAT! We're also looking forward to crossing the mighty Missouri River on tomorrow's trip! Cheers!
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