Ups and Downs

With the  Eagle still stuck in Duluth (see Further North blog), we had to take our scenic ride through the Superior National Forest in the truck.  The route was simple--50 miles north on CR 2, 50 miles south east along CR 1, and 30 miles down the North Shore back to our campground.

All along the route we passed a few houses here and there, and a few open meadows, and a lake or two.  Mostly we saw evergreen/deciduous (trees that lose their leave in winter) forest.  Unfortunately most of the evergreens were dead or dying--probably from insect damage.

Fortunately, none of the leafy trees seemed to be affected.

We stopped at two lakes.  This one had a picnic table, a pit toilet, and a short dock, but a nice big lake.  We got out for a leg stretch but were annoyed by large biting flies.

On CR 1 we decided to explore one of the two National Forest campgrounds.  This is McDougal Lake (larger than pictured) and campground, accessed by a 1/2 mile gravel road.

There were about 4 campsites isolated from each other, two short, and two big enough for a large rv.   The campsites were primitive, offering a picnic table and a couple of pit toilets, and several signs warning that this is bear country. We didn't get out here.  Every time we slowed down we were bombarded by those big flies.

Oddly enough, at the entrance to the campground we found mailboxes, but no houses were visible.

Finally, we were able to enjoy an area where all of the treas were healthy and beautiful, and where the road was more interesting.

CR 2 depostited us back on Scenic 61, the North Shore Road running along the edge of Lake Superior for the last 30 miles of our drive.

Just outside of Two Harbors (the nearest town to our campground) our drive was interrupted by stop and go traffic generated by the Two Harbors Heritage Days festival.  On the up side we were able to enjoy the scenery longer,

including a good view of the North Shore Scenic Railroad Steam engine.  Twice a day on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday we were treated to that beautuful steam train whistle and the chugga chugga as the train passed our campground on its round trip between Two Harbors and Duluth.

The other plus of the festival traffic tie-up was that by the time traffic thinned out again, we were too hungry to go home for lunch and stopped for fast food.  That meant I didn't have to cook lunch!

Always trying to find the up side, 

Louise and Duane