[hightime]

]The wife was gone so I took off. I rode from the yard headed for some of the natural sites. First stop Seven Bridges on the east end of Duluth MN. It's a park of river gullies thu bedrock with a elevation drop of several hundred feet. Lots of waterfalls and big white Pines make it a wonderful place to visit. Second was the North Shore of Lake Superior. Lots of neat things to see along the shore as I traveled along Sceinic Hwy 61. Several marinas and sone comercial iron ore docks are quite interesting. I saw a couple Ocean going ships pass by on their way to Duluth, probably to get grain. I climbed to a couple hundred feet straight above the water at Palisade Head. Several mountain climbers were testing their skills. I picked blueberrys, ate them and watched. At Ilgin City , pop. 8, I went inland past the little town of Finland and just before Isabella I took Snake Trail. It's a tote road. I explored for fouty miles and never saw a single person. Several lakes and lots of wolf crap. I expected to see some moose, but didn't. I kept the back road trip going by traveling accross small roads and came back home from the north a big circle. I spent 10 hours to go 209 miles. Not fast but quite a gas. I burned about two and a half gals.



Owen

 

[admiral]

Owen,



I personally think the Arrowhead region is the prettiest part of the state. Before moving to Idaho, I grew up and graduated H.S. in a small town near Rochester, Eyota and my sister still lives their. My parents now live in Wabasha.



When you mentioned Isabella and Finland it reminded me of a vacation I took there about 25 years ago. I can't remember my camping spots, but I remember driving in many of the small towns like Silver Bay, and Grand Maris on our way to Thunder Bay, Ont. I remember Silver Bay almost looking like a ghost town after the decline of tacinite iron ore mining. The north shore drive is great and I always planned on going back in the fall, but never made it. I'd like too some day. Oh, and it was on this vacation that I saw my first black bear running off the road. Also, as a very young teenager I remember staying at Gooseberry Falls State Park. If I remember correctly, the falls are right off Hwy 61 and go under the roadway...or something like that. Some memory loss!



Anyway, sounds like you had a great ride and I wish I would have ridden in the area when I was younger.



Take Care, Kris

 

[hightime]

Yes, Gooseberry is one of the popular spots. I'm thinking how much fun a TW would have been when I spent most of my 15th year in Anchorage. I tried and tried to get over a pass to Turnagin with a Super 90 Honda.

I'm feeling it all over again as I re-explore MN now. As long as I can keep up to two lane traffic so I can get to the neat areas without trailering, I think this is going to work great.

I do ride a 200 hp King Cat in Idaho for a week every winter at IP. I love the mountains. Deep roots here and a love of all the green and water will keep me living here though.





Owen

 

[hightime]

 

[hightime]

Oh, that's funny how two of those pics. went together to make the giant TW.



Owen

 

[rmartin]

Looks to me like Paul Bunyan, had a TW and you discovered in the North Woods.



He found the lost love of cycling too!

 

[silverwing]

thanks for the pics, they're beautiful. I rode my Honda rebel 250 from Bowstring,MN to Grand Marais,MN and back in one day 430 miles round trip. Would like that on the TW sometime and take 2 days and ride more back roads. northern MN is beautiful

 

[busyweb]

Oh, that's funny how two of those pics. went together to make the giant TW.



Owen

I thought that those two photos are one and intentionally edited for the purpose.... ha ha ha



Great photos/sceneries and inspirational riding.

Thanks for the sharing it.

 

[coopdway]

Owen, thanks for the great shots and trip report. We'll have to meet in the middle sometime along the South Shore. I'm thinking about heading up Saturday but won't know for sure until tomorrow. Ride safe!

 

[hightime]

Owen, thanks for the great shots and trip report. We'll have to meet in the middle sometime along the South Shore. I'm thinking about heading up Saturday but won't know for sure until tomorrow. Ride safe!

That would be great. I'm building a cabin for a guy at Iron River and I'm liking what I see there for riding area.

Let me know if your comming up and I'll try to get free.



Owen

 

[hightime]

That would be great. I'm building a cabin for a guy at Iron River and I'm liking what I see there for riding area.

Let me know if your comming up and I'll try to get free.



Owen

I wanted to bring this back up, as some want to see more pics. of our bikes for sale.



Owen