Bemidji to Superior
We left Bemidji on US-2. On our Route 66 trip, we enjoyed the food at Steak and Shake, and Debbie had set her heart on eating there. She'd found the Steak and Shake Web site, and determined that there was a Steak and Shake in Grand Rapids, so that was where we were headed.
US-2 was very straight, and with trees on both sides, pretty boring, so we soon turned off, following Great River Road signs. This got us to Grand Rapids by a scenic and roundabout route, and we set about looking for the Steak and Shake.
Grand Rapids was a nice enough place, if a little pedestrian-unfriendly, but we never found the Steak and Shake, and in the process of searching, we found ourselves on the Eastbound US-2 out of town.We thought about turning around, but decided not to. We were pretty hungry by the time we passed a roadside cafe, but even so, the food they served us was more than enough for our appetites.
Onward to Duluth. on Lake Victoria. We stopped at the Tourist Information office on the outskirts, from which there was impressive view of the city.
The Road Trip book recommends the Skyline Road along the hillside on the North side of the lake, so we took it. Frankly it wasn't as exciting as it was cracked up to be; the views mostly over city, trees blocking the view along most of the way. The last stretch was closed for repairs: maybe it was the best bit.
We took Highway 61 (yes, the Bob Dylan one) back into Duluth, and crossed the bridge to Duluth's neighbouring city, Superior, in Wisconsin. Here we found a motel and checked in. We had a bit of a rest there.
Refreshed, we drove to Wisconsin Point, the Wisconsin half of a huge sand spit that stretches across where the St. Louis River meets Lake Victoria. The lake side of the spit is a beach, and I jumped at the opportunity to put up my new kite (it's over a week since we bought it). There wasn't room to fly it on a very long line (I didn't want it to ditch into trees, road or water) but it was a very successful maiden flight.
After seeing the lighthouse at the end of the spit, we rushed back to the motel, picking up some beer and some burgers on the way, to see the US version of The Mole. We needed a quiet night in.
The beer is tasty (Leinenkugel's Honey Weiss), and the Mole is almost certainly Heather. We find out next Tuesday.