ST. CROIX RIVER

Mon. 7/12/10. Just northwest of the Twin Cities, we are in no hurry to get anywhere. Hang around a.m. poolside at the campground. Later hang among a mecca of vintage gas pumps and other old stuff a short distance down the road. Owner not selling!...maybe with luck, find a gas pump in our travels that will sit pretty in front of Tim's Garage Mahal.



Round in circles we go through metropolitan Minneapolis... out fast and north to Ham Lake and quiet campground. Shrimp w/peas, carrots, bacon/onions over bowtie pasta. Crickets chirping, frogs... roosters?


Tues, 7/13/10. Roosters, chickens, llamas, goats--is this a campground or a farm??



























Do these feathers make me look fat?













Minneapolis and St. Paul (state capital) areas look to be hip with an array of things to see and do but right now the surrounding roads and construction are just terrible...so we head east. Find a great RV site next to the St. Croix River at Wm O'Brien State Park. Grilled beef nubbies, mashed potatoes, broccoli. Skinny Cows for dessert (have to cut down on calories somewhere).

Wed, 7/14/10. Cloudy, spotty rain, run a few miles through the park. Severe weather and tornado warnings posted for today. Cancel canoeing plans. Along the St. Croix River, visit Stillwater, one of Minnesota's oldest towns (1843). Rain or shine (raining), stroll through charming shops, markets, and winery!



It's 5 p.m.--return to Wm O'Brien State Park for another night. Fishing is good!




















Dinner is good! Lambchops, hashbrowns with bacon and onions, spinach. Spirits have lifted and we look forward to new discoveries of a different sort.



Thurs, 7/15/10. Clear, sunny, beautiful day! Leave early for a river adventure-- Hwy95N to Taylors Falls. Rent canoe for 3 hour cruise down scenic St. Croix River, ending at Osceola.








Lots of wildlife habitat...turtles, herons, BALD EAGLES! Where's the zoom lens when I need it!!












Someone napping behind the canoe?







































Rt8E into Wisconsin! Riding along Hwy63, see a Municipal Park in the city of Shell Lake--they have RV parking and 1 site left on the lakefront. Run between shops and laundrymat in town. Turkey chili for dinner. Time tomorrow for off-the-beaten-path exploring.



Fri, 7/16/10. From Shell Lake, Hwy63S to D (county road) to M to D, Birchwood town with tag sales, Rt48 to C (unpaved), to Rt70W into Spooner town with a bakery! Hwy53N through Superior and back into Minnesota, and without a doubt... the worst roads ever. Through traffic, construction and detours, reach Indian Point Campground in Duluth on the St. Louis River, at the western tip of Lake Superior. Nice wooded dock and trails. Nice dinner--ribeye, sweetpotato, beets. Ahead is the largest body of fresh water in the world. Must be incredible.