Itasca State Park 2nd Full Day, 60k unloaded.
That plan mentioned was nothing to tricky, other than getting to the headwaters at sparrows. Sure enough had the place to myself. The mini tripod I bought is great. I feel there will be many ocassions when self portraiture is required. It’s a bugger that the self timer on the camera is at its longest, 10 seconds. Bloody near ended up in the drink during that headwaters take.
Racing to get in a pic and doing some bodily damage does not bare thinking about, no more said. Mission sorted.
A small container of water from this point is joining me wherever my journey takes me between here and Venice, the most southern point on the Louisiana mainland. Aint to much water from the Mississippi has seen New York. Having spent time with me I will return it where it rightfully belongs in what I envisage as a time to reflect on the people and places I have met and visited on this journey.
Had a steak stir fry for breaky, steak cubed small, garlic, ginger, lemon grass, chilli,brocilli, snow peas. Fifteen minutes and it’s listo.
Ken was leaving today. He has asked me to come and stay with his family. North of Minniapolis near Ham Lake. It is 10 miles west of the MR. Maybe 2 weeks away. Gestures like this are so welcome, and will no doubt be a source of the more memorable times down the river.
There is a REI store in Minneapolis that we will visit. (serious camping and cycling gear, I purchased goods from these guys at home on the net) I need covers for my riding shoes and a couple of spare multistrip occy straps. Mine were stretched to the max coming from Bemidji. They did well to get the wine here just strapped on the outside.
In hindsight if one of these failed I would be in deep shit, so a couple of spares are on the list. They are responsible for securing every item behind the saddle except for the rear panniers. Also a map cover and a browse.
After breakfast I headed off to ride the wilderness trail, 10 miles of nature. Highlights were a just laid road matt surface with one way traffic, fire watch tower, more lakes and champion trees ( a term used here to describe the biggest tree, I wonder if you can visit the runner up)
This road matt was utra smooth, a skate boarders paradise. A white tail deer on the side of the road was startled by my unexpected appearance and took off, unable to get traction on the road matt it fell over sideways. For an ever so brief moment in time, fresh road kill coming to life was an apt description of this event. Quite surreal.
Up ahead in the distance I saw a (Eagles)snapping turtle on the road. Fiesty little fiend.
Mind you he had a reason to be as I was taunting him with a stick. After our confrontation with no harm done we both went on our seperate ways.
The camp is now almost empty. Most people just weekend campers, lots of Minnesota plates. I reckon I was the only person not snoring last night!!
Back at camp Ken had departed and left a note to say my food was in his bear box. I had some food in his esky for the duration. Evidently the local Black bears will trash a tent if food is left within. These bear boxes are solid plate steel with a locking door.
It’s as though they are constructed to be heavy enough so bears wandering around in the woods dragging food boxes will never be encountered.
The day as forecasted was a beautiful summers day following the dissipation of the fog. Mid afternoon grabbed my swimmers and went to the “beach” and had a swim, all be it a short one. The water was ok once submersion had occurred.
I dined at the Douglas lodge, then went back to camp and prepared what I could for an early morning departure.
That plan mentioned was nothing to tricky, other than getting to the headwaters at sparrows. Sure enough had the place to myself. The mini tripod I bought is great. I feel there will be many ocassions when self portraiture is required. It’s a bugger that the self timer on the camera is at its longest, 10 seconds. Bloody near ended up in the drink during that headwaters take.
Racing to get in a pic and doing some bodily damage does not bare thinking about, no more said. Mission sorted.
A small container of water from this point is joining me wherever my journey takes me between here and Venice, the most southern point on the Louisiana mainland. Aint to much water from the Mississippi has seen New York. Having spent time with me I will return it where it rightfully belongs in what I envisage as a time to reflect on the people and places I have met and visited on this journey.
Had a steak stir fry for breaky, steak cubed small, garlic, ginger, lemon grass, chilli,brocilli, snow peas. Fifteen minutes and it’s listo.
Ken was leaving today. He has asked me to come and stay with his family. North of Minniapolis near Ham Lake. It is 10 miles west of the MR. Maybe 2 weeks away. Gestures like this are so welcome, and will no doubt be a source of the more memorable times down the river.
There is a REI store in Minneapolis that we will visit. (serious camping and cycling gear, I purchased goods from these guys at home on the net) I need covers for my riding shoes and a couple of spare multistrip occy straps. Mine were stretched to the max coming from Bemidji. They did well to get the wine here just strapped on the outside.
In hindsight if one of these failed I would be in deep shit, so a couple of spares are on the list. They are responsible for securing every item behind the saddle except for the rear panniers. Also a map cover and a browse.
After breakfast I headed off to ride the wilderness trail, 10 miles of nature. Highlights were a just laid road matt surface with one way traffic, fire watch tower, more lakes and champion trees ( a term used here to describe the biggest tree, I wonder if you can visit the runner up)
This road matt was utra smooth, a skate boarders paradise. A white tail deer on the side of the road was startled by my unexpected appearance and took off, unable to get traction on the road matt it fell over sideways. For an ever so brief moment in time, fresh road kill coming to life was an apt description of this event. Quite surreal.
Up ahead in the distance I saw a (Eagles)snapping turtle on the road. Fiesty little fiend.
Mind you he had a reason to be as I was taunting him with a stick. After our confrontation with no harm done we both went on our seperate ways.
The camp is now almost empty. Most people just weekend campers, lots of Minnesota plates. I reckon I was the only person not snoring last night!!
Back at camp Ken had departed and left a note to say my food was in his bear box. I had some food in his esky for the duration. Evidently the local Black bears will trash a tent if food is left within. These bear boxes are solid plate steel with a locking door.
It’s as though they are constructed to be heavy enough so bears wandering around in the woods dragging food boxes will never be encountered.
The day as forecasted was a beautiful summers day following the dissipation of the fog. Mid afternoon grabbed my swimmers and went to the “beach” and had a swim, all be it a short one. The water was ok once submersion had occurred.
I dined at the Douglas lodge, then went back to camp and prepared what I could for an early morning departure.