I left Parma, Ohio at about 7:00 a.m. on Friday August 22. I decided to take a little longer, more scenic route through the upper peninsula of Michigan. This was to avoid some construction in the Chicago area. I stopped at the Mackinaw Bridge to take some pictures. Michigan is an awfully huge state when you travel this way. Twelve hours and 711 miles later I finally made it to the Wisconsin border.

I called the motel I had stayed at in the past in Superior,Wisconsin. All they had left available was two smoking rooms left, I passed on them. Superior had some boating festival going on, so I knew from last year finding a motel would be tough. I decided to start heading up 61, towards Grand Marais, in hopes the further I got from Duluth/superior the better off I would be. I stopped at the Viking motel in Two Harbors. I had a few beers, watched some of the Olympics, and headed for bed.

I got up and headed to Grand Marais. It's a pretty scenic drive. I took some pictures and strolled through many of the over-priced tourist stores. I decided to Head up to my outfitters about noon. I stayed at a bunkhouse at Rockwood lodge. Later that afternoon I traveled to the end of the Gunflint Trail. It was shocking seeing all the damage from the Ham Lake fire. This was also the first time I had seen the remains of the blowdown.

Later that night I had dinner at the Trail Center. This is where I met another bwca.com board member. He goes by the name BOPPA on this site. I sat by him and his wife at the bar. They are good people and seem to have true love and respect for the outdoors. I hope their trip went well. I went over my gear in the bunkhouse and had a few more beers and went to bed around 10:00.