Sunday, June 9, 2024
Well, today we departed the “Icebox of the Nation”, International Falls, and began our southern journey back home. We’ve become accustomed to the cool weather and long days and will miss them. Our route will involve, first, staying in Two Harbors just north of Duluth on the shore of Lake Superior for two nights, then driving back to pick-up our RV in Forest City, Iowa, followed by a series of five longish driving days in order to arrive home next Sunday.
We took a short detour on our route today to visit our third Visitor Center (Ash River) of Voyageurs National Park. Inside, we completed the trifecta of Voyageurs stamps in our Passport book, read through more displays about the region, spoke with a friendly ranger, and walked to the river’s shore behind the building.
Before departing the center, we utilized the outdoor restroom facility which was covered with colorful rosy maple moths.
Rosy Maple Moth
While exiting the park, we stopped to hike the short Beaver Dam Overlook Trail. Again, we were fighting mosquitos as we walked through a mixed conifer and hardwood forest. Jane’s smart phone app identified many birds based on their songs although we couldn’t see them. The overlook was pretty, but we couldn’t see the dam or its beavers. We did spot a pair of ring-necked ducks on the placid pond. We hurried back to the car, and departed swatting skeeters inside the car that were seeking a free lunch and ride.
—— Beaver Dam Overlook Trail ——
Ring-necked Duck (female)
We departed Voyageurs and reconnected with US-53 south for about an hour and half then stopped in the town of Virginia for lunch at the Sawmill Saloon & Restaurant.
—— Sawmill Saloon & Restaurant ——
After lunch, we topped off the gas tank and continued on a series of back roads winding our way through heavily forested areas southeast toward the shore of Lake Superior. I was driving and had to brake hard to avoid hitting a female turkey who decided to cross the road (why?). Soon after that incident, we also saw a ring-neck pheasant and two huge geese alongside the road.
Eventually, we arrived safely without a bird accident at our hotel, the Country Inn of Two Harbors. We checked in and freshened up in our room before heading out to dinner.
—— Country Inn of Two Harbors ——
Based on internet research, Jane selected the Silver Creek Chophouse for dinner. We headed north from Two Harbors along the Lake Superior shore and parked at the swanky Superior Shores Resort where the restaurant was located. The restaurant interior was quite elegant with views of the lake. However, it wasn’t very busy early this Sunday evening.
We enjoyed an oysters Rockefeller appetizer that arrived flaming. Jane had a cranberry & goat cheese salad followed by a delicious kohlrabi soup while I had a planked Coho salmon entree. We both left satisfied with no room to indulge in dessert.
—— Silver Creek Chophouse ——
After dinner, we drove around Two Harbors and stopped to walk around at the Navigation Project at Agate Bay. We were disappointed that the old red lighthoue overlooking the bay had been converted into a Bed & Breakfast and wasn’t accessible to non-guests. However, a small (graffiti-marked) lighthouse was located at the end of a long breakwater wall extending into the bay. Nearby, we could observe huge imposing ore docks protruding into the bay.
—— Agate Bay ——
After driving around Two Harbors some more, we made our way back to our Country Inn hotel room for the remainder of the evening.
Two Harbors was on our original route last fall, but it got changed so I could have a reunion with one of my neighbors I grew up with in the Dallas area. I hope you guys got to try some smoked fish somewhere along the way.