2005 Volume 7 MinnesotaTHE ADVENTURES OF PLATY AND THE GANG
2005 Volume 7 Minnesota
The North Country Trail
(click on pictures to see a larger size)
Since the last chapter we have moved to the town
of Akeley, purported to
be the home of Paul Bunyan. However,
as you can see Bemidji also thinks he and Babe the blue ox were born there. 
The city campground was on 11th Crow
Lake. We could watch the loons in the evening fishing for their dinner.
On the weekend the camp was full but during the week we it all to
ourselves.
Adele and Judy went back to Itasca State Park
after a disastrous day of trying to hike from west to east.
They hiked east to west on the state park maintained portion of the North
Country Trail and came out in a loop rather than face another day fighting the
poorly maintained section in the west. This
is the first shelter we encountered along the way since starting in North
Dakota.
After some days of road walk on forest roads that were as difficult as
the trails since both had blow downs and were difficult to access as well as to find. John had to use a chain to move this
blow-down that was across the road.
Maps in these sections were incorrect as to the location of forest roads and position of
the trail.
All of this contributed to Adele and Judy feeling frustrated and angry
each day at the end of their hike.
Clear cuts, non-maintained trail was tiring and beginning to be not a fun
way to spend their time. Anyone with full
packs would have been permanently crippled from the constant bending to by pass
low hanging branches. The temperature had risen but due to the increasing
amount of vegetation, ticks, and mosquitoes the dress of the day was long pants,
gators, long shirts, and a ton and a half of l00% deet.
One bright spot in the Chippewa National Forest was a unique bridge system.
This area by the wooden bridge was done in l979.
In the winter when the bog was frozen they laid logs and then tied them
together and put sod on top. Supposedly
it is 20 feet deep under the bog bridge that looks just like a raised pathway
across the Anoway Lake outlet and marsh. 
Adele and Judy then hopped on their bikes and did
the road to Grand Rapids. As usual
Judy could not by-pass the porto-let on the way to Grand Rapids. 
They ended up at the Itasca Fairgrounds and the beginning of the Mesabi Trail
that will be their connection to Ely later. At this point because of a
shortage of time , we will jump trail and start on the Superior Hiking Trail. It
starts in Two Harbors and goes north along the shore of Lake Superior.
. Along the way we spotted this big
snapping turtle. Judy usually will
run onto any highway to move a turtle out of harm’s way.
However, in this case the huge snapper was on his own.
The only bright spots besides the biking in this area was the spotting of a coyote and bear while hiking. Bob and Judy also found great dining in Park Rapids at a German restaurant called the Schwarzwald Inn. The special was baked pork hock with noodles and red cabbage. Judy had walleye. We had enough for two meals.
We also spent one night camping in the casino parking lot
outside of Walker. They have electric hookups and don't charge
anything. We did go in and play the penny slots. Being big spenders
we lost $2 each.
We have now moved to Two Harbors, MN, just north of Duluth, on the north shore of Lake Superior. More info in the next chapter.