Boundary Waters, Trip Reports, BWCA, Stories

2013 BWCA Solo
by boonie

Trip Type: Paddling Canoe
Entry Date: 08/31/2013
Entry & Exit Point: Kawishiwi Lake (EP 37)
Number of Days: 15
Group Size: 1
Day 2 of 15
Sunday, September 1, 2013: I drive north through light fog at 7:15 AM. My destination today is Duluth, MN. I arrive at the Mackinac Bridge in an hour and cross the Straits of Mackinac to Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. It’s Bridge Day and one lane is closed so people can ride bicycles across the bridge. Once across the bridge, I head west, then north past Seney National Wildlife Refuge, and west again towards Marquette. It rains hard for a while between Seney and Marquette, but it’s sunny in Marquette and I stop at the Michigan Welcome Center for lunch.

I arrive at Motel 6 in Duluth 11 hours after leaving Gaylord, MI. The clock says 5:15 PM – I have gained an hour crossing into the Central Time Zone, but my body disagrees. I have a nice long dinner and chat over maps with BWPaddler from BWCA.com at the Duluth Grill next door to Motel 6. The Smoked Salmon Salad was good for dinner as was the Avocado Coconut Sorbet for dessert.

It’s 1:00 AM when I turn in for the night – much later than I’d like, but there were things to be done. Things to be done and left behind when the trip begins.