Our final day at camp started out early with final packing and hauling our luggage plus the completed little free library down to the dock. Ann and Keith would sail their boat back to the marina, while the rest of us had breakfast and caught the pontoon ferry. We were responsible to get Ann and Keith’s luggage on and off the boat, as well as our own.
We reflected that we started the week at camp only knowing our two friends and by the end we had had many new friends. We had had wonderful conversations and experiences with nearly all the campers and staff. It was a very interesting group, including very nice kids and teens, and adults of a variety of ages. We had a very companionable boat ride back to the marina. And soon after we arrived, so did Ann and Keith having had a beautiful morning sail. We had several last hugs and goodbyes, and then all went our separate ways. What a lovely time and a camp in the North woods of Minnesota.
After leaving the marina, we had to make a stop in in Bemidji to see another Paul Bunyan and Babe the Big Blue Ox statues. These ones were installed in Paul Bunyan Park and were attracting a lot of attention from photographers. We also went inside and saw some of the other Paul Bunyan artifacts including a giant stocking cap, some of Paul’s fingernail clippings, his baby moccasins, and many other oversized items.
We then drove another hour to another iconic Minnesota site: the Headwaters of the Mississippi. This is located in Itasca State Park. This is a lovely park and we enjoyed driving through the trees, including 25% of Minnesota's old growth White Pine and Red Pine trees are located in the state park. We enjoyed a couple of short hikes to see these wonderful old trees.
But the most important place to visit was the spot deemed the headwaters of the Mississippi. Here coming out of the lake it is a small stream perhaps 15 feet across where you could either walk on stones or wade in ankle-deep water. Dick had done this before, but it was a first time for Patti. It was a beautiful warm day and lots of people were enjoying splashing in the water. We both were drawn to memories of other times throughout the entire length of the Mississippi river where we had had experiences in the past. Always much much larger than this humble beginning. We concluded our visit to the park by driving a one-way road through one of the remaining wilderness areas of the state. Beautiful countryside.
Then we had several more hours drive until we reached our destination for the next couple of days: international Falls, Minnesota. The drive went through small towns in largely wooded areas. It definitely had a feel of the Northwoods. The trees were Pines and Birch and Aspen. The air smells so fresh.
Neither of us had been to International Falls before. We were struck at how far north we were when the US Canada border started showing up on the map . Because of Covid, the bridge through town that would reach over into Canada was not open to public transportation currently, although people are hopeful it will open again soon.
We checked into our newly remodeled 1950s style motel. This would be a good spot from which to explore the area. Dinner was some good home cooking at the Chocolate Moose restaurant.
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